Manager who is not a Nurse

[OncMurse]

I recently took a position as a clinical Nurse. I report to a site supervisor who is not associated with healthcare. I am the first RN this clinic has had the majority of the staff other than providers are MA's. I am finding it difficult to find my way and since the manager is non medical I am sure she may not understand how I fit in either. I also get the impression that this person for what ever reason feels threatened in some way. I have no idea why though as I have no desire to work as a manager with my over all goal being to become an FNP. Now I am now thinking taking this position may have not been a good choice. Have any other RN's experience d this.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

As a new grad LVN, I worked in an LTC ALF where my boss was not a nurse. (Not to discount other LVNs, but I've been in school taking RN prereqs so I have a pretty sons foundation in the reasons "why" we as nurses implement certain nursing interventions)

Mine was a pretty bad experience. Hoping yours won't be. But if you see writing on the wall, adhere to it. It's your orifice, it's your license. Hope it works out!

[toomuchbaloney]

Yes I have experienced this in the primary care setting.

The individual in my case managed several nurses but really had very little experience with nurses at all outside of his personal health experiences.

That person continually made recommendations or suggestions that were outside the scope of nursing practice or were ridiculous in nature. A couple of nurses quit and the physicians finally complained to the administration who then changed the organizational reporting for the nursing staff.

Good luck.

[OncMurse]

What amazes me is the MD's and mid levels seem to really like having me at the clinic but I simply don't trust this person.

[turningred15]

Yes. This describes my situation exactly except there was one other RN with me.

I got fired yesterday because I was told "it wasn't a good fit". Managers with no clinical experience in healthcare don't understand why nurses need to do the checking that they do or our scope of practice.

Both the docs I worked with loved having an RN and thought I was doing great. I have never been fired before. Just crazy.

The other nurse thinks its all because of money and she is next. They are replacing me with a MA.

[pfchang]

So sorry. Did the docs have no say in the matter? Will the docs give you good references? I would ask them now to write reference letters for you. I worked in a clinic which was purchased by a hospital system. They got rid of all the RNs and hired MAs. It was financial but it stinks and was short-sighted.

[OncMurse]

Wow that is crazy. I'm sorry to hear that. It could have been due to money thought as I have heard crazy things. I know during a recent meeting regarding my role for which I was hired for the manager kept asking if they were things an LVN can do. Most of which they could do however taking calls and triaging them and making a treatment choice to have them seen at the clinic, urgent care or the ED is not within their scope of practice nor is the education of certain things when they are in the clinic. I didn't interrupt but it was those comments that struck a nerve for me and why I posted this note originally.