Asking for feedback from staff

Hi,

I have been in a few mgmt. positions but none as a nurse.....I will tell you that from my exp. many people are afraid to directly bring up issues concerning their manager esp. to that manager in fear that issues would be taken in the wrong context. I do not think it matters how "open" you allow yourself to be with your nurses. Some people do not gravitate towards this "open door policy" per se. It makes people feel uncomfortable esp. if they feel there is an issue you could go either way with them. And again there may be some people who feel taking it to your boss makes you more accountable to someone and gives them security that you will be held accountable to the issues raised. If they give the issues to your boss, they know someone is looking over you rather than you handling the issues yourself. It can be viewed as your nurses not seeing you as someone they feel they can talk to or it can be viewed as your nurses ensuring your accountability to the issues. I would certainly follow up any outstanding issues with the nurses themselves just so they know that you are working on these issues with your boss. I would maintain an attitude of gratefulness towards the nurses for making your boss aware of these issues. Sometimes you are made aware of problems directly or not. Human nature is straange sometimes. It may be unsettling that they took these issues to your boss, but maintain business as usual like it didn't affect you. I would on an individual basis try to improve relations with the nurses one on one and actually say" If you have a problem, please do not hesitate to let me know how I can resolve it" Sometimes you have to reiterate this issue many times to make it stick. And also get guidance from your boss on how to resolve this issue. And sometimes there are just people who want to see you go down but maintain a good relationship with your boss too. Come up with a few solutions to this problem and present them to your boss and then perhaps present this to your staff for feedback. You could ask your boss to remind them of the chain of command. Some people forget that their compaints need to be handled with the person involved first and then go up the ladder. Did your boss ask the nurses if they approached you first with these concerns? Hope this helps.................Heather