Newly Hired in Management, Sad and Afraid.

[nette1022]

I am so afraid of my new job. I haven't felt like this since I was a new grad. I was hired in LTC as the top nursing management person (in case anyone from there reads this). The problem is, is that the current top nursing management person (leaving) didn't want to train me. She just showed me forms and told me what they were but didn't showed me what it took to fill them out or when they were due. She accused me of doing things that I wasn't capable of doing because I was new and wouldn't know how to do them anyway. I want to do a good job and I have informed my company of the barriers that were being presented to me. I wanted them to be aware that I am not incompetent, I was facing the challenge of dealing with someone who wouldn't train me. I feel overwhelmed right now. I made notes of everything she DID tell me. I am not afraid of challenges I am good at working my way through issues. I am just hoping that management will give me a chance to learn, and an opportunity to prove myself. Has anyone else ever faced this kind of situation, where the person who was supposed to orient you failed to do so? I guess I would feel better knowing I am not unique in this type of situation. lol.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

OMG - I feel your pain.

It is so sad to me how often this occurs... but I guess that this is also a good thing because it's produced a market for comprehensive reference books on the subject. There are a lot of wonderful reference books for brand new LTC nurse administrators. Give it a Google and you may be pleasantly surprised. As an 'outsider' who works with LTC, I have found the "Long Term DON Field Guide" published by HCPro extremely helpful. It's pricey, but well worth it. Another wonderful resource is "Nursing Home Federal Requirements: Guide to Surveyors and Survey Protocols".. I think it's probably on Amazon.

I would also advise you to learn from your staff. Obviously, they know what needs to be done, how to do it, and what needs to be fixed. Based on your description of her character, they probably have been doing it despite their former DON. Get copies of all the former survey/inspection documents and analyze them to see if there is anything that needs to be addressed. If so, meet with the Admin to iron out a plan to make this happen.

Meet with HR to learn about any staffing or employment challenges & highlights. Are there any problems with morale, retention, discipline? Get their insight on the best ways to address these issues.

You can do this. You're going to shine.