Management of Personalities Question

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Specializes in LTC, Education, Management, QAPI.

Ok, so I have about 20 days left as a LTC DON. I have thrown in the towel and want nothing more to do with it, however I refuse to have "short timers" syndrome. I have one severely stressful situation left that I want to deal with before I leave if I don't do anything else, and it has to do with an Supervisor and one of my Unit Managers. Both have their positive and negative points, however they do not get along at all. My Supervisor is very experienced and knows what she is doing. My Unit Manager is also very experienced. The Unit Manager has a little bit of an overbearing personality, is very loud, and can be very quite "overboard." My problem is that the Unit Manager says the Supervisor is lazy and when the UM comes in on the weekend, everything is messed up. The Supervisor says the UM is crazy, loud, and does not know how to talk to people. While this may be true, I am unable to get them to come to terms. My personal feeling is that the UM is responsible for that unit all the time while the supervisor is only responsible at certain times when clocked in, so the UM has the right to be upset when she comes in on her day off and sees an area that is messy and staff members sitting down not working. I've tried group meetings, one on one, educational sessions, professional seminars, almost anything you can think of. BOTH of them are valuable to our facility... ANY advice would be greatly appreciated, I am determined to get them back together and on the right track before I leave.

Thanks! B

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not to be a negative nancy.....but if they don't want to solve this, it won't be solved. to keep at it like this, they are getting something out of it, ie secondary gain....? what? good luck

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

No advice for your situation. Just wanted to say I'm sad to hear of another DON throwing in the towel. The job just shouldn't be THAT bad, but I no from experience how bad it is! Had a head hunter call me just this week and my immediate answer was absolutely NOT. The pay was like $20,000 more than I make now....not worth it!

Good luck on whatever new path you choose.

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Specializes in LTC, Education, Management, QAPI.

thanks NascarNurse! I had a good run, I think I did good things, but it's time to get to my passion which is teaching. I hate giving up, and in some ways I'm not, but it is just too much. It's almost as if you have to NOT care to do the job right, as if the regulations are making DON's and LTC nursing in general so difficult that no one can do it. Props to all of you DON's who are rocking it out!!!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Not all DNS jobs are horrible. It's taken my 10 years and 6 different facilities but I have finally found the company where I fit in. Is it perfect? Not by a long shot, but it's a small company that supports the staff and the management team. If I want to change a policy, I have to write it and ask the medical director. I've worked for big companies where I had to ask 28 people just to buy toilet paper! The regs are the regs and that part doesn't get any easier and I have a lot of stress in my life because of work, but my staff rocks and really cares about the people we care for. The company really cares, too. There are good places out there.

NurseGuyBri, I hope you are happy and fulfilled in your new endeavor.

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Specializes in LTC, Education, Management, QAPI.

Thanks Cape Cod! I just know that my heart is better used spending time with people educating and uplifting them. That is limited in the ADNS role. Now, I am not saying I'll never do it again- I believe it is the company I work for that is making it difficult. This new company will use me as an ADNS and DCD at times, but that's ok, I believe their support system is much stronger. It's a step up :)

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Specializes in Chemical Dependency, Corrections.

I have been a Registered Nurse for forty years and still work full-time in an acute care setting. I have little in the was of management experience because I never want to be in the position you are currently facing. Having to deal with conflict and dissension and solving those issues as a major part of my job. No thank you. However, I will tell you what I would do not based on any formal experience or training but just what I personally would do. I would create a time without restrictions that both your unit manager and the Supervisor could meet with you maybe even outside the facility - be a time when no one has to return to their shift etc. I would ask that they do this as a personal favor to you and as professional responsibility. I would start with the positives; ex[experience, valuable to the facility etc. I would tell them that you are leaving your position but that does not mean you no longer care about the facility or them. tell them you want to give them some advice and some insight. They do not have to like one another . The work place is not a popularity contest. They must, however, work together and respect one another at all times. Each one must learn to compromise; that is what allows us to get along in life. Bottom line, this is not about them and what one does or does not do. It is all about the residents, their co-workers and the company that pays them a salary. Their behavior and attitude is not good for morale or team-building. When this is the case, it is the residents who suffer. So now it is up to them and it will not affect you one way or another except you know you have done the right thing before your leaving. Best of luck where ever you go and whatever you do.

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Specializes in Correctional, QA, Geriatrics.

I have been in a few different management positions in my 30+ years. I find I tend to fall back on the management lessons I was taught in the Army way back in the day. I mention that because the primary reason for being a military unit is to accomplish the mission. In the process of doing that one always encounters difficult personalities and those who simply do not like each other or respect each other. The trick is to not so much impose the leaders will on the troublemakers as it is to remind them of their responsibility to the mission as the primary thing AND to put it on the troublemakers to fix it.

So in other words the mission is the smooth running of the unit and caring for the residents. That is the primary responsibility for both the supervisor and the unit manager; liking how it is done or not done by each one is not relevant. If it was me I would remind them each of that and then ask each of them separately how they would fix the problems with their interactions and dislike for each other while remembering the primary mission. Make them responsible for fixing the problem they created and ensuring the smooth running of the unit and good care of the residents. This is an excellent learning opportunity for both of them: making it work so the mission is not compromised regardless of dislike of styles of management or personalities.

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Specializes in LTC, Education, Management, QAPI.

As I go back through and read these posts, I wanted to say thanks to everyone. I am settling into my Regional Educator career for a large LTC/SNF/Rehab and am really enjoying it. I'm not going to blast my last company and although I miss it, I know that I made the right decision. It should not be that bad, being a DON, but looking at my new company and how much they support their facility versus my previous one, I now see that if I want to be a DNS/DON, it will be with the current company and not the previous one. The level of support is night/day and there is no comparison. Cape Cod is right on the money because it is not the DON job, it is the company behind the job that makes it good or bad. Thanks!

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You know what would be great? You & Cape Cod Mermaid could run a facility......I'd be first in line to come work for you ! So glad to hear that you enjoy your new position.....but I know you were a great DON. Good luck in the future !

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
You know what would be great? You & Cape Cod Mermaid could run a facility......I'd be first in line to come work for you ! So glad to hear that you enjoy your new position.....but I know you were a great DON. Good luck in the future !

Yeah, but who would get to be in charge?!? :sarcastic:

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Specializes in retired LTC.
Yeah, but who would get to be in charge?!? :sarcastic:
Shared governance?
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