Help w/ an assignment please?

[SNKerri]

If you are a nurse manager.. a. What are your responsibilities? b. What environment do you work in and how does it effect the way you do your job? (specific stressors) c. What are some characteristics that you consider vidal for a nurse manager? I have to write a paper and I have little to no contact with nurse managers. I don't even know what responsibilities they have! The paper is on what personality characteristics nurse managers need to be effective! Just some quick answers or feedback would be great and make this easier! THANKS in advance! Kerri

[mydesygn]

I am no longer a nurse manager but did management for one year.

1) Responsibilites vary a great deal from facility to facility. However, mostly all nursing managers have the responsibility of scheduling appropiate number staff (scheduling includes managing time-off requests, FMLA, workmen's comp, holiday and off-shift scheduling)

3) Vital characteristics: ability to review all aspects of a situation prior to forming an opinion, able to maintain good staff relationships yet understand the need to keep some distance (ie professionalism), quick learner, extremely organized

2) I worked on an inpatient, floor unit. Since it was not critical care, the patients were less sick. Most stressors comes from maintaining adequate training, ensuring safe care and practices, more time spent with familiy issues, staff dynamics and interpersonal relationships "ie politics".

[NurseRatchett]

My basic responsibilities include managing medications and departmental supplies, staff scheduling, teaching staff, supervising/counseling staff, writing policies and procedures (!!!) trainings, maintain positive relationships with outside providers, and a whole bunch of other things. Plus i'm on the safety commitee and they're thinking about starting an infection control commitee.

I'm in SA rehab and my biggest stressors are my clients and co-workers.

1. Manipulation is the name of the game played on the daily basis

2. Enablers who don't hold clients accountable

3. Staff who put all of their hope in psychotropic meds as being a "magical cure"

As a nurse manager you need:

A sense of humor (if not, you'll be both very bitter and angry)

An excellent support system both within your work setting and outside of work

A sense of fairness and professionalism at all times.

To be knowledgeable and creative

To be a fast thinker and able to work with everyone (not just the nurses on your floor or unit)

Able to go that extra mile to get the goal accomplished

Hope this helps you :balloons: