I HATE nursing management

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Apr 9, 2009

I've been a nurse for 1 year as of last month. I got a job in a SNF as a unit/nurse manager. I really hate it! I feel totally overwhelmed with so much paperwork and NO patient care. I need to leave and I think I probably should give a month notice. I've only worked there since Janurary... Is this the worst thing I can do?

FWIW, the shelf life of the average LTC nurse-manager is generally pretty short. It's a tough and thankless job......when you're doing direct care, the patients and/or families bring you candy or say "thank you" once in a while, but when you work behind the scenes no one even notices what you do (until, of course, you don't do it:icon_roll).

I've been in LTC management on and off for much of my career. I am now "just" a charge nurse again and loving it! Yes, you should think things through and figure out what you want to do before you jump ship, and you should give 30 days' notice. But don't apologize, and don't feel bad about leaving.........they'll find someone else, you can be sure of it.

Good luck, and do keep us posted.

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2009

I totally agree with the previous post. If you dislike your job now is the time to start looking for a new one. They will find a replacement.

rebecca51 · Apr 9, 2009

give a 2 week notice. This is very important to keep you "eligible for rehire" status. When future employers are calling for references they want to know that you are eligible for rehire. Not having that is a warning flag for future employers.

Nursing has a thousand different specialties. Thats the good news. The bad news is finding the specialty that is right for you. What was your favorite nursing course in school? Also, talk to nurse recruiters about the various nursing vacancies. Ask to see the unit and maybe even shadow a nurse for a day. This will give you an idea of whether the unit is suited to your interests.

By the way, nurse management can be a pain. These managers often do not have management training and owe allegience to senior hospital management and not the nurses.

Good luck

Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN · Apr 9, 2009

My hubby was a DON at a SNF a few years ago and hated it. He is a floor nurse now in a SNF and is much happier. Heck, at least he gets overtime now rather than the salaried DON garbage while working 60 hours a week when staff didn't show up. He also really liked being the MDS/Medicare Coordinator. It's okay...you'll love not pushing all that paper and being able to leave your job at work!

guineachick, MSN, APRN, NP · Apr 9, 2009

Thanks for the comments... I think I know what I need to do. I'm actually moving soon anyway so I'm going to use that as the reason that I'm leaving. I don't want to burn the bridge but long term care isn't for me. Long term care management is no where close to being for me!

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Apr 9, 2009

As stated previously, there are many different flavors of nursing. That's what makes it so marvelous!

Some love management... usually folks with prior specialized training / experience in it.

Good luck in your new endeavors!

karma_moomoo · Apr 10, 2009

I think bedside nursing much better, it keeps us nurses think what to do for our patient's need. And besides it's much enjoying talking to people than papers....

Go get it!!!

diane227, LPN, RN · Apr 16, 2009

I don't mean to be rude, but you don't have enough experience to have a management position. You would need a lot of orientation and a lot of training. It is just too much for a person with one year of experience.

guineachick, MSN, APRN, NP · Apr 16, 2009

Well, I think your comment was rude. I have gotten nothing but compliments on the job I have done as manager. Just because I haven't been a nurse doesn't mean I am not able to be a leader.

diane227, LPN, RN · Apr 16, 2009

I really don't want to get into a debate with you. You sound like a very caring person who wants to do a good job and I am sure that you are doing your very best. My point is that the job that you have in particular does require a lot of skill to do it properly. LTC is a VERY HARD job and because you have so many rules and regs from the state you have to be up to date on everything. And it seems that in LTC you never seem to have enough staff. I know how frustrating it can be being a new manager. I guess the point I was trying to make is that when you start a management job that early you may be setting yourself up for ultimate failure. And that would be too bad because you sound like you would be perfect as a manager later on. I also wondered about your orientation. Did you get an orientation and have they sent you to any courses?

And by the way, I am old but I don't eat my young. Any time I have a new nurse on my floor I do everything I can to get them what they need to learn their jobs and to offer my support. It is expensive to hire and train a new employee so it is in my best interest to make sure they get what they need to be successful. In addition I am always trying to update myself on new medications, procedures etc. I am not one of those who sit around pretending to know everything, because I don't. So yes, I am old but I hope that people see me as a person who can help, not hinder their progress as a new nurse.

I wish you all the luck in your new position. I have a number of reference books that might be helpful to new managers and if you would like I would be glad to give you the list. Take care and keep up the good work.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Apr 16, 2009

I am sorry that you thought the previous poster's comment was rude, but given a little time to reflect on it, you might want to consider that your lack of experience may played a role in the amount of stress you were experiencing and contributed to your unrealistic expectation of what a nurse manager's job entailed.

I see it happening a lot - the only nurses willing to take on management roles are inexperienced -- because we old 'war horses' know enough to realize that those aren't the jobs we want!!! Been there, done that & have the scars to prove it. I have a profound admiration for successful & happy nurse managers. Their thankless and never-ending jobs require the nerves of a cat burgler, the courage and strength of a linebacker, the patience of Mother Theresa, the wisdom of Solomon, and a heart as big as the universe.

Hopefully, you'll be able to bounce back into a nursing job you love - and put that ghastly management experience behind you soon.