How often does the CNO address nurses? Why? How?

Nurses Relations

Published

At my hospital the CNO address nurses at the orientation for new hires with ALL other new hires from the entire hospital all in a big auditorium and that's it.

I'm not kidding.

I've been there since November 2014 and that's the only time. No emails, no newsletters, no texts, no robocalls. I've never see her on my unit nor have other nurses who I've asked on other units.

Nada, nothing, nunca.

Shockingly, we are a very dysfunctional hospital with issues hiring and retaining nurses as well as staffing issues. :arghh:

I work at a 640-bed Urban Level 1 Trauma/Academic/Teaching Hospital so she's very busy but it's like she doesn't even exist.

I am interested to hear how your CNO/CNE interacts with nurses. How frequently? About what? Does it help with morale, cohesiveness, retention, staffing? Is it authentic or going through the motions?

Do you think there is anything nurses can do? Should nurses reach out to her asking her to communicate with us? Tell the COO (her boss) that nurses need lead from our Nursing Leader?

I've experienced this type of thing before as my first career was teaching and there were building principals who were very out of touch as they never left their office and you only heard from them if there was an issue. Then there were the other principals who were all over the school talking to kids, teachers, outside talking to parents at the start/end of the day, coming out at recess, having open door policy with teachers and students. You can guess where the overall better atmosphere was and generally happier teachers, parents and students.

I never felt compelled to reach out to one of the out of touch principals but I feel it now as a nurse and I'm not sure why but I do.

I'm not sure I would recognize our CNO if she came up and started a conversation. I know we got a new one recently, no idea of the name. She did address my residency cohort, but that was over a year ago.

I work mainly weekends and off shifts, so I rarely, if ever, see folks from the C-suite.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/ICU/Psych/Emergency/CEN/retired.
She came around to each unit pushing a cart of goodies a couple times a week for an entire month...right before the RN satisfaction survey deadline...a question on which was "Isyour CNO accessible to bedside staff?"

Never saw saw her before or since.

:-)) HA!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Moved to the Nurse Colleague / Patient Relations forum for more replies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Admin, ER, ICU, Med-Surg.

Ah, I am sorry to read this post... as a CNO, I round all of my units (I have 3 sites) at least every 3 days, the ones where I have my office daily, the other two buildings I try to hit at least 2 times a week. I feel like it is essential that I see and know all of the staff I am responsible for and I have oversight for: nursing, pharmacy, lab, pharmacy, rehab services, dietary and housekeeping. And we are 250 beds total.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
At my hospital the CNO address nurses at the orientation for new hires with ALL other new hires from the entire hospital all in a big auditorium and that's it.

I'm not kidding.

I've been there since November 2014 and that's the only time. No emails, no newsletters, no texts, no robocalls. I've never see her on my unit nor have other nurses who I've asked on other units.

Nada, nothing, nunca.

Shockingly, we are a very dysfunctional hospital with issues hiring and retaining nurses as well as staffing issues. :arghh:

I work at a 640-bed Urban Level 1 Trauma/Academic/Teaching Hospital so she's very busy but it's like she doesn't even exist.

I am interested to hear how your CNO/CNE interacts with nurses. How frequently? About what? Does it help with morale, cohesiveness, retention, staffing? Is it authentic or going through the motions?

Do you think there is anything nurses can do? Should nurses reach out to her asking her to communicate with us? Tell the COO (her boss) that nurses need lead from our Nursing Leader?

I've experienced this type of thing before as my first career was teaching and there were building principals who were very out of touch as they never left their office and you only heard from them if there was an issue. Then there were the other principals who were all over the school talking to kids, teachers, outside talking to parents at the start/end of the day, coming out at recess, having open door policy with teachers and students. You can guess where the overall better atmosphere was and generally happier teachers, parents and students.

I never felt compelled to reach out to one of the out of touch principals but I feel it now as a nurse and I'm not sure why but I do.

I work in a large (more than 1000 beds) teaching hospital, and nursing is divided into several divisions, each with it's own management structure. Nevertheless, I know most of the nursing administrators from our division and some from two other divisions. I run into them at the elevators or chat with them in the cafeteria. They're just people, and I feel that their interest in me as genuine. I've been invited to attend some of the policy meetings in our division as a longtime bedside nurse, charge nurse and preceptor, and I feel that my input is valued.

If you really want to interact with your nursing leadership, volunteer to be your unit's representative on the Policy and Procedure Committee, Education Committee, Paliative Care Committee -- or whatever committees your hospital has.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment