Took a big bite and now afraid of choking

[ScarlettRN]

I took a job in the ED of a small local hospital with the understanding that it would be temporary while the regular night nurse was on maternity leave. She is coming back in 2 weeks. BUT in the meantime, corporate came down hard on the DON about the staffing of the ED at night because, frankly, we avg 1.4 pts a night after 11pm.

Well, I plainly said I would help on the floor when the other came back, but because of the curveball and the fact that I LOVE working ER, I flatly told them I would not go into staffing on the floor full time. Been there done that. Have worked with vent pts on step down and in ICU/CCU, and ER---and taught LPN school since leaving med/surg behind.

Suddenly, after 3 months at this hospital, I have been asked to do house charge. I agreed and now am pretty worried that I won't be able to do whatever it is that a supervisor does. I am pretty easy going. I work hard, but worry about making tough decisions...or wrong ones.

Could use some input. I don't know how to act around the staff nurses. I don't want to be too buddy buddy with them, but am not good at stern. Help?

[passing thru]

Maybe take this over to Nursing Management Forum .

Supervisors take care of scheduling for the next shift-- thats a biggie....when people call in sick, you juggle the staffing.

Also, supervisors problem solve. Do you have good communication skills? Good people -skills?

You are expected to resolve issues that present on your shift, family complaints & issues, doctors' complaints & issues, nurse:nurse issues,

You attend codes and participate as the recorder ........

or simply observe, make your own notes/record, observe the efficiency of the responders, pass on to management /nurse educator suggestions if their techniques need refreshing.

You communicate problems and events on your shift to the

next supervisor and to the appropriate management people.

You assist ER if a patient has to be transferred to another hospital, i.e., call the receiving hospital, call all the docs, etc.

You may go to pharmacy & medical records, morgue, etc., to obtain things the nurses need---------

Your job is to manage the hospital until the next shift comes in, to walk the units your whole shift....checking everything.....

no sitting in office. You are supposed to be VISIBLE.

Re staff: No idle chit-chat. You are there to assist. Encourage them to call you. You are the resource person.

And don't play favorites. Good luck.

[ScarlettRN]

Thank you for that. It was all good advice. I guess, after last week and the 4 admits to a floor with 2 lpn's (one just got his license in the mail 2 weeks ago) I was feeling a bit incompetent.

I do know one thing about myself, and that is that I am a good communicator and have excellent people skills. I just worry that the nurses I work with have confidence in me as their charge.

[NurseRachy]

Sorry I don't have any nursing suggestions to add, but GOOD LUCK.

Rachel :)

[passing thru]

Scarlett, I was at the library yesterday. They had a very large stack of "Dummie" books.

I was looking thru "Management for Dummies." And,

............................. "Leadership " " . And, they were both very good. The management book is exactly what you are looking for. It covers all the situations you are describing, and how to handle all the employees, politics, etc. It gives lots o good advice and instruction on how to manage people and come out looking good....

Give it a look.

[ScarlettRN]

LOL, Management for Dummies....right up my alley

Thanks, Passing thru

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I do supervision relief for vacations and sick calls (which thank goodness is not that often that they are sick), but I think we are busier that you and we have more resources like a large ER staff, night pharmacy, orderly, house secretary. I just walk around with a clip board looking important. LOL

Just use your good common sense, know your hospitals policies. Nothing can really prepare you because the calls you get are so silly and nothing can prepare you for them: "an anesthesiologist just beat up a patients family member!!!!", "the basement is flooding!!!", "a patient just bit off the finger of a nurse in the ER!!".

Have fun. I hate it.