Leadership Role

[nurseofdragons]

I just got a promotion at work to be clinical coordinator of my unit. I am very excited but nervous, because I don't want to disappoint anyone. I have a great rapport with everyone on my unit. I have worked there as a floor nurse for 3 years. This is my first big leadership role and just wanted to hear some opinions. Any advice? Any thoughts on how to really motivate people and get them to accept new ways. For example, we are starting a push for bedside rounding. I know it is hard to get nurses to change their day to day routine. It needs to be made a habit, but I know there can be resistance being that it is a change. I see it myself on the floor when more and more is added to our plate. Any thoughts on what would make you motivated to change or do things differently, or add more jobs to our day? I want people to feel comfortable coming to me with concerns and ideas openly. Thoughts? Thank you!

[Lisacar130]

Are you talking about bedside shift report or just rounding on the patient's during the shift?

[JKL33]

I just got a promotion at work to be clinical coordinator of my unit. I am very excited but nervous, because I don't want to disappoint anyone. I have a great rapport with everyone on my unit. I have worked there as a floor nurse for 3 years. This is my first big leadership role and just wanted to hear some opinions. Any advice? Any thoughts on how to really motivate people and get them to accept new ways. For example, we are starting a push for bedside rounding. I know it is hard to get nurses to change their day to day routine. It needs to be made a habit, but I know there can be resistance being that it is a change. I see it myself on the floor when more and more is added to our plate. Any thoughts on what would make you motivated to change or do things differently, or add more jobs to our day? I want people to feel comfortable coming to me with concerns and ideas openly. Thoughts? Thank you!

So that is not "resistance to change" in the way that people like to imply. It is fed-up-edness (made up word) and change-exhaustion. Do you understand the basic nuance there?

Just my opinion, but the number one way to "get them to accept new ways" is to be honest about why something needs to change. #1. People know when they are being lied to and when they are being taken for fools and when they are being disregarded and disrespected. If they perceive any (or all) of the above, you won't be off on a very good foot.

Leveling with people is the only way.

#2 I'm sure is the antithesis of any good change campaign: I have witnessed repeatedly (they must teach it in Change Management School) that changes are to be implemented with an absolute rigid inflexibility. Which is interesting, because a great many of the absolutely essential changes that must be made, STAT, would lead to disaster somewhere down the line if actually implemented in the rigid manner with which they are portrayed to staff. I'm pretty sure the Change People believe that staff will not even attempt the change unless you threaten to cut their heads off with a butter knife (and write them up, fire them, and report them to the BON and maybe even the FBI) if they don't do the new process every time. What a bunch of malarkey. Just treat people like human beings and things will go much better.

It sounds like you have been given some idea of the agenda for your new role.

Good luck

[nurseofdragons]

Thank you so much for your response! Yes, I have been given certain things already that we need to implement and being that I was just a bedside nurse I know how it felt and how irritating it was at times when new things were thrown our way. I'm hoping that helps me though because I do know what it's like and I'm interested in hearing others opinions.