Feeling forced to be the house supervisor

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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?

Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

If it is a true rehab it might be better staffed the the SNF. Either way you already know you dont like your current job so why no try it out. Even if it turns out to be similar (most SNF/LTC are short staffed) at least you are closer to home. As Elaine pointed out make sure you leave appropriately as to not burn bridges, nursing truely is a small world.

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

If it is a true rehab it might be better staffed the the SNF. Either way you already know you dont like your current job so why no try it out. Even if it turns out to be similar (most SNF/LTC are short staffed) at least you are closer to home. As Elaine pointed out make sure you leave appropriately as to not burn bridges, nursing truely is a small world.

Yes thank you. I am, as of this moment, updating my resume lol. My former supervisor who went pool is also asking me to work at his full time job which is a 30 minute drive from my house. So, I have options. I have been pushing this so many times because I don't like jumping from one job to another and that I am still in school. I didn't know it'll be so soon. Thank you again for all of your advice!! It is very helpful!!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Pretty much every SNF seems to be understaffed. Some are just run better than others. Since you already know you're not happy where you are why not take a chance somewhere else. Especially since the commute would be so much shorter.

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

Quick update: Just went to work and they have an agency supervisor. Guess they couldnt take chance to put me as a supervisor without talking to me. Eventually they might do so in the near future I believe. I have been looking around for places to replace my current job. I live on a rural area so options are limited unless I commute for a hour or more

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Specializes in SRNA.

What a stressful situation to have to think about every time you go into work! I'm so sorry. If it does happen, I would say something like... "I feel very uncomfortable with this situation. This is a huge patient safety issue. I cannot take report until someone else comes in to fulfill the supervisor role." Then escalate, escalate, escalate.

I have worked in several different ICU's and myself and colleagues have refused to take an assignment before because of the unsafe acuity and staffing ratios. It forced our charge nurse to take an assignment and our manager to take over the charge nurse role. Yes, it sucked and I hated doing it, but it was not my fault that there was inadequate staffing. And you accept responsiblity by taking an assignment and taking report. If something terrible happens because of the unsafe assignment you were given, your license is potentially on the line. You just never know. I am always willing to lose a job over losing my license.

I am so glad you are searching elsewhere.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

***OP - you might want to change your screen name here. Anonymity is good. Esp if you're looking elsewhere.

Just a question - would it be sooooo terrible if you DID become supervisor AFTER some orientation??? I mean, if you went to your Admin/upper Mgt end explained your concerns for improving pt care (always put PTs first), staff relations, stability & teamwork (staff improvment, second) and yourself for (increased knowledge, learning and prof growth as your needs). You already know the facility, the staff and your clinical skills are probably solidifying at this time. So ...

Ask for a job description to review. Also ask for the ability to shadow/team with another supervisor for designated trial period (I doubt they'd double staff 2 of you for 1 shift supervising for too long). Then explain that with good staffing, you'd be willing to give it a try to supervise.

A major advantage is that you'll always know what your job position will be each night even if you might have to 'push a cart' occ. (And it should only be occ.) The one area I disliked was having to do performance evaluations and disciplinary write-ups.

I find it interesting that an Agency nurse was put in as supervisor. I've seen it done before and with good results but it costs BIG money for the facility. So having you become regular supervisor IS advantageous$ for them.

Be aware they'll prob have you as 'salaried' meaning no clocking in and no overtime. (I'm almost positive they already moan re your OT.) The OT/ $$$ thing can sting but it is doable.

Continue to discretely look around in case they start to screw around with your position and you still feel uncomfortable.

One thing and this is personal - I caution about an employee leaving to go somewhere else where another ex-coworker 'wants' them to join. I've seen the good, BAD and UGLY of that move.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Progressive Care, Sub-Acute, Hospice, Geriatrics.
5 minutes ago, amoLucia said:

***OP - you might want to change your screen name here. Anonymity is good. Esp if you're looking elsewhere.

Just a question - would it be sooooo terrible if you DID become supervisor AFTER some orientation??? I mean, if you went to your Admin/upper Mgt end explained your concerns for improving pt care (always put PTs first), staff relations, stability & teamwork (staff improvment, second) and yourself for (increased knowledge, learning and prof growth as your needs). You already know the facility, the staff and your clinical skills are probably solidifying at this time. So ...

Ask for a job description to review. Also ask for the ability to shadow/team with another supervisor for designated trial period (I doubt they'd double staff 2 of you for 1 shift supervising for too long). Then explain that with good staffing, you'd be willing to give it a try to supervise.

A major advantage is that you'll always know what your job position will be each night even if you might have to 'push a cart' occ. (And it should only be occ.) The one area I disliked was having to do performance evaluations and disciplinary write-ups.

I find it interesting that an Agency nurse was put in as supervisor. I've seen it done before and with good results but it costs BIG money for the facility. So having you become regular supervisor IS advantageous$ for them.

Be aware they'll prob have you as 'salaried' meaning no clocking in and no overtime. (I'm almost positive they already moan re your OT.) The OT/ $$$ thing can sting but it is doable.

Continue to discretely look around in case they start to screw around with your position and you still feel uncomfortable.

One thing and this is personal - I caution about an employee leaving to go somewhere else where another ex-coworker 'wants' them to join. I've seen the good, BAD and UGLY of that move.

Good luck.

Thanks the name is not really my name and nowhere similar to my last name. It would not be too bad because like you said I know the facility already. I have seen my supervisors do their work already and how they handle admissions. And I sort of have an understanding of what their "duties" entails. What I am concerned about is when certain events occurs and I do not know what to do due to lack of supervisor experience. For instance, a disruptive patient? How to handle that situation? And other unexpected situations. Also FYI, they only pay 28 bucks for RNs. With that in thought, what do you think a supervisor makes?

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Specializes in retired LTC.

TY for the comeback re the name - just being protective. By the way, where are you generally from? I ask because salaries vary sooo greatly depending on location.

Still get a job description. You might consider NEGOTIATING $$ for the salary. They can only say "NO". As super, you ahould be getting something more. And that could be a reason 'for better money' if asked when interviewing re changing jobs.

Just to say, every situation is different. No pat way to handle them. Just safety of you, pt, staff, and facility. And remember there's always someone higher up on-call. You'd learn by asking.

It might work out for you. Again, good luck.

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.
16 hours ago, Dani_Mila said:

Quick update: Just went to work and they have an agency supervisor. Guess they couldnt take chance to put me as a supervisor without talking to me. Eventually they might do so in the near future I believe. I have been looking around for places to replace my current job. I live on a rural area so options are limited unless I commute for a hour or more

I was just going to ask what happened this weekend! Glad to see you have two options.

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I had once considered going back to long-term care myself after a long hiatus. I applied for a position, and they immediately wanted to hire me. I thought, hold on a minute. Then, they told me I would be the Supervisor and a floor nurse. I politely told them I personally could only handle one job, and was fully committed to doing best for my patients and I felt I couldn't have my time divided between two jobs. I am sure LPNs can be supervisors too, I certainly didn't want to work on call-outs and do my job too. I decided not to take the job. And if you are newer to the profession ( a year or two) explain that too, you don't feel you can do it. Unfortunately, shortages are wide-spread. IF you otherwise like the job and the long commute speak your truth. And if you are a dependable and skilled worker, they want to lose you.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
On 1/5/2020 at 6:08 PM, Dani_Mila said:

Thanks the name is not really my name and nowhere similar to my last name. It would not be too bad because like you said I know the facility already. I have seen my supervisors do their work already and how they handle admissions. And I sort of have an understanding of what their "duties" entails. What I am concerned about is when certain events occurs and I do not know what to do due to lack of supervisor experience. For instance, a disruptive patient? How to handle that situation? And other unexpected situations. Also FYI, they only pay 28 bucks for RNs. With that in thought, what do you think a supervisor makes?

My job used to pay the nurse filling the supervisor role $1.50/hr extra. That wasn't even close to enough additional pay for all the extra BS that job could entail. Now under new ownership that was one of the first things that went away so if you make 28 bucks an hour as an RN you would make 28 bucks an hour as the supervisor.

Plus the supervisor is simply the most senior RN on staff that shift no matter what their actual abilities to do the job might be. Thanks to this change in policy which essentially cut the wages of every senior nurse pretty much all of the so called supervisor's now refuses to do most of the "extras" that being supervisor adds. There's a lot of referring people's concerns to management during business hours or if it's something that really does need to be dealt with immediately the DON gets a phone call to deal with it.

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