Feeling forced to be the house supervisor

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Specializes in Progressive Care, Sub-Acute, Hospice, Geriatrics.

Been working at this SNF/LTC for about a year. I have never been trained to be a house supervisor. I work night shift. Recently, my house RN supervisor just went on pool to be full time at another place. Therefore, I have a feeling that they will ask me to be a supervisor because I will be the "only RN" in the building. This is alarming to me. The scheduler recently called me asking me to speak with the ADON, but I have not replied yet because I know what they will ask. I do not feel safe to be a house supervisor in this place and feels like I will be thrown into the position. At night, the facility, which consist of 176 beds, does not have full time staff and mostly consist of agency nurses. The rehab floor is 12 hours shift (2 nurses at night) while the LTC and Dementia unit are 8 hours shift (1 nurse at night). At times, an agency nurse/ staff nurse will call out and will not come to the LTC or Dementia unit. Therefore, the house supervisor will take the whole floor with 2 med carts for at least 60 people and be the house supervisor at the same time. The facility is very disorganize and understaffed. Also, they do not pay as they promised. I know someone who is pool RN and was forced to be a supervisor to several shifts to find out that they have not paid him for those days. They recently made supervisors as "salaried pay" in contrast with hourly. I am planning on leaving soon and want to find a job that is somewhere closer to my house. The commute to this facility is about 1h and half. Anyone have experience like mine?? What do you suggest I tell the scheduler or ADON?

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Specializes in school nurse.

Politely tell them "Hell, no".

You're leaving anyway. They're so desperate for staff that I doubt they'd fire you first for declining the supervisor position. If they do, file for unemployment (fight them if they contest it) and use the extra free time to double down on your job search.

The place sounds like a nightmare- the quicker you can be out of there, the better.

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I agree with Jedrnurse, but put emphasis on "politely" ?. Don't want to burn your bridges.

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I would also be prepared for how you are going to handle a situation where you have told them no but you walk in and are the only RN/house-supervisor-by-default anyway...because it seems like it could be high on the list of possibilities.

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Specializes in Progressive Care, Sub-Acute, Hospice, Geriatrics.
6 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

I would also be prepared for how you are going to handle a situation where you have told them no but you walk in and are the only RN/house-supervisor-by-default anyway...because it seems like it could be high on the list of possibilities.

It is probably too late now to call them back since the next two days will be weekends. Business office (DON/ADON/Scheduler) don't work on weekends. I can see them being shady by putting my name next to the supervisor title without any consent because I am the "only RN" in the building. My only options now is to either call out for the next two days or to go to work expecting to be the supervisor.

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Specializes in Progressive Care, Sub-Acute, Hospice, Geriatrics.

I have been working there for more than a year and I only called out once. I am getting anxiety over this. It is ridiculous. RNs in the facility are leaving. They only have 2 RNs staff on night shifts. Even my former supervisor bailed. LOL

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

I find it odd that the scheduler would ask you to speak to the ADON instead of either the ADON or DON just speaking to you directly, you would need to be "hired" into the position prior to scheduling. Anyway, there is a big difference between you accepting the "RN Supervisor" and you just being there and falling into it by default. If nobody has spoken to you about this (officially) I would not worry about it. If you show up and work and you are somehow magically the new RN supervisor I would call DON/ADON and tell them that neither of them spoke to you and you are not prepared or comfortable in the role and will not be staying for your shift. Of course one of them would have to come in and that may be your last day. If you are leaving soon anyway it may not be worth the risk. If you are the RN Supervisor you are the one who will get the blame for everything.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in Progressive Care, Sub-Acute, Hospice, Geriatrics.
1 minute ago, Daisy4RN said:

I find it odd that the scheduler would ask you to speak to the ADON instead of either the ADON or DON just speaking to you directly, you would need to be "hired" into the position prior to scheduling. Anyway, there is a big difference between you accepting the "RN Supervisor" and you just being there and falling into it by default. If nobody has spoken to you about this (officially) I would not worry about it. If you show up and work and you are somehow magically the new RN supervisor I would call DON/ADON and tell them that neither of them spoke to you and you are not prepared or comfortable in the role and will not be staying for your shift. Of course one of them would have to come in and that may be your last day. If you are leaving soon anyway it may not be worth the risk. If you are the RN Supervisor you are the one who will get the blame for everything.

Good Luck!

Thanks. My title at my current job is charge nurse and I am responsible for half of the patients at the sub-acute floor. Anyways, I can see them being shady like this. I have seen management force someone into the supervisor role against that person's wish without any supervisor orientation. I have also seen them make an LPN unit manager an on-call supervisor (not present in the building) while a pool RN is in the building.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

Yes, i have also seen the same thing. If you show up and no supervisor i would just call ADON, let them know no supervisor and see what they say, if they "request" you stay and be Sup (and you dont want to), tell them you are only willing to stay and do Your job. They cannot force you into it. Again, be ready for that to be either your last day or close to it.

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.
38 minutes ago, Daisy4RN said:

I find it odd that the scheduler would ask you to speak to the ADON instead of either the ADON or DON just speaking to you directly, you would need to be "hired" into the position prior to scheduling. Anyway, there is a big difference between you accepting the "RN Supervisor" and you just being there and falling into it by default. If nobody has spoken to you about this (officially) I would not worry about it. If you show up and work and you are somehow magically the new RN supervisor I would call DON/ADON and tell them that neither of them spoke to you and you are not prepared or comfortable in the role and will not be staying for your shift. Of course one of them would have to come in and that may be your last day. If you are leaving soon anyway it may not be worth the risk. If you are the RN Supervisor you are the one who will get the blame for everything.

Good Luck!

Make very sure you do this before taking report though.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.
4 minutes ago, Elaine M said:

Make very sure you do this before taking report though.

Yes, most definitely. I should have mentioned that, thanks.

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Specializes in Progressive Care, Sub-Acute, Hospice, Geriatrics.

Thanks for the advice guys and keep them coming lol. Just found out the rehab facility near my house is having a hiring event. I have read the reviews and it seems to be understaffed and similar to my current workplace. But, one thing for sure is that it is only a 5 minute drive from my house compared to almost 2 hours

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