Am I being overly sensitive?

is there any possibility that she was making a bit of a joke? we have a doc who's famous quote is "this job would be great if it weren't for these patients", he is only joking and we all know it, any way she could be doing something like that?

uh...did you hear it yourself...maybe it'd make more sense in context....anywyas...sometimes ppl say things and they just come out wrong.....although sometimes not...but do you really just want us all to tell you this...

my best advice....is this a recurring event....is there a pattern of this behavior...

if not it probably was just a statement that came out wrong...

howevoron the other side...sometiems ppl are just arrogant, narcicists, demening..or any other colelction of words....hope the problem solves itself

~loquacity

Why not ask her about it. If she actually did say that, then she can explain what she meant by it.

Ordinarily I would take the quote with a large grain of salt, however this was a quote in a newspaper article about her receiving an award. This same DON also considers it a time management problem when 4 CNA's can't attend to the needs of 40 LTC residents, of which half or more (depending on the unit) are assist of 2. Some units on weekends are left with 3 CNA's for 40 residents, one unit often is left with 2 aides for 29 residents on day shift of all times.

For the sake of workplace morale, I am hoping that she was quoted out of context or we're all just taking it wrong. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want her position for all the money in the world, I'd be committed to an asylum after my first day.

Having been quoted in newspapers before, they are EXPERT in taking things out of context. I know several police officers that will not talk to the press and ALWAYS refer them to PR, for that very reason.

I think it sounds overblown. Dollars to donuts your DON is horrified by the way that was represented.

(I once ran for school board and told the paper - when asked how I was qualified to represent teachers - that teachers, cops and nurses share a similar vein. We are 'blue-collar professionals', in many cases holding advanced degrees and professional jobs but nevertheless, working 'in the trenches'. I said I have personal experience with the problems and pitfalls of trying to be an 'in the trenches' professional dealing with administration. As a member of administration, I would be attuned to that. Good answer, I thought. What did the newspaper write: this candidate thinks teachers are blue-collar workers. Sigh.)

Besides, I would think that a DON's biggest challenge IS staff. And rightly so. She's a director of PEOPLE. If her biggest ANYTHING isn't related to staff, then why is she DON? There is a maxim in management: 10% of employees represent 90% of problems. Unless you are one of those 10%, that comment was probably not directed at you, personally.

Finally, 'challenge' is not a negative word. Many times, my biggest 'challenge' of reading the newspaper is the crossword puzzle. But, that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy working with it.

~faith,

Timothy.

I've seen our hospital in the paper two and seen how manipulative the press can be.

Even so, I don't find the statement insulting. As a charge nurse in the past my biggest challenge was working with the staff, so I can relate.

There's more to her statement than just her statement. You can read between the lines, invent what you think she means by it, or you can ask her directly what it meant to her/him (which may be the direction you're heading if you can't look the other way).

I have done mamagement in the past and the staff are the biggest challenge. Not in a negative way, but people and how they communicate or don't, and their personal entanglements and traumas present numerous challenges.

Thanks for your input daytonite (and others) - some very insightful comments. Staff morale, easily affected by misunderstandings and misinterprtations, can be further affected by staff 'discussions' about issues.'

There are many more in our facility that feel this was a slap in the face. I'm hoping someone could put a different light on this quote.' emeraldjay you can contribute to the unrest about the DON's comments through voicing negative perceptions, or you can attempt to improve morale by putting a positive spin on things. What was the award the DON was receiving by the way? How do the staff view the award?

There also seems to be an underlying problem of disatisfaction with staffing levels. Perhaps this very real and difficult issue is the what really needs to be addressed

Maybe it should have read staffing. And if she was quoted correctly and it is staff here are some thoughts.

1. working around so many schedules

2. there is always personality conflicts going on

3. she has to deal with all the complaints about residents, working conditions, schedules and it takes a lot of time and energy just to listen, let alone act on them.

I say if you really want to know what she meant and it was quoted in the paper, take the paper to her and ask her. If she is a good supervisor and you present it correctly she should appreciate the chance to explain before the doo doo hits the fan.

Daytonite, you bring up many valid points as to why I do not ever want to be placed in management. I did bring up to some co-workers my spin on the quote, such as maybe she was trying to say that the challenge is trying to please everyone while making difficult decisions. Unfortunately, while we are in the midst of a staffing crunch, many innocent statements such as the one I mentioned in my original post are being taken with a negative connotation.

nambour51, there are other issues and negatives, such as staffing, that are generating the negative feelings and I think this quote is just bearing the brunt of those feelings. Her award was for vocational excellence. Yes she does deserve it, judging by the fliers posted I would say she does quite a bit with the Allied Health students.

Going by all the responses I should find fault with the newspaper and/or article writer more so than the statement itself. It was paraphrased after all. Thank you everyone for your input.

... The duties and responsibilities of a DON are quite different from those of a staff healthcare giver. When I was rewarded for my work as a staff nurse by being promoted into management I learned very quickly that my biggest challenge was going to be working with the staff.

Peter Drucker described the situation so memorably that it is now known as the Peter Principle.

It is the theory that employees within an organization will advance to their highest level of competence and then be promoted to and remain at a level at which they are incompetent.

When the accountants are making the important decisions, there won't be any promotions to DON for anyone who wants to increase the number of CNAs, LVNs, or RNs on the staff. Top management will manage to promote someone who will do what (s)he is told for fear of losing his or her job. This easily intimidated individual will never, never criticize anyone in management no matter how well deserved that criticism might be.