new job--3-11 supervisor--advice please!!

4boysmama · Mar 3, 2015

in my 180-bed facility with a rehab unit, 2 long term units and a locked dementia unit - our supervisor pretty much never sits down all shift lol! She helps with admissions (virtually all our admission com on 3-11, and we can get up to 6 a night) She also does the scheduling and pulls aides, etc. She's responsible for calling staff to get coverage for oncoming shifts if there's a hole anywhere. She helps out with incident reports, or other events (acute are transfer, agitated resident, etc) She also does any inservices that are due for staff (there always seems to be *something* from corporate that we need to be inserviced on :rolleyes )

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Mar 15, 2015

Hope things have gone well for you so far. Depending on how much experience you had prior to starting, taking on the supervisor role can definitely be pretty intimidating. You're going to have nights that are a breeze and nights you can't imagine how you survived. Admissions for us are the huge x-factor. Most other things (resident fall, out to ER, etc) can be dealt with more quickly, but an admission can suck up half your shift if it's a complicated one. One thing I did when I started supervising was make a little checklist of my night. What had to be done at a certain time (lock doors, turn on night-ring, etc), and then quick checklists for sending a resident out, doing an admission, shift supervisor duties, etc. That way no matter how a night went, I wasn't relying solely on memory for what needed to be done. Because if it's one of those crazy nights, you're just not going to remember everything. Good luck, hope it's going well.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2015

Admissions are the biggie for me. Staffing, resident assessments with change of condition, incidents calling the family and dr, follow up on new orders, follow up with pharmacy for meds missing or that need ordered, dealing with family or resident issues/ complaints, monitoring care given, assist with call bells, meal pass....\

allnurses Guide · Mar 17, 2015

Started yesterday and pretty well got thrown into the job. My understanding... help with admissions, help with events, taking off orders, and keep nurses and aides on task.

Im pretty scared honestly... been a little while since I've been in a nursing home to begin with... not sure how in the world to keep aides on track when the place is so short staffed... I mean it isn't like the aides seem to be sitting on their butts. They do seem like they could be working more efficiently than they are.

Keep the advice coming. :)

HeyNurse2014, ASN, RN · Mar 23, 2015

No one is orienting you?

TeaMaria · Mar 26, 2015

There must be some kind or orientation, description of shift duties for each discipline. That's a lot to be thrown into í ½í¸Ÿ

allnurses Guide · Mar 30, 2015

They ended up putting me on night shift for a couple of days with the night shift house supervisor.

I've been at this for about a month now and.... feeling rather discouraged honestly. Our 3-11 shift is in terrible shape and I don't see it getting any better without more aides.

5 aides to about 52 residents... doesn't sound too bad to some people but consider these issues... a very large number of our residents require Hoyer lifts just to transfer anywhere... to the toilet, to bed. Most of our beds are crank beds so patients have to ring just to have their heads put up. We have several male aides and many of our residents do not want males... so, to keep everyone dried, toileted, fed, watered... etc... it's challenging.

When I took this job I was told that my biggest challenge would be keeping my aides on task... well, what I've seen is aides who all seem to be working their hind ends off; however I see a lot of bickering, some lack of teamwork, and overall I don't think the aides are being as efficient as they could be.

I'm at a loss. What adds to my stress is, we get at least one admission every evening after the rest of the day shift people have left. Once that happens I've been informed that I am responsible for the ENTIRE admission... the only thing the floor nurse is responsible for is vital signs and a weight. That is ALL.

The floor nurses at my facility aren't really expected to do much of anything other than pass meds and take off orders.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2015

As a supervisor in LTC, you will regularly be pushing a med cart and taking a resident load if your facility is understaffed. Your mileage may vary if the place has adequate staffing and very few call-outs.

You will be overseeing a staff of floor nurses and CNAs, dealing with obnoxious families, handling resident concerns, accepting call-outs, perhaps helping out with admissions, performing chart audits, addressing staffing during the evening hours, responding to resident changes in condition, putting out fires, and so forth.

It is a thankless job that is made easier if you have strong floor nurses and CNAs. However, overly needy nurses and CNAs who run the place can make your job challenging.

Soooooo... tomorrow I start a new job... I'll be the 3 to 11 supervisor at a facility that is new to me. 98 bed facility. I have never done this job before and I'm really excited but scared too! My biggest challenge, I'm expecting, will be keeping the aides on this shift on task. I expect I will have paperwork to complete. I will be helping the nurses with admissions, events, maybe passing meds.. I'll be doing staffing assignments....
What else should I expect? ANY advice is appreciated!

allnurses Guide · Mar 30, 2015

Well I do have a lot

of needy staff that is for sure.

You know.. I kinda like the job so far. What stresses me out the most so far is the bickering among the aides, the admissions, and the fact that I feel like the other managers expect things to change under me and under the current circumstances which I have outlined above... do you think that is going to happen??

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2015

I feel like the other managers expect things to change under me and under the current circumstances which I have outlined above... do you think that is going to happen??

If you somewhat like the job, I would stick around. I accepted a job as a supervisor in rehab the year before last, and went in not expecting to create any significant change due to the dysfunction occurring in upper management.

I'm still in my role a year and a half later. I'm able to survive because I do not create lofty, unattainable goals for myself or the staff. My goals are short and sweet:

1. We will all get along.

2. We will have a good shift.

3. We will keep the patients happy.

4. We will first attempt to solve an issue before immediately calling the supervisor.

5. We will not make promises to patients or families that cannot be kept.

mikijam03lpn · Apr 15, 2015

Hi...

You have to learn how to delegate and follow up on your floor nurses!!!! Make sure you know what to do in a case of an emergency.