Improving staff meetings

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jan 1, 2012

Retitled and moved to AN's General Nursing Discussion for best chance members advice.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2012

I have a question? When your unit has its staff meetings is it a lecture on staffs short comings, are you treated like children, or is it a give and take of opinions and ideas on how to improve floor performance.
What style do you feel is more productive? When your lectured to do you feel unappreciated? Do you feel a meeting with a give and take discussion is less productive.

No one wants to be talked AT. They want to feel apart of the decision making process and included in the group....that they count and are important. What educated professional likes to be treated a child.

I have always felt honest, open discussions are best, but can be difficult to control and keep productive. At unit meetings I would allow open discussions and gripe sessions....no personal gripes allowed. If I had to bring certain floor performance shortcomings I would let everyone know what the issue was, what is expected and ask for ideas. I have been known to assign studies done by the staff themselves so they are involved in the process AND can experience what a pain it can be.

For me I always had meetings for every shift. Sure it requires more time on my part but if I put in the time and lead by example..... so will the staff. There also comes a time when I have had to tell staff that they have to put their big boy and girl panties on that this (whatever it would be) is not negotiable....whether we like it or not.

I have always found a real shared governance is best.....but it's hard work. What makes you ask?

Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2012

I have avoided staff meetings for the last 5 years and plan on avoiding them for the next several years till I retire.

Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2012

...double post

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2012

Definitely the former. We get told "this is the way we've decided to do things now" [i use the word "we" lightly because the decision was made by a maximum of 4 people], occasionally asked "what are your thoughts?" If anyone cares to say anything (which is likely what everyone in the room is thinking), the person who originally posed the question has an answer ready and they shoot down everything we say until we realize it's a waste of breath to keep talking and stop. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Staff meetings are the biggest waste of time. I wish I could avoid them but they're usually only announced but a day in advance and are done at 7am, so I either get stuck there for up to an hour after a night shift (without getting paid) or I have to start my day on a sour note.

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2012

We aren't talked down to, and our manger asks us for our opinions. What irks me are the ones that are so nasty and negative, but have no ideas how to fix things.

Our meetings will be changing to mostly education and I don't know when we will have meetings about floor issues. It will be interesting. I do think people need to vent, but it needs to be done constructively.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jan 1, 2012

Was in a staff meeting where the NM banged her fist on the table, and said she was tired of this bulls*it.

Of course she didn't know anything ABOUT the bullsh*t .. but meetings are a GREAT place to throw your weight around.

Davey Do · Jan 2, 2012

I have avoided staff meetings for the last 5 years and plan on avoiding them for the next several years till I retire.

I'm impressed, Kyrhamarks. I've avoided Staff Meetings for only two years and would like to follow your lead.

I did attend the requested amount of meetings in the beginning, which was one per quarter. On my yearly evaluation a couple of years ago, my Supervisor suggested that I attend more Staff Meetings. So, I stopped attending Staff Meetings.

The subject has not been brought up since.

It seemed that the Staff Meetings were a superfluous waste of time. No real areas of concern were discussed. It seems the reason for putting on those Dog-and-Pony Shows were for just that: All show.

My technique in dealing with Issues has been, for the past 6 years, documenting Areas of Concern in formal letters to my Supervisor, Director or HR. I have copies of the very few Select Rresponses.

Nobody likes to be critisized, especially in public. I did, on one occasion, confront my Supervisor, in private, after she pubically critisized me. I recieved an appropriate apology from her. I've found that confronting Inappropriate Behavior with Appropriate Behavior usually does the trick and helps to deter the Inappropriate Behavior.

The best to you in dealing with your situation, Casper.

Dave

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jan 2, 2012

I have avoided staff meetings for the last 5 years and plan on avoiding them for the next several years till I retire.

I would like to do this but we lose out on our yearly bonus if we do not attend 75% of unit meetings.

Our meetings basically consist of being told things that they email us everyday, being told we need to do more with less available, etc etc.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Jan 2, 2012

Our manager has an outline she follows, she doesn't preach at us, but if stuff isn't right then she lets us know, but she also has a plan or asks for opinions on how to fix it. This is the format I used also and it works. The only time you-know-what hits the fan is when we have been told to fix something and 2 months later it is the same because people don't do it, don't care to do it, or say it is stupid. then we get lectured.

She also has us email her things that we think need addressed,esp practice items. And lately it has been about people helping to stock and clean up because we lost both of our aides in a cut.

allnurses Guide · Jan 2, 2012

There was a night shift supervisor who got an idea from a supervising class she went to . . . .she made sure she met with her staff as soon as report was over for a private meeting.

It drove everyone nuts!! They needed to get on the floor and get busy and sometimes report could get longwinded, depending on who you were following.

A meeting every shift soon went by the wayside. Whew.

I meet every week with our hospice team. That can get rancorous. Depending on who is there.

I prefer to be like Dave and Kyrashanks . . . avoid meetings if possible.

Fortunately, there is no bonus tied to the meetings . . . however, you do get paid to go.

It just isn't worth the $ . .. IMO.