Calling All Nurse Managers/Clinical Directors

Specialties Management

Published

hi everyone.... this thread is dedicated as an introductory thread for all the nurse managers and clinical directors out there. no matter what area of nursing you are working in, we want to get to know you. please take a moment to post a message and tell us a little about yourself and your career as a nurse manager/clinical director or director of nursing. if you are a nurse that has an interest in management related issues ... feel free to tell us who you are.

nursing management can be and often is a very lonely position to hold. no matter how popular you are with the staff, you are still the manager (boss) and are subject to criticism. it can be and often is very disheartening as well as frustrating. not to mention the call, and the amount of hours we work. in an effort to get us off to a great start .... please tell us about a management experience that was your most challenging and one that was your most rewarding. please remember confidentiality - so keep your post pretty non-specific, if possible.

it is my hope that this forum can be a support system to nurse managers and clinical directors. please feel free to use it that way!

i am looking forward to meeting everyone (virtually) and having some really powerful, educational and wonderful discussions here. i will post my introduction after a while ... i am very interested in meeting you all first.

thank you - patrick (rnpatl).

This is such a great thread!

Two years ago, I moved from a state where I had been a Nurse Manager for 5 years. I took a staff nurse position in my new state to get back to the bedside and refresh my skills, as well as my outlook. This past week, I just learned I got the promotion to Nurse Manager! I'm thrilled but there are many new developments in management since I left my previous job. Needless to say, I have a lot to learn, so I am immensely grateful to having this forum and this great bunch of colleagues to turn to. Looking forward to sharing info and stories as my new challenge begins.

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Specializes in OBSTERTICS-POSTPARTUM,L/D AND HIGH-RISK.

Yesterday I found out that i was chosen for the position of Clinical Team Manager.I've been working as a charge nurse on an antepartum unit of 28 beds.I'm excited and nervous. The position starts in two weeks. So this will be a new adventure in my life.

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Congratulations and good luck!

And keep us posted.

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Specializes in OBSTERTICS-POSTPARTUM,L/D AND HIGH-RISK.

Well I started my new position as CTM about 3 1/2 weeks ago. It seems abit disorginized. We have been very busy with an average of 28 to 31 patients on our high risk unit. I've been working alot on the floor being in charge. But not getting alot of orientation to office work. Sometimes all those numbers and meetings and etc.. can give you a headache. I remember many years ago orienting to labor and delivery. After I was shown how to set up a delivery table I thought that I would never be able to do that. Now it's a piece of cake.I just need to learn this and get some kind of routine down.Is there such a thing as a routine in management? I do have things that I would like to be doing with the staff on so many levels. I hope that all these meetings and disciplement doesn't take up all my office time.I guess I just need positive feedback and encouragement. Any suggestions on how to get through this orientation and the begining?:smilecoffeeIlovecof

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hello to all nurse managers. i am sorry to sneak a post on which some of the nurses (neophytes, old timers and students like me) have been expressing concern. it's about the struggle to work efficiently in a team in our health setting. i believe we have heard enough complaints from the rank and files on certain rudeness of some co-workers which can sometimes be viciously contagious for some and would even cost fall out from the field for those who cannot take them. i for one am preparing myself for the world of "dog eat dogs? or eating the young" or something to that effect. if you care to attempt to resolve towards helping promote conducive teamwork environment, pls. see a thread at this thread is located at:

[color=#003399]https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/why-lot-reports-rude-stressed-nurses-224575-new-post.html

we do badly need your opinion, suggestion, recommendation on how we could help this problem.

truly would appreciate

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Hello! I am glad I found this thread... I must say its such a relief to do so, although I feel so totally out of place. I have worked in the Clinical Area, particularly the Male Medical Ward as Charge Nurse for four years here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I am a registered Nurse from the Philippines and I am here in on contract. Just recently, I had a sort of career promotion, I am upgraded to the Total Quality Management Office as Utilization Reviewer. Now I am expected to act as Nurse Manager already with all the other responsibilities that comes with it. Its been months now, 5 exactly but the shift from clinical to management/administrative work is quite a change for me. Please, kind somebody, inspire me... I need your advice a lot. :o

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Hi! So glad to see this thread! I am an LPN with 18 yrs experience. I am a LTC night shift supervisor. Is anyone else on this thread an LPN? I am considering going back to being a weekend floor nurse. Currently, I make only $1 more than the staff nurse, I am on-call for 7-days every 8 weeks. Compensation for call is less than $7 per day. If a night-shift nurse calls off, it is me that fills in on any night. Other than that, I like the job. Just looking for some advice on what to do. Working every week-end as a staff nurse is what I am considering. It pays an extra $2 per hour. Any advice would be much appreciated!;) ;)

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Hi! So glad to see this thread! I am an LPN with 18 yrs experience. I am a LTC night shift supervisor. Is anyone else on this thread an LPN? I am considering going back to being a weekend floor nurse. Currently, I make only $1 more than the staff nurse, I am on-call for 7-days every 8 weeks. Compensation for call is less than $7 per day. If a night-shift nurse calls off, it is me that fills in on any night. Other than that, I like the job. Just looking for some advice on what to do. Working every week-end as a staff nurse is what I am considering. It pays an extra $2 per hour. Any advice would be much appreciated!;) ;)

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As a DON, I am very vested in my nurses. I do realize that as their boss I will be subjected to criticism often--and that isn't easy. But it goes with the territory.

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Specializes in Progressive Care, Critical Care.

Okay, well, since I am only a nursing student as of now, I belong here not at all. Since on the first post, however, it said anyone who is interested, which I am, I figured I should post. Basically I need to do an interview for my leadership class with a nurse manager. Here in town I am having a lot of trouble finding one that has time to bring a student around with them. The other students in my class know people, but I am new and they don't know me and you know how that goes. Anyhow, would anyone be willing to let me interview them? If not thanks anyway. I admire you for the hard work you do already.

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Specializes in OBSTERTICS-POSTPARTUM,L/D AND HIGH-RISK.

:typing It's been 3 months since I started my new role as a Clinical Team Manager. And it has been a rollercoaster ride.Some days are great and I seem to get things accomplished. And other days are mind boggling. I've learned things that I didn't even know was there to learn. I hope that I have become a better person .One thing that I found out recently was that I have been selected to be in the RN to BSN program at my hospital. I'm very excited but also scared. It's been 31 yrs since I went to school. So lots of things happening. I guess that's what makes life interesting.:studyowl:

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Specializes in ER, Critical Care, Med-Surg.

I have been a nurse for 20 years, most experienced in ER with my lst 5 years as being Assistant ER Nurse Manager. In June, I was approached to take over as interim CNO....boy, I must have had a brain fart cause I took the job! The past CNO did not leave on good terms, he basically had most of the nurse managers thinking he was really working for them..the things I have found would make your head spin!

I will say that I have eliminated 1 agency LPN and one agency RN (L&D). I have hired 6 new nurses in a place that hasn't hired any one new in about 3 years because the applicants weren't there. Right now, I have 4 LPN apps on my desk.

I am excited about filling these positions and also eliminating the agency. While they definitely served a purpose, they ruined the morale of our hospital. My nurses, especially on MS get low census days but agency is always there....doesn't seem fair to me.

We also have no current education or formal orientation period. I have set a mentoring program for new hires and I have made numerous powerpoints for education.

The downside is I lost my OB nurse manager recently and I have NOT a clue about L&D.:uhoh21: I don't labor....I feel relatively comfy in delivery though.So that is my biggest problem area....

Any advice will be and is greatly appreciated!

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