Burnt Out RN

[andrewdbeard]

Hey guys, as part of my leadership course, I have to post a question regarding challenges in management.

My question is: As a manager, how do you effectively deal with and renew nurses who are "burnt out"?

Thanks in advance for your answers!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Depends upon which burnout model you favor. I'm a big fan of Heather Laschinger's model so I would explore ways to improve the sense of empowerment. Here's a nice article that reviews some of her concepts http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/719035

You're welcome.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Consider this quote: " I am slowly becoming a convert to the principle that you can't motivate people to do things, you can only de-motivate them. The primary job of the manager is not to empower, but to remove obstacles". Scott Adams, cartoonist.

I agree because people get frustrated by obstacles that do not allow them to perform their job. If the manager is running interference then obstacles can be removed, morale increases, stress decreases and the team solidifies. In the hospitals where I have worked the managers had obstacles themselves and did not have the power to remove them so that their staff could swork and grow as they wanted. The adult worker will feel empowered once those obstacles are out of the way so energy is not wasted in determining how to work around them or what needs to be eliminated. If there are few workarounds, then the worker may feel that what needs to be eliminated is them - and go elsewhere

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

These are two good answers that don't give away the whole farm. Do take the trouble to go and talk to live nurse managers, though, because there's nothing like a face-to-face with someone who has been there, done that to give you a better sense of reality.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I agree with GrnTea and HouTx both. There are a lot of variables and managers will be able to give you insight to specific problems and how they are best resolved.