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Hi,

We have the same thing here in long term care. We had a great state survey this year, so the administrator took all the department heads and ONE NURSE out to dinner..what about all the other nurse? It was blatant and disrespectful. It is sad, it also seems that my place like the quiet ones who don't speak there mind.

Ok, I'm going to duck after saying this, but shouldn't a promotion be based on who is most qualified, as opposed to who is most deserving? Just because one person has more months of service than another does not necessarily mean he/she is more qualified to be in a leadership position.

Ok, I'm going to duck after saying this, but shouldn't a promotion be based on who is most qualified, as opposed to who is most deserving? Just because one person has more months of service than another does not necessarily mean he/she is more qualified to be in a leadership position.

No need to duck. I was a relatively new nurse when I was charge (2 years experience) on a cardiac floor. I had expressed interest and had shown leadership skills to my co-workers. There were people with more years of experience that would have been HORRIBLE as charge and also those that chose not to go into that role.

otessa

You will find the politics in administration anywhere you go.It sucks big time.If you are lucky enough to find a company that actually gives a hoot anymore then they will welcome ideas otherwise you will see them let you go or make your life hell.Been there done that.

OK. I am compelled to put my two cents in on this comment. I am in upper management (ADON) at a LTC facility. Many times floor nurses who have horrible attitudes, a horrible work ethic, and very bad communication skills are not promoted to management positions for exactly that reason, not because of a lack of experience. Experience is needed to make a good manager or charge nurse, but many other skills are also necessary. It only takes one negative, unprofessional, and unreliable department head to make a facility or unit fail. I understand that part of my responsibility as a Department head means (among other things) I may have to work long hours and deal with many unpleasant issues. During state surveys I am the one who had to answer difficult questions concerning floor nurses and worked (5) 16 hour days in a row (with out getting paid a dime extra) while the floor nurses worked their normal scheduled hours. During the hurricane the DON and I worked 48 hours straight to orchestrate the addition of 98 displaced residents; meanwhile I did not know if my house would still be standing when I went home. When a floor nurse leaves her shift at the end of the day, she leaves her shift. I, on the other hand, get calls from staff all hours of the night and on weekends. Again, I understand and except that this is a part of my job. It takes everyone i.e. floor nurses, charge nurses, cnas, housekeeping etc. to make a facility successful. I am so thankful for the wonderful kind caring individuals that I manage. Sooooo when you see your department heads going out to lunch, or maybe getting some kind of other perk, just remember their job my entail many, many, duties that a floor nurse may not even know about.

Ok, I'm going to duck after saying this, but shouldn't a promotion be based on who is most qualified, as opposed to who is most deserving? Just because one person has more months of service than another does not necessarily mean he/she is more qualified to be in a leadership position.

When I said deserving, I meant qualified. There are people on the unit who are more qualified than this nurse. You don't work on my unit so you don't see the politicking that goes on every day. There are many people who are committed to the unit, that have been there for years, that are interested in charge, have expressed interest yet they pick this one nurse. Other charge nurses have told the management the same thing I am saying, there are other people on the unit more qualified.

Oh yea, forgot to mention that this is my vent thread. I feel better now.

If this is what nursing has come down to, then we are going to hell in a hand basket..

Um, do you work on my unit? I think this is a global type of thing!

I am wondering...objectively speaking, are the nurses that are more experienced also better* nurses?

*better is not the word I am looking for but I can't seem to think of the right one

I only ask because I personally do not believe that more years on the job necessarily entitles one to get a promotion. Maybe the newer nurse was a better fit for the position of charge nurse...

I see where to OP is going. Hope it changes at some point for the better.

We had a similiar problem also.

Luckily everyone loved our NM but she had a following of nurses.(They were good and most were preceptors but it felt like a sorority) When the clique dispersed and the NM went to another floor, everthing resolved.

Our problem was not so much a person getting a position that was not qualified but getting a cold shoulder and being intentionally left out of work related gatherings because of not being a part of the "group".

Sorry had to vent a little too.

I see where to OP is going. Hope it changes at some point for the better.

We had a similiar problem also.

Luckily everyone loved our NM but she had a following of nurses.(They were good and most were preceptors but it felt like a sorority) When the clique dispersed and the NM went to another floor, everthing resolved.

Our problem was not so much a person getting a position that was not qualified but getting a cold shoulder and being intentionally left out of work related gatherings because of not being a part of the "group".

Sorry had to vent a little too.

A prime example of lateral aggression, aka "workplace bullying", a severe and pervasive problem in our industry, I'm afraid. All the more reason why any leader, including charge nurses, must be selected carefully and with great consideration to leadership skills. Any less does a disservice to the entire staff. Great thread, btw.