Managerial Promotion

Published

Hello everyone -

I am a relatively new CMA and I recently became employed at a home plus that I knew the owner previously. I had just started working there no more than two weeks, the current manager put her two weeks in and the owner told me that she would like for me to be the manager. Obviously, I accepted. I am going to school to get my RN, and then I am going to follow that up with my BSN. Moving up is something that is very important to me and I would love to be able to show future employers that I am capable of handling business.

I have made it my personal goal to break the bad habits of the current employees so that we can have the best work environment possible. So here is where I need help. The girls already know me from working with me as a coworker, but now that I am going to be their manager. Are there any tips on how to handle situations that I may run into? I have already made up multiple policies (a couple of the girls have a horrible habit of calling in, and some are making errors on the MAR as well) that the owner and I are going to introduce to the staff and have them sign. They have been given multiple warnings and so when they continue to make the mistakes despite being reminded multiple times, I think they should have ONE more warning, and then termination. What do you guys think?

Any other tips are appreciated. I want my coworkers to enjoy having me as a manager, not because I am cool, but I want to show them how to take pride in their work and be proud of what they do. I want them to know that I have their best interest in mind, while still making sure that our workplace is running the way that it needs to be.

Thanks (:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

Let me see if I understand.

You are a new medical assistant, you got a job and within 2 weeks of being hired, you were offered the manager's position?

My first question is: Why didn't someone who has been there longer & has more experience than you get the position? Do you any management experience?

2. What was reason for previous manager leaving?

3. "The girls already know me" not sure how well if you just started working there.

4.You have written new policies? There weren't any policies in place when you were hired? You might want to check labor laws in your state regarding termination. Usually it is verbal warning that is documented, then written warning before termination.

If you are new to the role you are going to have a battle from those with more experience than you.

As a former faculty in a BSN program I would caution my new grads about being offered charge nurse positions within first 2-3 years of being hired. There is a steep learning curve when one is new to role. Many times, my former students did not realize that they could say no, not ready to be charge or even relief charge. They were "flattered" that they had been asked, not realizing administrators could not get the seasoned/highly experienced nurses to take a position full of extra requirements for which they had not been "trained" to do. Don't be surprised if the staff resist/fight you/ sabotage you. What management expertise do you have? Will you be responsible for schedules/vactions/holidays/hiring/firing? managing a budget? Have you written policies before?

Why did you accept the position? Don't tell me " but there is no one else that wants to do it". That is the owner's problem not yours. Did you get a raise when you took the position?

It never ceased to amaze me when new grads don't ask those of us with years of experience why we are NOT applying for charge/manager positions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes. I am a new medical assistant, I got the job and within two weeks I was offered the manager's position.

No one else was offered the position because I know the owner personally and she knows that she can trust me and that I have the best interest of the company in mind. The previous manager left because she was overwhelmed and she wanted to focus on going back to school. She's not pursuing a career in nursing so it made sense for her to do what she's doing.

What I meant by the girls already know me” is that I have already worked with them as a coworker, and I know one of them outside of work.

Yes, I wrote new policies. There were policies already in place, but I took some ideas from policies that I know work, that were in place from a previous job. I have already checked labor laws in my state and I have made sure that my policies adhere to the law.

The people that I work with like me, so I don't think that I am going to have to battle them just because they have more experience than I do. And in my opinion, just because someone has more experience does not make them a better or more qualified employee. I know a lot more than some of the people who have worked years longer than I have. I'm not saying that because I'm arrogant, I just love what I do and I have asked a lot of questions along the way. I have multiple friends who are nurses.

Also – I guess I should have clarified more, I am not the charge nurse, I am the house manager. I work in a home plus, so we have five residents and they all live in a home together. I do not have previous management experience in this field, but I did from previous jobs. I am responsible for schedules, if a holiday happens on your normal schedule, then you work it. No different than from where I was at before. The owner of the company is in charge of firing and hiring, I just give her my imput on what I think of our applicants and their interviews, as for firing, I notify her of anything going on that she should know about, I do have the power to right people up and ultimately decide if they are going to be fired, she just has the final say. I will not have anything to do with the budget other than meal planning.

No, I have not written policies before, but as I said before, I made sure that everything was in line with state laws and that they are reasonable.

I accepted the position because I want to work in management later on when I have my RN and BSN, and I believe that getting management experience in the field now will help me out later on. I didn't choose it because no one else was capable or because no one else wanted the job. Yes, I did get a raise.

Not to be rude, but I don't really understand your hostile approach. I guess I wouldn't really call it hostile, but you have a degrading demeanor about the situation that I really don't appreciate. There is a difference between offering advice and acting condescending to someone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology, Rehab, Public Health, Med Surg.
Hello everyone -

I am a relatively new CMA and I recently became employed at a home plus that I knew the owner previously. I had just started working there no more than two weeks, the current manager put her two weeks in and the owner told me that she would like for me to be the manager. Obviously, I accepted. I am going to school to get my RN, and then I am going to follow that up with my BSN. Moving up is something that is very important to me and I would love to be able to show future employers that I am capable of handling business.

I have made it my personal goal to break the bad habits of the current employees so that we can have the best work environment possible. So here is where I need help. The girls already know me from working with me as a coworker, but now that I am going to be their manager. Are there any tips on how to handle situations that I may run into? I have already made up multiple policies (a couple of the girls have a horrible habit of calling in, and some are making errors on the MAR as well) that the owner and I are going to introduce to the staff and have them sign. They have been given multiple warnings and so when they continue to make the mistakes despite being reminded multiple times, I think they should have ONE more warning, and then termination. What do you guys think?

Any other tips are appreciated. I want my coworkers to enjoy having me as a manager, not because I am cool, but I want to show them how to take pride in their work and be proud of what they do. I want them to know that I have their best interest in mind, while still making sure that our workplace is running the way that it needs to be.

Thanks (:

Where to start?? All this in 2 weeks?

"have made it my personal goal to break the bad habits of the current employees"

"The girls"

"I want to show them how to take pride in their work "

"a couple of the girls have a horrible habit of calling in, and some are making errors on the MAR as well"

" think they should have ONE more warning, and then termination. "

" I have already made up multiple policies"

You sound like someone with an enthusiastic attitude. In fact, so enthusiastic you'll drive those coworkers right out the door.

Honestly, read what i quoted.

"Girls" is so patronizing-- i assume you mean grown women

They have no pride in their work? -- thank goodness you're there to help them with it

I'm not even going to address the rest.

Imagine yourself in their shoes. Then imagine a brash 2 week grad coming in to make you straighten up and fly right.

I think you mean well and it's obvious that you have a high standard of excellence👍👍🏽

But i would seriously urge you to rethink your approach to your team

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I referred to them as the girls because they are all around my age and a couple of them are younger, you guys take things too literally. Yes, I do intend to break their bad habits, worst case scenario, I would rather them lose their job than lose their licence. As for them taking pride in their work, a lot of them just show up and don't really take the job as seriously as I think that they should. First of all, I wouldn't be in their shoes, but if I were in their shoes, I wouldn't have much to say because I would know that I had been ******* up and in the medical field, you can't afford to just not give a **** about what you do.

I'm beginning to think that posting anything on this website is a joke, since I'm not a "Nurse" yet, and apparently everyone on here like to eat your young alive.

I'm glad I'm so terribly enthusiastic, hopefully by the time I get around to your guys's age and point in life, I'll still be a happy person to be around. Damn. Wouldn't hurt for you guys to offer a little bit of encouragement.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology, Rehab, Public Health, Med Surg.

You asked---- I replied. *shrug*.

You don't get to control the answers

I thought my response was positive. I complimented you on your enthusium , your good intent and your sense of excellence. Urged you to rethink your stance and gave examples why I think that. At no time, did I attack you or make comments about you not being a nurse or try to "eat my young". ----yawn----

Good luck to you with this new venture

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

I wasn't aware that any state licensed medical assistants. I was under the impression that MAs are UAP who may have elected to pursue certification and become a CMA or registration and become a RMA.

Did you have the policies reviewed by a legal or risk management professional to ensure they are compliant with state and local laws? Looking up law and knowing how to interpret and apply the law are two different skills. Just like a patient doing a symptom search on Google to figure out what's wrong rather than consulting with a licensed healthcare practitioner.

Your words make it sound like you want to be in charge rather than a team player and are seeking to either change what you have decided are unprofessional attitudes and work ethics and you need to clean house. Any manager, especially a young new grad medical assistant, that wants to create all new policies and clean house raises red flags. Perhaps that not what you meant but those are the words that you typed.

It's great that you personally know the group home owner and she trusts you, but look at the words you posted here objectively and perhaps you can understand the responses you received. Enthusiasm is great but you don't want to alienate your coworkers or worse be a manager without a staff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I wasn't aware that any state licensed medical assistants. I was under the impression that MAs are UAP who may have elected to pursue certification and become a CMA or registration and become a RMA.

Did you have the policies reviewed by a legal or risk management professional to ensure they are compliant with state and local laws? Looking up law and knowing how to interpret and apply the law are two different skills. Just like a patient doing a symptom search on Google to figure out what's wrong rather than consulting with a licensed healthcare practitioner.

Your words make it sound like you want to be in charge rather than a team player and are seeking to either change what you have decided are unprofessional attitudes and work ethics and you need to clean house. Any manager, especially a young new grad medical assistant, that wants to create all new policies and clean house raises red flags. Perhaps that not what you meant but those are the words that you typed.

It's great that you personally know the group home owner and she trusts you, but look at the words you posted here objectively and perhaps you can understand the responses you received. Enthusiasm is great but you don't want to alienate your coworkers or worse be a manager without a staff.

That was my mistake – I am a Certified Medication Aide, not a medical assistant. I apologize, I was typing this towards the end of my shift after a long, long day so please bear with me (:

I had the owner review the policies and she was impressed. I can see how it might look that I want to be in charge and clean house; I guess I should have worded the whole thing different.

I am big on being a team player. I always say it takes team work to make the dream work. I do think that in this situation change is needed. I will not be changing the policies alone, that is one of the things the owner and I discussed. These are issues that have been a problem for a while and the previous manager never really put her foot down and held people accountable for their actions. I just want the employees to be mindful of the things that they are doing, people have forgotten to sign off on meds, or didn't sign in the right place multiple times since I have been here and it creates a lot of confusion and frustration for myself, and the other employees. And then when something is said to them about it, they just shrug it off like it's not that big of a deal to them. The owner is on board with everything 100%, we have discussed the things that we want to work on in great detail and we are both on the same page in that we agree that there are things that we all need to do to improve.

Like I said, I guess I should have waited until I got some sleep to put this on here because I should of thought how I could have worded it all more appropriately. I was just excited to get some tips and suggestions on how to help myself be the best that I can be, and to try to encourage the other employees to do the same. That's the whole reason I posted this, to try and get an understanding so that this can be as smooth and as positive of a transition as it can be. I know there are going to be bumps in the road, but like I said I want the staff to know that I have us all in the best interest. I would hate to see state come in and someone lose their license because they forgot to sign off where they were supposed to.

And honestly, thank you for the way you worded your response.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

One suggestion is that state inspections are public record. Review findings for similar settings to see what other companies may have missed and got cited for.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

It's early, and I haven't had a lot of caffeine yet, so apologies in advance if I am totally off base. BUT - if this work setting involves patient care... "Nursing Care", who in the heck is responsible for this?? I doubt whether any state's Nurse Practice Act permits a CMA to supervise any aspect of nursing care. They certainly can't delegate. Who is running the show?

Color me befuddled.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion