Brand spankin' new to management and drowning

Specialties Management

Published

I don't even know where to begin. ( sigh) I've been a nurse for 10 years now and recently got my dream position in management. Or so I thought. What I really got was a ton of inherited headaches, hassles and "suprises" that bite me daily, and not in a good way...

I manage unlicensed personnel,(a lot of them) none of which are particularly pleased of my presence on the scene or the changes (small) that I'm attempting. To make matters worse, the previous nurse left before my hire and I am literally learning as I go, and while it's by far the most effective (retention-wise) learning tool, it's not my most preferred way to learn.

So the upshot is a very unprepared nurse whose constant headache is seeking out information that may prove to be helpful and trying to operate in a very high stress environment. Communication is not this company's forte, but then what company is these days? Honestly, I feel as though I'm just treading water right now.

Advice? Suggestions? HELP?! lol Anything and everything would be appreciated....did I mention that in addition to all of my other duties, I'm also in charge of staff training? ....I'm thinking that Florida might be nice this time of year....:)

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Specializes in Research, ED, Critical Care.

Breathe. Be kind. Be quiet. Get a small journal and carry it with you - write notes to yourself about issues/problems/change. Identify the top 3 priorities of your leader and contemplate how you can influence them to the good for everyone. Identify your top 3 goals in the role and how you can acheive them. No changes for 90 days. Think before you respond. Do not make promises you cannot deliver on. Catagorize the immediate/emergent from the might be good. Put your critical thinking cap on and hang tough - it is a right of passage.

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Thank you. Breathe. Yes, I believe I had forgotten that. lol I appreciate your reply and will get back to work.:)

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

Though the advice the previous poster gave is very sound, I still worry if its enough. Your environment doesn't sound supportive, it sounds toxic. You've been essentially dumped into (or shall I say willing jumped into) the deep end of the pool without a life jacket.

So I have some questions for you. Do you like the company you work for? Do you like or at least respect your boss? Is the company's mission one which you feel strongly about? Is this particular management job really worth it? Personally I'd be very concerned about supervising mostly unlicensed people. Who's license are the working under? Yours? Again is it really worth it? And lastly why are you working two jobs? You can't be the educator and the manager - unless your staff is very small.

I would suggest attending a couple management training programs, and reading books on the subject. Good luck.

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Specializes in BSc, ASN- RN, MBA.

Gosh, you all are scaring me. I am a new grad and had not been able to find a job in a year and just found a job. It is being a night supervisor at a nursing home. I got the interview through one of my classmates at the MBA program I attend. She is a nurse in HR and asked me to interview for the job. I interviewed with her first being told it was a charge nurse position and I would be in charge of 6 CNAs on the 11pm - 7 am shift. I had a second interview with the nursing home administrator and DON. They told me the position was supervisor for the entire facility! I said, you are aware I am a brand new nurse, they did know, but they would train me for the job. The current "acting" supervisor is an LPN with 20 yrs experience and would be involved in training me. Someone mentioned to me today that she might actually be pretty ****** she didn't get the job. I find it hard that my HR friend would put me in a position like this if she didn't think I could handle it...but I wonder.

Two days ago I was thinking this job was the best thing that could ever happen to me for my future MBA and dream of owning an elder daycare service. Now, I am wondering if I will survive this. Oh, did I mention the new nurse they hired before me left for another job after two months. Is that a red flag or just a nurse who decided it wasn't for her?

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

I'm glad you found a job but a bit worried you are jumping from the frying pan to the fire. That said, give it a try - keep your eyes and ears open and learn all that you can. Just know up front you will feel overwhelmed especially at first. Once you have some experience under your belt then you can move onto something else, if you decide that this is not for you.

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Specializes in BSc, ASN- RN, MBA.

JL -

Thanks and that is certainly what I plan to do. I am reading a lot about management and dealing with people. I figure it will be alot like my experience with nursing school. I certainly earned every grey hair I have! I don't shy from challenges and have surprised myself with what I have been able to accomplish so far by surrounding myself with knowlegable and trustworthy people in my life and praying a lot.

I had a nursing friend (who has been a nurse for over 20 years) who said the nursing home was nuts to hire a new nurse for a supervisor position. Certainly didn't make me feel good, but I think I would be nuts not to give it a try. It may be a great thing and may help me see a new area of talent I have. If I don't do well, then I know it was not for me and will not pursue that kind job in the future. If you don't reach for the stars, you will never know how far you can go.

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