How can an rn with no nursing experience be a supervisor

Specialties Geriatric

Published

First let me say that I don't dislike this person. I think she is very nice and will be a great nurse. The problem I have is with the situation. I work in a LTCF and am somewhat new at nursing (14 months). My facility hired an RN supervisor that is just out of nursing school to be the supervisor on my unit. She has no experience except for clinicals while in school. So I am basically training this person. Every order she writes I have to fix in the chart and in the Mar/Tar. She is not comfortable with speaking with the doctors, families, or pharmacy. Basically she is not comfortable/capable of doing anything on her own. I am an LPN so she is making more money than me but I am doing double work. I think of a supervisor as someone who makes sure things are done and done right. someone that can advise me if I am unsure of something. This person can not do this. shouldn't a supervisor have to have some job experience? Like I said, she is a very nice person, and eager to learn. She will be a good nurse someday. But wouldn't It have be wiser to put her on the floor first. How can I respect this person as my supervisor when she doesn't know how to her own job.

Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
i have experienced this in other fields too, but nursing is not the same. supervisors who have to provide patient care, but have no work experience are dangerous. if the supervisor did not have to provide any form of patient care (did not have to write orders, call doctors, give medications, start ivs, perform procedures, guide nursing staff to do the same, etc.), then experience would not matter. in this case, this rn was hired because he/she has a degree, a valid license, and is cheap. that is all.

if anything happens while the new grad is a supervisor, the facility will throw the new grad rn under the bus, roll over the broken body a few dozen times, then keep driving! a new grad should not be put in this position, it does not matter the degree! it is not fair to anyone involved, most of all the patients. :down:

totally agreed. many new grads lack the spidey sense to know that a situation is going to be too much to handle. i was very naive as a new grad and got talked into being float staff in a large hospital, which was no place for a newly minted nurse. i'm sure mozella's co-worker felt caught between unemployment and taking this job, probably had no idea what she was getting into, and is feeling very scared and incompetent. unfortunately, this kind of bad start in nursing can diminish one's sense of self-efficacy and tear one's ego to shreds. it took me a long time to feel competent as a nurse after what i had been through my first year.

mozella, i understand your concerns. a supervisor needs clinical judgement and the only way to develop that clinical judgement is through experience. you don't learn it through books and lectures and you don't get it just from clinical practicums in school. you need to have some practical experience under your belt. plus, in that first year, a new grad is learning the role of registered or licensed/vocational practical nurse. it takes time to grow into that role. so your colleague is dealing with a tremendous burden---learning how to be a nurse, trying to gain patient care experience, and trying to learn how to be a supervisor.

i blame the institution. many facilities, especially ltc, have the attitude that a nurse is a nurse is a nurse. as others have said, they look only at the warm body, not at the whole person who's applying for these jobs. i agree completely with mbarnbsn. when something goes wrong, they're going to throw her under the bus. for them, she's an expendable commodity. for her, getting into a situation that is beyond her capabilities may destroy her career, even cost her her license.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
. You can speak to upper management about the situation or you can do like one LVN I knew, "I will not orient an RN!", but don't expect any action to come of your complaint.

Bless your heart but that's a problem. Some RNs don't even want to orient with LPNs either, but they still do. Experience is experience and that is what counts.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
So who is landing the spots in new grad internships?

I'm not sure I understand your comment. Unfortunately, there are more new graduates than new grad internships and there opportunities are not available in every facility. It would be ideal if all new grads could get internships but with the current economy, that's just not happening.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
has this been your experience as a nurse? if so, it sounds nice. unfortunately, i have experienced new grad supervisors who quit within 8 weeks because either a patient was harmed or a patient was almost harmed.

by the way, getting "mad" at a situation one is new to does not bring one more knowledge or work experience. therefore, i doubt the new grad will become a good nurse in a short amount time.

but getting "mad" at a situation can quickly become a catalyst for determination...and moutains can be moved with faith...:rolleyes:

the positive outcome for the new grad rn would be that the starter of this thread counsels her instead of being resentful.. with time & guidance she may become better..truth is it takes a kind or humble person who is not prone to being jealous to do so...op should address her concerns with management (not in a way that would directly target the new grads incompetence, but in a way that would shine the light on management knowing better than hiring someone with no field experience) & in the mean time go back to school to get her rn license...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in tele, oncology.

I feel for both of you. It's a bad deal all around, for everyone involved. (Except TPTB that get to look good on paper...)

When I was fresh out of LPN school hospitals were offering $11/hr. I interviewed at a LTC that was offering $16/hr. But...the LTC position was for a charge nurse over 60 pts with 3 aides at night...no other licensed staff present. And they were specifically recruiting new grads. They offered to hire me on the spot and couldn't understand why I told them no. I politely explained that my family and I had not gone through everything we did to get my LPN just to throw it away like that...it was too much to ask a new grad to do. To this day I don't regret my decision to take the hospital job at $5/hr less. I'm just glad that I had the choice to make.

Best of luck to you...whether you feel like you should be or not, you're the experienced one here. Hopefully with some guidance she/he will turn out to be a good manager...and you'll be remembered as one of those that was helpful during the transition.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have a lot of respect for any one that has put in the time and effort to become an RN. I would hope that she knew what her job title was and her responsiblities would be before accepting the position. I'm not blaming her for anything. And I am not going to my DON and tell her who she should/should not have hired. But I suppose I could/should express my concerns regarding her job performance.

On your first nursing job did you "really" know what all of your responsibilities were going to be "REally"?

Expressing concerns that focuses on her job performance is the opposite of what you should be doing...(this is why nursing is the way it is today):uhoh3:

I am not suggesting you go to your DON and tell her who she should/should not have hired but ask yourself this question...

Who would be more cognizant of the responsibilities that the supervisory title entails? (new grad or DON)

Addressing the RN would not be addressing the issue because the cycle will continue...The only difference is that you may get a new grad RN type who feel he/she knows everything all ready which is dangerous but that arrogance will allow them to keep his/her job. & instead of you having a sweet humble tolerable boss whose willing to take your suggestions & adhere to you, this new grad will give you a hard time bc of the personality difference.

There are ways of speaking in a professional manner to management listing concerns that should not lead to you getting fired. LPN or not, walk in your own authority..If its really about patient safety..

Up Vote Up Vote ×

But getting "mad" at a situation can quickly become a catalyst for determination...And moutains can be moved with faith...:rolleyes:

quote]

'Atta girl. It was bigger than previous reader:p

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'd never take a job in a supervisory position over other nurses as a new grad. No way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
But getting "mad" at a situation can quickly become a catalyst for determination...And moutains can be moved with faith...:rolleyes:

The positive outcome for the new grad RN would be that the starter of this thread counsels her instead of being resentful.. With time & guidance she may become better..truth is it takes a kind or humble person who is not prone to being jealous to do so...

I am not resentful of this person or jealous of her (well maybe a little jealous that she makes more $ than me) My main concern is for the safety of my residents and my license.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
On your first nursing job did you "really" know what all of your responsibilities were going to be "REally"?

Expressing concerns that focuses on her job performance is the opposite of what you should be doing...(this is why nursing is the way it is today):uhoh3:

I am not suggesting you go to your DON and tell her who she should/should not have hired but ask yourself this question...

Who would be more cognizant of the responsibilities that the supervisory title entails? (new grad or DON)

Addressing the RN would not be addressing the issue because the cycle will continue...The only difference is that you may get a new grad RN type who feel he/she knows everything all ready which is dangerous but that arrogance will allow them to keep his/her job. & instead of you having a sweet humble tolerable boss whose willing to take your suggestions & adhere to you, this new grad will give you a hard time bc of the personality difference.

There are ways of speaking in a professional manner to management listing concerns that should not lead to you getting fired. LPN or not, walk in your own authority..If its really about patient safety..

This is my first nursing job. I have been a nurse for only 14 months. that is why I am uncomfortable with "training" her. And yes my job duties were explained to me(that doesn't mean I was confident in my abilty to do them). We have the same DON so I think she would know what the job entails. resident safety is my main concern and my license is my second concern.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
My main concern is for the safety of my residents and my license.

i guess i'm not fully understanding your concerns.

you've been there...14 months?

you're comfortable in your work environment, you know all the staff and residents...what specifically do you fear?

if she asks you a question that you're unsure of, then refer her to the don/adon, nm...someone that she reports to.

while it'd be extremely gracious of you to show her the ropes, don't take an add'l burden.

she's the supervisor, and she should really be discussing concerns/issues with the don.

but as i stated, i'm not understanding why you fear for the safety of your residents.:confused:

i do think though, that the don needs to be made aware of your concerns about being the go-to person...

so she/don could delegate to someone else (preferably herself).

the bottom line is, even if you unintentionally misspoke, i.e., giving incorrect answer to a question, the clinical burden is still on the rn...so no worries there.:)

i do understand your frustration, and hope it works out for all involved.

leslie

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

i'm not understanding why you fear for the safety of your residents.:confused:

leslie

well if you want examples, she mistakes bp meds for potassium meds, writes orders in the MAR for BID intead of TID, or writes a p.o. but doesn't write it in the MAR, Doesn't know how to mix vanco but says she'll give it a try, signs off that a med was given when clearly the bottle was never opened. I leave a 3pm she leaves at 5pm. my hope is that any other mistakes she has made are caught by the next nurse. I spend too much time going over her work to keep my residents safe that I fall behind on my own work. I like this girl and wish her the best. I am still learning the ropes and I will help her as best I can. I just hope It gets better soon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment