Moved up to Nurse Manager

[LaDivaRN]

Not so Happy

[LaDivaRN]

I moved up to Nurse Manager after "much Encouragement" and I am not so happy with this decision. I spent years as a nurse that said "I love my Job" to now I am on a one year plan to get out from a place I used to love.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

Yep. You discovered the truth. management is a set of skills, talents, and desire completely separate from competency and other professions. It's the rare person who actually embodies both a good manager, and a good nurse.management might not be one of your talents. However, remember back to your first year as a nurse, I know mine was hard. I certainly didn't enjoy it very much, but it did get better. Try to stick it out for year, and see if you don't find your groove.

[AcuteHD]

Off Topic Alert!

Big Al, when I was in nursing school I planned on getting personalized plates "BIGALRN" until i realized that without spacing it could just as well read Bi Gal RN. I decided against that.

[LaDivaRN]

Not so Much that I lack skills as I have done management all throughout my life. But the toxicity level from my counter part and boss who follows her every direction make me dread going in to work. I actually enjoy the job and my staff. Even the place of work. Just cant deal with Pinky and the Brain. I have thick skin but daily lashings can also tear that down.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

You're not alone.

I'm with a large organization. We have a lot of difficult filling nurse manager vacancies -- there just aren't that many qualified people. We noticed ~ 3 years ago.... increasing numbers of experienced Nurse Managers stepping back - going to staff roles or into other less stressful support roles.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

I hear you loud and clear! I got out of management after 2 years...I loved my staff, but the rest of it, ick. And a director who didn't back us up! Sucked.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I moved up to Nurse Manager after "much Encouragement" and I am not so happy with this decision.

I totally hear you. I would never be a nurse manager, DON, CNO, unit manager, or clinical manager in a million years. The money is enticing, but the chronic headache is not worth it, IMHO.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

You're not alone.

We noticed ~ 3 years ago.... increasing numbers of experienced Nurse Managers stepping back - going to staff roles or into other less stressful support roles.

Where I work this is still happening!!! Our retention rate is bad!

On another note:

OP: I your management experience as a nurse manager and is it recent? If not, that can make a difference. After at least 1 year here; you can say good-bye to Pinky and the Brain and work for another facility or department. As for the constant beat-downs, health care management is that way. So when you leave this environment, you will see it again in the next. Which is why management is not for every nurse.

By the way, just about every shift I have worked as a new ANM has been a beat down.... very few are not and I work in a very good organization (nationally known and influential). I have the confidence (well won) from the Staff RNs and other managers, but the job itself is just tough.... With that said, I am giving 2-4 years where I work in order to move up to what I am told is more of a daily beat-down from more directions (my current manager is mentoring me to become a director of several departments)! :)