Got the job - what am I in store for?

brownbook · Jul 18, 2010

Is it an acute care hospital? I like the brevity of your question, but are you the nursing shift admin. for the entire hospital or just one unit? I would hope, assume, they will give you a few days, weeks, of orientation? I was the House Admin. Nurse for a small acute care hospital, in charge of the entire hospital for my shift. I really enjoyed it but I had risen up through the ranks so knew the staff, doctors, physical layout, etc. But I think a newbie can do it, obviously they see leadership ability in you to offer you the job! (I don't have leadership ability, they just needed a warm body, ha ha.)

I had a routine, made my initial rounds, did paperwork, made final rounds. I think any new nurse on the floor or in admin. needs to get a routine, that way you don't get disorganized, drawn in 50 directions and lose track of what you were supposed to do next.

Best trick I learned was when staff call with "we need help!" at 0300 I would go to whatever unit it was and say I've called 10 - 20 - 30 people, no one can come in, but "I can help." Even if it was a unit I didn't know much about (L&D). I could still start IV's, ask a new admit the nursing assessment questions, answer phones, hang an antibiotic, change a dressing, get vitals, etc. I found that at the most I would spend 1/2 hour on the busy unit then ask if there was anything else they needed. I would usually hear a "no we're ok now but thanks for your help". Or they would understand if I said, I really need to get back to my office so I can start calling in more help for day staff. I would even bring my paperwork with me to the busy unit and do my morning calls and paperwork from that unit between helping out.

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2010

Buy Aleve.

A lot of it.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Jul 18, 2010

It's an acute care hospital off hours supervisor for the entire hospital- 2 actually - i suppose depending on the need is where i'll be for the night. I have 10 yrs experience as a nurse - used to work on an ortho/trauma unit and have spent the last 7 or so years as a school nurse.

They already told me i'd be making pronouncements and assisting in behavioral crises - all of which i'll be trained to do and feel fairly comfortable with. I am actually more nervous about having to pull nurses out of thin air.

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2010

It's an acute care hospital off hours supervisor for the entire hospital- 2 actually - i suppose depending on the need is where i'll be for the night. I have 10 yrs experience as a nurse - used to work on an ortho/trauma unit and have spent the last 7 or so years as a school nurse.
They already told me i'd be making pronouncements and assisting in behavioral crises - all of which i'll be trained to do and feel fairly comfortable with. I am actually more nervous about having to pull nurses out of thin air.

The last sentence is the biggest headache one can have. I once did triage in CC and had to pull 7 heart nurses and beg them and I mean BEG them to come in a 3 a.m. for 8 post open Hearts....I was desperate and promised the world....find out what you can beg with, tempt with, bribe with...and good luck...don't forget the Aleve...

Flare, ASN, BSN · Jul 19, 2010

lol thanks for the advice. I'll make sure to buy the big bottle from costco

Ahhphoey · Jul 19, 2010

I was the house supervisor for a 250 bed acute care hospital and I loved it! I did rotating shifts, but was primarily days. Many of the staff had been there for years and years, and overall, everyone was pretty friendly and got along. Of course, there were the trouble makers who live to make everyone else's job hard, but I found once I got to know them, we got along well. Staffing was a tough part of the job, but ya know, like someone said, you can't pull a nurse out of thin air. I would definitley give it my all to find help, but if I couldn't, then they needed to call their manager and discuss the next step.

I had to respond to all codes, meaning the fire, behaviral, code blues, infant abductions, etc...basically any type of code that could occur. I also had to bedflow, which could actually be a bigger headache than staffing. Fortunately, the powers that be gave us help during the peak hours of activity, but night shift and late evening, the supervisor was on his/her own. This hospital have very supportive administration and I never hesitated to ask any of them anything so it made things a lot easier.

Good luck!