Okay, here is the scenario. My nurse manager has "retired" shall we say and her position needs to be filled. Well, I threw my hat in the ring, thought that would be a good idea considering that I have experience and BSN. What the hay, may as well give it the ole college try right?
In any case, my don states she will interview me, but one thing she has to point out is my poor conflict resolution and delegation skills. Really? How do you resolve conflict when much of the staff are lazy, unprofessional, and inadequately skilled? So, because, I won't let a nurse who puts ear drops in someone's eyes, lead a code, I'm bad at conflict resolution? Or because, I won't stand by with someone who is infarcting, and let the nurse not give him Asa, nitro, and O2, I have poor conflict resolution skills?
Don't get me started on delegation. How can you delegate to a med tech, LPN, or other staff that pays you absolutely no mind? You write them up but to no avail. No consequences, no suspension, no backing from management. Well you know what? You can keep your little Nurse manager position and you know where you can put it!
Sorry, I'm just a little teed off and venting. Thanks for allowing me to vent. Please give me any suggestions, in fact ALL suggestions are welcome.
Let me first thank everyone for their replies, albeit, some are very short, curt, and a bit disrespectful. Nevertheless, I did ask for ALL comments, so that's what I get. Please understand that this was a mere vent, that is all.
What doesn't suprise me is the typical attacks that I received, especially from Ms. Ashley, PICU RN, but it is quite unfounded, Ms. Ashley, hardly knows me, and definitely doesn't know the staff that I've discussed. However, she politely puts her worthless 2 cents in unabashedly. Well, I guess that's it for expressing my feelings, but again, I can't expect anything less, especially coming from nurses, who are under the mindset of attack, attack, then attack some more. Pity.
Had Ashley Picu Rn responded to my post in such a way I would not have been offended. Sometimes it's really hard to take criticism through these forums. I've been in your shoes reading something I didn't like. Nurses respond to these posts not to be mean, but to give you the benefit of their experience. Their knowledge is priceless if you can set your ego aside and consider it.
Determined2doit plainly stated that she had no backing from management when she did write staff up. It sounds to me like the current manager and DON did nothing to help improve things.
Let me first thank everyone for their replies, albeit, some are very short, curt, and a bit disrespectful. Nevertheless, I did ask for ALL comments, so that's what I get. Please understand that this was a mere vent, that is all.
What doesn't suprise me is the typical attacks that I received, especially from Ms. Ashley, PICU RN, but it is quite unfounded, Ms. Ashley, hardly knows me, and definitely doesn't know the staff that I've discussed. However, she politely puts her worthless 2 cents in unabashedly. Well, I guess that's it for expressing my feelings, but again, I can't expect anything less, especially coming from nurses, who are under the mindset of attack, attack, then attack some more. Pity.
With a reply like this, I can see why your boss has doubts.
When I read the title of the thread ... "Lacking Conflict Resolution and Delegation Skills...Really?".... my first thought was that an easy way to demonstrate both at the same time would be to simply say "get someone else to do it" and turn and walk away..... delgation and ending a conflict in one fell swoop, so to speak.
When you post on the Internet, you might not always get the answers you want. However, sometimes anonymity works in that, you are getting unbiased answers from people that have experience. Not agreeing or disagreeing with anyone, just that anonymity does sometimes cloak us so that we make comments that we might not feel comfortable making in person.
It's rare for staff to be promoted to management , even in the best circumstances. This is because the staff has learned the working relationship at a mutual level and that is difficult to change.
It sounds like your concerns with the staff are legitimate, maybe even right on. However, if you express those concerns with even a hint of anger/disdain/exasperation... the "professional" demeanor is lost.
Therefore... the impression of your conflict resolution and delegation skills is out the window.
"All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players"
@determined2doit - well your manager gave you feed back of why you wouldn't be hired "lacking Conflict Resolution and Delegation Skills" given your current outlook BUT the fact that she agreed to interview you means that you still have a chance should you prove yourself worthy. Ask yourself why do you want the position? what can you contribute, how can you solve those problems you mentioned?.
Yes its probably true staff is lazy, doesn't give a dam, is partly incompetent, won't listen etc BUT whoever gets hired into the management spot has to deal with all of those issues and needs to come up with a way fix it. So if you really want the job think about it and find a away to address those problems and make it work.
When I read the title of the thread ... "Lacking Conflict Resolution and Delegation Skills...Really?".... my first thought was that an easy way to demonstrate both at the same time would be to simply say "get someone else to do it" and turn and walk away..... delgation and ending a conflict in one fell swoop, so to speak.
Bahaha! Love it! (Of course loving it is one reason I'd never be promoted to management!)
To the OP, now that you know what your manager thinks your weaknesses are, it's the perfect opportunity to demonstrate to him that you can improve on them. Instead of looking at this as something to be offended by, look at it as something to exploit and take advantage of. You now know what management skills to "play up" to impress your boss in the future. Go out of your way to show how you can kick ass at delegating and resolving issues peacefully.
Let me give you an example. One of my biggest pet peeves is when CNAs just write "18" for respiratory rates without actually counting. I had an aide recently do this on a resident whose respers I *knew* were in the thirties. I *could* have marched up to the aide and chewed her out. I *could* have made a snide, condescending comment. Instead I said "hey, do you want to see something cool?" and handed her my watch and took her in the room. I told her to watch how fast the res was breathing by seeing how his stomach was rising and falling. I commented how easy this was to miss unless you really look. I explained how important this was because increased respers can indicate an infection. She was impressed. Never once did I accuse her of anything or even imply it. Now she always gets super accurate respers and is proud of it and proud that she understands why they are important. And I shamelessly informed my boss that it was me who begat this sudden burst in accuracy.
So you see, I improved on this aide's ability to be delegated this nursing task. I also averted a potential drama situation by fixing her incompetence in this area WITHOUT making her feel picked on, and without her copping an attitude. Something we all know CNAs can do very easily when confronted.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
let me first thank everyone for their replies, albeit, some are very short, curt, and a bit disrespectful. nevertheless, i did ask for all comments, so that's what i get. please understand that this was a mere vent, that is all.
what doesn't suprise me is the typical attacks that i received, especially from ms. ashley, picu rn, but it is quite unfounded, ms. ashley, hardly knows me, and definitely doesn't know the staff that i've discussed. however, she politely puts her worthless 2 cents in unabashedly. well, i guess that's it for expressing my feelings, but again, i can't expect anything less, especially coming from nurses, who are under the mindset of attack, attack, then attack some more. pity.
the internet doesn't have the benefit of body language, facial expressions, etc. what is often perceived as "the typical attack" is often merely a well-meaning but direct response that lacks sugar coating. your response to the replies you got was, however, deliberately nasty. that speaks to your conflict resolution skills, and i'd agree that they need some improvement.
How can you delegate to a med tech, LPN, or other staff that pays you absolutely no mind? You write them up but to no avail. No consequences, no suspension, no backing from management. Well you know what? You can keep your little Nurse manager position and you know where you can put it! 
imintrouble, BSN, RN
2,406 Posts
Had Ashley Picu Rn responded to my post in such a way I would not have been offended. Sometimes it's really hard to take criticism through these forums. I've been in your shoes reading something I didn't like. Nurses respond to these posts not to be mean, but to give you the benefit of their experience. Their knowledge is priceless if you can set your ego aside and consider it.
You don't have to agree, just think about it.