Frustrated with New Manager

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

So I frequently fill the charge nurse role at my endoscopy unit. We got a new manager about 5 months ago who unfortunately has no nursing experience. It sounds as though he got his license a couple years ago and he was very vague about his experience which eventually was discovered to be limited to helping a new clinic get started.  

He seemed enthusiastic but was supposed to follow me a few shifts, train how to do the schedule with me. Be present on the floor etc. None of that had happened.  Ultimately he still doesn’t know how to do anything I do. He’s uncomfortable talking with angry patients. I can handle most things but when I need him he isn’t available.  

The main issues I have are:

• His inability to understand our workflows
• His inability to hold staff accountable with frequent sick calls, 
• His inability to respond appropriately with issues such as short staffing including not being able to provide me with accurate staffing counts of who is actually working what days 
• His inability to communicate effectively. Yesterday he had a meeting with two of our nurses during shift.  They told me about it but he never communicated.  I needed them to relieve other staff members by a certain time and my phone calls and texts to him were left unanswered leaving me scrambling including telling a physician in the hospital I didn’t have the staff I needed available for another case. 

Now apparently my director is off for two months. I’m going to attempt to have a conversation with him today about what I need from him but at what point do I just give up and say good luck you need to find someone else in the department willing to do charge?

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Just my opinion but from what you are describing I'd say the time to tell them good luck you need to find someone else willing to do charge has already passed.  I'm surprised you've put up with this so long already. For that matter unless you really otherwise love the job I'd say it's high time to start looking for other options.

[kp2016]

I would say you need to be directing the issues that you have laid out to whoever is filling in for your Director or to HR if there is no one or he (The new manager) is filling in.

BTW at the point where you are "telling a physician in the hospital I didn’t have the staff I needed available for another case" my money is this issue is about to blow up at a management level anyway. Angry Surgeons get a response/ solution quicker than any other issue I can ever remember witnessing. 

[No Stars In My Eyes]

His title is "Manager", but how does he MANAGE to get away with all that he doesn't do?

[HiddenAngels]

hi there, 

I would approach those issues you've listed one at a time, and I would ask if he would be willing to set up standard weekly/biweekly meetings. That gives him time to review and start to implement those practices you've outlined.  I agree he sounds a little inexperienced, but all of us were new once.

This is only if you feel like meeting with him and he agrees to meet with you. Good luck!

[George Acenas]

This is why as manager, I make it a point to accept filling in at the bedside, answer the call bell & assist patient on the bedpan etc. I’m a believer we sweat blood in the same mud.

I hope the conversation to sit with him was had- so you communicate. 
Maybe then, a culture of kindness is conceivable.

 

 

 

 

 

[AlwaysTiredNP, MSN, APRN, NP]

On 4/29/2022 at 6:16 AM, NickiLaughs said:

Now apparently my director is off for two months. I’m going to attempt to have a conversation with him today about what I need from him but at what point do I just give up and say good luck you need to find someone else in the department willing to do charge?

Now. 

Can you just go elsewhere? I would guess you can, the job market is hot right now for RNs. This place honestly sounds like a circus. Who puts a nurse in a management role with zero experience? Did this nurse lie about their experience?

[EOC, MSN, RN]

Tough situation. I agree to approach him. I would say I'm sure this is all very stressful for you. I would like to make time with you so we could discuss how best to approach each of these issues. I know you agree with me that our patients come first and I would like to help. This opens the door and places it with him to answer. Trust me if the MD's get frustrated they will roll it upward too. 

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I did finally talk to him.  I don’t think he knows what to do and basically came out with a “I feel like you are all taking out your frustrations on me and things I can’t control.” I basically stated “we are working with 60% staffing on any given day and you said a month ago we would reduce case loads temporarily.”

We’ve lost 3 RNs of our 22 on staff since he started.  Many of us are looking but unfortunately we do work at the highest paying hospital in the region and the salary difference is a LOT.  We basically have to wait for opportunities in other departments to open up.  My seniority isn’t great and I’m our sole income due to a special needs child.

I know eventually I’m going to have to just say “I can’t do this position anymore, I’m a staff nurse fulfilling a role I can’t successfully do.”  And just let him figure it out on his own. 

[EOC, MSN, RN]

 Have you approached him with an agency, float pool, cross training, or bonus money for extra shifts? I would reach out to your physicians for help with talking to the administration about concerns. I would say, at this time I can't charge and care for patients without more help. I am concerned for our patients. Until we can get staffing increased I will step back from charge. Be very professional and have a concerning tone. If that doesn't work then look for another department. 

[RuralMOSchoolRN, ADN, RN]

I think you need to talk to the person above him/HR and lay out everything you said here.  Yes, everyone was new once, but it sounds like you are doing everything the manager is supposed to be doing-except you don't have the title or pay bump. 

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

Update: More people have quit/transferred. He went to another unit and told the manager he needed to offer one of our open positions to someone on her staff.  The nurse was so furious he told her boss about it she declined the position on the spot.  Now we have a bad rep spreading even further about his lack of professionalism.

I stopped doing charge and coming in early because we don’t have the staff to support it. I am currently much happier even though I’m getting off work late every day.