Bad Managers

Yes, in my hospital, we have had really good nurses go on to be very bad managers. they have great nursing skills, but not good management skills.

It's nice when a manager can be your friend, but that isn't always the best policy. We just got a new DON, and he told our managers not to have an open door policy with staff. He wants to see a bit more formality. Which is hard, since some of the managers were oriented to nursing by some of the older floor staff.

One of our managers is very quick to jump out onto the floor and help the staff when things get busy. Which is great, and boosts moral. but then she gets dinged when her policies arn't updated, the schedule isn't up on time, or she hasn't done any education on new equipment.

In my experience this is what it means. She has kissed all the right butts. She has friends in high places. She comes in under budget. She knows exactly what she is doing wrong. However, she is well aware that one does not get into trouble for mistreating one underlings one gets in trouble for displeasing ones superiors. Oh by the way, it is possible that some of her superiors are quite aware of her negative behaviors but as long as she says all the right things (yes boss, you are so brilliant boss) and does what they want her to do she is in like Flynn. This sort of corporation management behavior is the bane of business in the US and probably has something to do with the current collaspe of our economic system.

I agree with CathyLew.

Having been moved from staff to management in the same hospital, I can attest to the lack of managerial training, mentoring and support that most new managers experience.

I busted my butt to keep up on the things that were necessary to the functioning of the unit (schedule, evals, staff meetings, education, P&P, etc.) none of which my supervisors gave a darn about. All they wanted was my warm body at numerous meaningless meetings, my signature on disciplinary actions and my budgets, which I was never trained to do. I worked 8 hours per day in the unit and then stayed another 4 hours to get the paperwork done, on most days. Salaried, of course, so not a dime of OT.

My staff was supportive, for the most part, because they saw that I was working hard. It was a thankless job, one I did not keep for long.

Nurses aspire to management because there are so few opportunities for daytime hours in nursing. But very few nurses have the education and experience necessary to be successful managers, a skill set vastly different than bedside nursing.

My manager has friends in all the right places and knows how to say the right things and work the system. I just wish she knew what the heck was going on in the department.

"none of which my supervisors gave a darn about. All they wanted was my warm body at numerous meaningless meetings, my signature on disciplinary actions and my budgets, which I was never trained to do."

yea, what is with all the meetings?? Im not even in a management position, but since I started doing the computer thing...they think I should attend every meeting. There are so many, and so many don't have anything to do with what I am doing! Between that and saddling you with committee after comittee! They have put me on so many committiees... I don't know the name of some, and have never attended others! Yet, they keep telling me I am on that committee. Ok, fine. If it makes them feel better, they can say Im on it!

My experience with managers is that they are the last to know what is really going on. Many don't want to be told anything that they don't want to hear. They're just riding that wave called delusion. The system is set up for this.

Bad managers are everywhere...some examples are.....not listening,not remembering,not caring,not smart,not professional,not kind,not a team player,not accurate,not compasionate,not considerate,not thoughful,not dependable...these are just a few.

"She was told NOT to befriend co-workers"

I went to a charge-nurse seminar years ago, and they basically told us the same thing! I am the charge nurse, not there to be everyone's buddy. exqueeeze me? I was a new grad walking into the hospital I was born in... being put charge over one of the nurses that was actually on when I was born!!! She probably slapped my @$$ when I came out! And I am supposed to act all high and mighty?

I don't really get those management types that feel there has to be a seperation amoung the classes. I can feed a patient, if I spill something, and I have time, I clean it up. I can wipe butts with the best of them. I can also make policies, hold training classes, and precept people. I can also go to the hospital chrismas party and make a fool of my self with the best of them! I don't really think that will make anyone think differently of how I do my job at work.

Oh yes, the administration. They truly are the last ones to know whats going. Most generally completely clueless.