Absent Nurse Manager/Perianesthsia Director

[CoffeeScrubsAndRubberGloves, BSN, RN]

Our nurse manager is new. She's been there maybe a full 8 months. In the time that she's worked, she's found a reason to leave work early on a regular basis or "work from home" just about every single Friday. When we are short staffed she doesn't help even though in her interview said she likes to jump in and help. You barely see her other than her "morning huddle" which is usually a laundry list of new things she wants to deligate or knit pick on. The charge nurse regularly has to take patients, do administrative work, and communicate with house supervisor for bed placement. I was there one day, we had 25 patients 4 nurses including myself. Which would have been fine if we had some support staff. No techs, no transport, we clean our own bags, take patients to the car, dress the patients and typically don't have transport to get patients to the floor. Now in a meeting she's brought if this great idea to get us "Spring cleaning kits" which let's face it, it's an EVS kit. So we can "show our support to EVS" since they are short staffed. So now she's expecting us to work short, with no support and also take on other departments roles as well when we were barely making it before. Morale is much lower than it was when she arrived. I'm not sure how to address or who to even talk to. Or if I'm even being reasonable. Is this normal? Am I expecting too much from this person who clearly doesn't do much of anything than hide in her office, delicate everything, and leaves early? 

[offlabel]

I think I know her!

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Unless you love your job and are willing to ride it out awhile to see if this manager stays employed I'd start looking for another position. There's no way I'd put up with that too long.

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

You can still perform at your best despite having a poor manager. Unfortunately, there are more bad managers than good ones. Most nurse managers receive hardly any training.

[RickyRescueRN, BSN, RN]

If you and your colleagues are that demoralized and sick and tired of being worked to the bone with zero support from your manager and upper administration, then vote with your feet and walk! Plenty of other nursing jobs out there that will do better . If enough of you do that , the hospital will get the message that the manager is useless. Have you spoken to the person above your immediate manager ?? 

[Sassafras, BSN, RN]

I'm a Periop manager and I'm utterly astonished as to how 4 nurse pre-op and recovered 25 patients. My nurses would have none of that. I don't know the acuity level of course but our ratios wouldn't allow for that number of nurses. 
 

Your nurse manager is out of line. Have you raised your concerns to the direct or on an employee surgery. My charges have to go in staffing a lot with us being short staffed, but then again I am too. As far as her schedule is she getting in her 40? Sometimes I think staff that work 3 x 12 hour shifts perceive me going home early when really I'm doing a 9-10 because I'm there 5 days a week. I never work from home though, unless it's the weekend!