comment on this nurse manager's prior post...

BadBird, BSN, RN · May 5, 2002

How about a simple Thank you for all you do. How about backing up their nurses on a daily basis with out of control patients demands or family demands.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · May 5, 2002

I think a priceless gift from the heart would be thank you cards (could be computer-generated ones) from the nurse manager to each nurse, individualized with words of encouragement specific to each nurse. FOR INSTANCE, thank you for your commitment to excellent patient care, for always coming in on time, for a cheerful, helpful team attitude, etc. At least for me, such a card of gratitude would be quite a boost (if written in sincerity).

Q. · May 5, 2002

What I want from my manager ON A DAILY BASIS is support. Not wishy-washy, indecisive, powerless leadership. I want a manager who understands the needs and skills of her staff. I want a manager who is pro-nursing and is dedicated to the profession in that she understands what it is like to be a staff nurse in an ever-changing, patient and nurse and even physician-unfriendly health care sector, and makes decisions based on those facts.

I want a manager who understands her staff as people, who have lives, families, and goals, needs and obligations outside of work.

I want a manager who does not tolerate poor job performance, and who acts on legitimate concerns brought to her by her staff.

I want a manager who encourages positive and professional behavior by exuding that herself.

I don't want trinkets, keychains, shoelaces or stale cookies. I don't want ice cream. I want a day where nurses can be proud of what they do, respected as educated professionals, and not lumped in with other members of the hospital/clinic in appreciation. I just want ONE day to say "Hey, you are a licensed nurse; what an honorable profession, what a contribution to society you give; what knowledge you have to give to patients and health care. You should be proud of yourself and what you've accomplished and have yet to accomplish. WE THANK YOU RNs and LPNs." And simply recognize nurses as unique and different from all other areas of health care, because THEY ARE. Yes, everyone has their part and deserves to be thanked, but on May 6th, just recognize nurses and offer them a special thank you. That's all I want.

Jenny P · May 5, 2002

I never wanted to be a manager; good thing I'm not.

I like being valued by my managers. And I don't complain if treated like a valuable part of the health care team. Use my name when speaking to me; ask to talk to me when I've done something right; not just when I screw up, say thank you.

I personally don't have much of a problem with these things where and when I work; I've been there so long that most people do know me. I think we all like to be told "you did good, I appreciate you" when we work so hard. And maybe the media could be told that "it's National Nurses Week, and we have some very valuable nurses here that change and save their pts' lives".

Wouldn't THAT be a kick?

Trauma Columnist · May 5, 2002

A sincere "thank you" is always appreciated. We are losing so many nurses from our ED its very sad. I've worked many places, stateside and overseas (while my husband was in the military) and I can tell you there are problems everywhere. No where is perfect. And, yes I do have to add that I get tired of having to work short (shorter than usual) when people call in. I'm almost 44 and have called in once in the last six years. No, I'm not superwoman, but you don't let the sniffles or a h/a keep you home either!!!!

fedupnurse · May 5, 2002

Oh Suzy have you hit the nail on the head and read my mind!! In addition to your comments I also want:

1. safe assignments based on actual acuity

2. ancillary staff who are motivated and knowledgable

3. Equipment when I need it, where I need it and in working order.

4. To never again hera anyone in management answer a short staffing situation with "You people do it to yourselves. If you wouldn't call out, you wouldn't be short." Well, call outs or not, we would be short. It is managements responsibility to safely staff the hospital. When you work with sick people sometimes you too get sick. If you are brazen enough to have a life where you actually know and communicate with your family members, they get sick too. With me family, friends and my health come way before any job.

5. Dedicated, knowledgabe and compassionate managers who back up the staff, particularly when they are correct, rather than appeasing doctors and reprimanding staff for pointing out unsafe medical care.

6. I also want to hear about the years of good work I have done rather than the few bad shifts I have had where something cropped up. When managers start to focus on the positive so will we. Lead by example!!!!

Mary Dover · May 5, 2002

I've been giving some thought to my post in the thread about gifts for nurse's week. And upon reflection, and reading other posts such as Klare's, perhaps I sounded like a whiner. I never whine...SERIOUSLY! (not without some geez anyway)

But having just recently resigned a job in which I felt SO undervalued by administration - maybe I just felt like letting it rip.

NO, I never expected tangible tokens of appreciation, nor (considering the state system I worked within) did I expect monetary rewards.

The real rewards I found were explemplified by situations such as the following:

The time a patient I had referred for inpt psych admission (to a hospital where I also worked part-time), came back into the outpatient clinic (where I also worked) for his aftercare follow up and said to me..."Mary, you are sure well thought of in the looney world".

The time a patient who had felt hopeless and suicidal on the day she came into my office, approached me a few weeks later and said "I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't come talked to you. Thank you"

The time another patient gave me a little refrigerator magnet about 'angels' after several outpt visits had her feeling a little better.

All the times coworkers (who were NOT nurses) sought me out to ask my input or advice about medical things, for the clients that they worked with, and even for themselves or their own family members. To realize I had such trust and respect from them was an AWESOME feeling.

The time one of the psychiatrists I worked with nominated me for 'employee of the month', which by the way, I was awarded that particular month, but even if I hadn't been, the mere fact that he had such high regard for me - was a tremendous ego boost.

These are only a FEW of the ways I have been rewarded throughout my nursing career. Over the past several months prior to my resignation, some of those things were perhaps not so readily called to mind. For example, when you get word from administration that starting March 1st, in addition to all the other MILLION duties you have, (as well as all the documentation that goes along with everything) cause you're the ONLY nurse in the clinic - that now everyone must keep a running log of every activity performed throughout the day, thereby accounting for EACH minute of time - well there's just not time to recall all the warm fuzzies. The log thing was just one of several straws that broke this camel's back. I could go on and on, but let's suffice it to say, that after 7 years at a job that I sincerely LOVED, the bad outweighed the good anymore.

No I don't expect much from 'higher ups', but I do appreciate some empathy, understanding, trust, and respect. NONE of the people in administration were nurses, heck - they weren't even in the medical profession at all - most didn't even have a clinical psych background. So I give them the benefit of the doubt for SOME of their lack of understanding.

This has been a rather long post from me. I usually try not to go on so. Just venting I guess. But let me say this..."I LOVE BEING A NURSE". Always have, and always will. I am now moving on to bigger and better things in my career. Which by the way is one of the MANY blessings I count among being a nurse, the opportunity to continue to grow as a professional as well as a human being.

HAPPY NURSE'S WEEK TO ALL OF YOU!!!!

ageless · May 6, 2002

On the issue of staffing, I would like the schedule to reflect adequately staffing BEFORE someone calls in sick. When will management admit that the nurse-patient ratio is unsafe? When will management admit that the "bottom line" is more important to them then the patient . I would like staffing to reflect and/or change according to the acuity of the patients on the unit. I don't require your thank you's..I require responsible leadership. Don't give me your trinkets, give me your respect.

YOUR SUNSHINE BLOWNING UP MY SKIRT..GIVES ME HEMORRHOIDS

OBNURSEHEATHER · May 6, 2002

Originally posted by ageless
YOUR SUNSHINE BLOWNING UP MY SKIRT..GIVES ME HEMORRHOIDS

:rotfl: I want a bumper sticker that says that!

Heather

Q. · May 6, 2002

Originally posted by ageless
On the issue of staffing, I would like the schedule to reflect adequately staffing BEFORE someone calls in sick.

What an excellent point. If a unit is staffed as such so that if ONE member calls in ill, THAT is enough to make the unit unsafe? Honey, that ain't good staffing. A good NM needs to see that and understand that. A unit should be able to absorb a call-in; if it can't, then something needs to be changed or in the very least addressed. But certainly NOT ignored and definitely NOT placed squarely on the shoulders of the staff. My old unit used to make me feel horribly guilty for calling in, and that just is NOT RIGHT. This is a J-O-B, not a way of life!

And..if you have members who habitually call in and are unreliable, then as an NM listen to your good staff who voice these concerns to you! DON'T blow them off as simply "gossiping" or "complaining." If you don't address their concerns, the issues that they are bringing up will infect the unit like a virus, and you will LOSE your good nurses who are fed up with inadequate leadership, and you will be left with irresponsible, unreliable, unprofessional workers. And NO ONE will want to work for you because you will be the type of NM who propagates this type of nurse.

hoolahan, ASN, RN · May 6, 2002

http://www.allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12505&highlight=salaries+of+CEOs

Something about that comment by the nurse manager just doesn't make me feel guilty, not after reading the thread sited above.