Not Everyone is meant/wants to be a leader!

Nurses General Nursing

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This is not really a rant...just random musings. Why does every nursing organization want to push every floor nurse to be charge, a nurse leader or running the practice council? I know this isn't unique to nursing. You see articles all the time "Traits of Leaders" or "How to be a Leader." Job interviews constantly ask, "have you done charge?" "have you run any committees?" "do you want to be in leadership?" I have had managers ask this all the time.

But what if I don't WANT to be a leader. Being a leader and being an influencer are two different things. I will also speak up for myself and my fellow nurses. I attend practice council, other meetings and am vocal. I believe in educating myself and keeping current. Why isn't that enough? Why can't I provide excellent care as a floor nurse and go home to my family? Why does everyone push for nursing (or the job) to be all-consuming? When I am on the floor, I give my 100%. But when I go home, I want to unplug.

Does anyone else feel the same way? Just my thoughts lol...

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

I agree with the "ramblings" here. I don't get the push for every nurse to be a leader of some kind. It might be as small as pushing nurses to be on committees, it might be as big as pushing nurses to get back to school, "if you don't get XYZ degree and/or certification you'll never make management."

Not every nurse wants to jump on mostly useless committees that seem to take up time but actually accomplish very little. Not every nurse is aiming for a PhD. Amazingly enough not every nurse is just putting in time as a bedside nurse until they get their NP.

If every nurse has a goal for achieving that leadership role, where are the nurses that are going to just be nurses. There is nothing wrong with just being a nurse.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

You could be in my shoes. I want to be a leader, the management says I would be a good leader and then sets new bars for me each time but won't let me get to the point of finally being a leader. So I am done with it. Im going back to the bare minimum. No more committees, no more projects, no more anything.

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You could be in my shoes. I want to be a leader, the management says I would be a good leader and then sets new bars for me each time but won't let me get to the point of finally being a leader. So I am done with it. Im going back to the bare minimum. No more committees, no more projects, no more anything.

Yeah you should only engage in these pointless endeavors if there is something tangible in it for you. No pay bumps + No promotions = No dog & pony show.

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Yeah you should only engage in these pointless endeavors if there is something tangible in it for you. No pay bumps + No promotions = No dog & pony show.

My senior preceptor in nursing school told me the only reason she was doing it was because it was a ticket punch on her way up the clinical promotion ladder. I respected her for that statement.

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Yep!!!! I had no desire to be a "leader". I simply wanted to do my job in a professional manner and go home. However, where I work doing committee work and idiot projects are tied to pay raises so I did them. Do I have any faith in "nurse leadership"? Not even a little. I've been on many, many committees and honestly a ton of hot air gets created and very little good comes out of them but I wanted the pay bumps so I did it. I reached the top of the nurse pay scale without going into management which I have no desire to do so I studied to become a Nurse Practitioner & I'm very happy with that decision. Personally I think a bedside nurse should be rewarded for staying bedside and the fact that they don't want to partake in this nonsense should not affect their career but that doesn't seem to be the reality in my experience.

Well said ! You are my new hero. :)

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
Yeah you should only engage in these pointless endeavors if there is something tangible in it for you. No pay bumps + No promotions = No dog & pony show.

Which is why I did it. I think it was all a facade now to get participation in things. Im so over it.

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

I'm guessing you work for a magnet hospital and they are probably trying to drum up business for committee volunteers. Politely beg off if you aren't interested or don't have the time. But it looks nice on a resume or an NP application and can allow you to network with the leaders/admin in your hospital which could always help if you wanted to get another job in the hospital. It never hurts to have friends in high places and can certainly help in times of need. Just something to think about.

That's literally the reason I did as many committees as I could at my previous job. If it looks good on a resume or an NP application, I would volunteer for it.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

Nurses usually have to lead. So we may as well learn to do it effectively.

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I totally agree with you, Wannabe. We all have different strengths and leadership is not one of mine. I am a very task oriented nurse. I realize my strength is serving/caring for others. I love my to do lists and feel good about giving the best patient care I possibly can. Some nurses have that gift and drive to lead and I say Great! But that's just not me. I strongly disagree that every nurse should be "forced" to be in charge. I've seen nurses actually cry when they have to be in charge. Perhaps if they offer a financial incentive to have nurses be in charge there wouldn't be such a push to have everyone do it. There's nothing wrong with wanting to punch out at the end of the day without additional stress.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Bedside for several decades here. Also have a masters and teach, but on the side. Did charge in the ER for a long time, there were times I literally was the only one on nights who was qualified (new grads and travelers). Refused to sign a charge nurse duties form (new administration came in) that gave lots of responsibilities but no rights if staff were non-compliant with what I was supposed to enforce. Haven't had to do charge since (over 6 years! Yay!).

We now have clinical supervisors, instead of charges, that have to apply etc. and are considered management.

Some of those supps are former students of mine, and I'm fine with that. I really enjoyed going back to direct patient care instead of running the dept.

I had been asked a few times if I was going to apply for a supervisor position or manager spot, by managment types, and always an unequivical "no, thank you, I am happy where I am."

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