difficult staff

[dlrrn2013]

I recently accepted the "promotion" of don at my facility. we have many long term employees. I am a newer RN and have worked at the facility for 3 years. We are faith based and I was promoted for my values. I had to learn the new role while implementing a lot of changes by corporate that the nurses were not in agreement with. We implemented a new EHR, went from 8 hour to 12 hour shifts and stressed our core values of respect and service like was not upheld in the past. Many long term employees are not in agreement with the fact that I am a young don and laugh at our value system we are trying to instill. Yet the stay miserable in their job and will not leave. We struggle with staffing as many ltc facilities in our area are. are their any words of encouragement or suggestions on how to gain respect and flip this place into a productive facility instead of a self centered one. I understand respect is earned and I have tried to do that to no avail. Teamwork is lacking and no matter what motivational speech is given it is laughed at. I came in to this with ideas however the attitudes of the staff has brought it to a hault. I am at a loss of how to change attitudes and feel like the employees are in charge of their own attitudes. I worked in this facility until the promotion as a staff nurse and unit manager and feel that because of this they do not see me as a leader in the position I am in and do not respect this. I have tried to help them out thinking this will gain respect thinking that if I accompany them and assist them with the changes and help them get used to the additional work an changes that it would be beneficial however I feel I am taken advantage of. I am assisting with their work and trying to do mine in the process but not succeeding. I work 18 hour days and still appreciation is lacking. They will take and take. How do I need to change my thinking or aide them in taking responsibility for their nursing duties? it seems they feel medication pass and a few minimal treatments are all they are responsible for

[havehope]

This is coming from a CNA, so I guess any advice is better than none. I would suggest pulling them into your office and asking them their opinion. What would make them happy? What makes the individual stay at this job? Etc. Maybe making them feel valued would have an impact? Or try to get staff to do a survey to see what could be made better. They may have suggestions you have never thought of. If they are refusing to do a survey, maybe provide pizza or something if you have reached above 50% or 75% of surveys back. Let them know you are on their side to help them, work with them as a team. It makes it hard on everyone when you have difficult staff especially if teamwork is not happening.

[LTCRN4LIFE]

Start by setting your own limits and taking care of yourself. You are no good to others if you beat yourself up. You begin by working 8 hour days. You need to understand they didn't get like this overnight and you need to set your own goals for change. Get them all together in a mandatory meeting. Give them a vision of what you would like to see in a year. Hand out a small slip of paper that says:

I BELIEVE IF WE______________________________________THIS WOULD BE A MORE ENJOYABLE PLACE TO WORK.

This is how I have started 2 facilities. I share my vision and add some powerpoint direction to get there, a video of teams working together, good heartfelt story to motivate them and them collect their slips of paper.

Review and meet back in 1 week. Tell the group what everyone felt would make the facility a better place.

Honestly when I do this I usually get morale or teamwork as the issue they feel is the biggest problem.

Then the projects begin....and you work on this with them.....they develop respect for you as they see the changes and it motivates them to want to work for you.....soon the public, the docs, the vendors, the families etc will tell you they see the difference and they feel it too.

That becomes your reward and.....motivation!

Good Luck!