Need Help!!

[heather314]

Hi all fellow nurses,

I need help with my career choice! I have been working as a nurse for 4 years. I worked my first year between a medical and surgical floor in a big city. I came back to my home city and I have been working at this hospital for 3 years. I have been in the float pool for these 3 years and I have struggled. This past year I was really sick and can not get my immune system up because of the high stress that I am having. Some co-workers have been supportive with my struggle of nursing but the majority have been rude and not supportive. I find the workload steadily increasing and I am a perfectionist that needs to do everything to my best. I am burnt out. Since I am absolutely miserable in this hospital I took the first available job opportunity which happens to be a manager position in a community setting. Well a lot of my co-workers found out that I am leaving and have been saying the rudest things to me in regards me getting this position. Where there has been a lot of positive things from the nurses I work with on a regular basis. I know I don't have that much experience but I am actually excited for this position. I have found a new sense of passion in what I am going to do but I do have doubts. So what I am trying to ask everybody is: is this a smart move? I still get a lot of my clinical skills but I just have more paperwork to deal with. As well it is a lot better hours and I do not have to work nights. My doctor has suggested something on this line because of how sick I have become and he suggests to get an office job. I still have doubts because if I can't handle floating to all different areas and do bedside nursing, how can I handle a management position? I really value some feedback right now.... thanks

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Don't bother about what those co-workers are saying . . . you won't have to work with them any longer at your new job. Even though working in a float position has been stressful, it is a wonderful background for your new job. You have been exposed to many different patient populations & dealt with more physicians than you would have by working in just one department.

But - from your comments, I think you may have some misconceptions about the responsibilities of a first-line clinical manager, especially in a community hospital. You will learn about the paperwork/administrative tasks, but don't ever let these become more important than ensuring quality care. You will still be involved in providing care periodically. Whenever your staff needs an extra pair of hands, or you can't get coverage for a call-in, it will be your responsibility to 'assign yourself' to fill in. This is absolutely fundamental - you can't be an effective manager if you just stand by and do nothing while your staff are struggling. Been there, done that - going in to work to cover a night or weekend shift even though I was a 'manager'. I always made sure to work my share of holidays also. Even if I was not working, I came in to acknowledge (say "Hi" and "Thanks") to those that were working on a holiday.

Make sure you are 'present' for your night shift. This may mean coming in very early or staying late so you can spend some time with them. Otherwise, they feel completely ignored and resentful.

Don't try to make any changes for at least 6 months unless you need to correct a problem - that's how long it will take to understand how things really work in your new department. Get to know everyone - schedule meetings with them individually. Remember their birthdays, anniversaries, and names of their children. Always prioritize payroll & scheduling... because these are important to your staff.

[heather314]

Thank you! That is wonderful advice that I will definitely take to my new job. I am excited to get to know the staff and I am going to do the best that I can :).