Dealing with a new, difficult boss - tips on staying sane?

[pinkiepieRN]

I work as a unit manager in a nursing home. Our ADNS recently left and we have an interim ADNS who serves as a "mobile ADNS" for corporate and has done this "interim" thing before. She is the polar opposite of my old boss. My old boss was very laid back, very calm and accomodating. I am very disappointed that she left because we were forging a good boss/employee relationship and I considered her a mentor. My new boss is very high maintenance. I have never said "yes, maam" so many times in my life. She needs a lot of validation that you understand what she's saying and she has to micromanage EVERYTHING. On Monday and Tuesday, she had the other unit managers and I busy with her until 1 p.m. and expected us to have things done by 3:30 like usual when we get out of morning rounds at 11 a.m. We have weights that need to get done and she basically told me that I couldn't leave this evening until they're done. I feel smothered and it's not a good feeling. She's a nice enough person but I do not think I'm going to do well under her management style. She is only here short-term (hopefully) so I'm looking for ways of keeping my frustration under wraps, as she isn't really the type to listen to criticism. Everything she does is the "right way," I think.

I am a laid back person who pays attention to detail but am very empathetic and work hard to put myself in other peoples' shoes. I understand that people have lives, but my new boss admitted that she was up in the middle of the night stressing out about the building! I do care about my job. I care about the residents and I care about my staff. I just need to be able to breathe!

[ICURN3020]

Since it is (hopefully) a temporary situation, my strategy would probably be to grin and bear it. She sounds like she would be very draining to be around, but at this point, you don't have much choice If she continues to have unreasonable expectations of you, I would point out that by keeping you tied up for hours, it is impossible for you to get your work completed. Be polite but firm with her.

Does she require you to say "yes, maam" to her or is that normal for your area? Just curious.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Are weights something that you can delegate?

Can this be a 2 way communication in that you are able to indicate that there's work that needs to happen before you can meet with her--in other words, "can we meet from 2-3:30?" Can any of this be done at morning rounds? Can the CNA's (or floor nurses) get and record the weight first thing in the a.m. when they get the resident's up (which would make sense) and then you review them as you round? If weekly weights/vitals have to happen, I would discuss doing all of this first thing, by the floor nurse, Hall1 on Mondays, Hall 2 on Tuesdays...and so on.

If this director is all into the never ending meetings, then you can look at ways to delegate and information gather....and get a bigger coffee cup, as hours of meetings and you will be craving a nap!! LOL

[pinkiepieRN]

Since it is (hopefully) a temporary situation, my strategy would probably be to grin and bear it. She sounds like she would be very draining to be around, but at this point, you don't have much choice If she continues to have unreasonable expectations of you, I would point out that by keeping you tied up for hours, it is impossible for you to get your work completed. Be polite but firm with her.

Does she require you to say "yes, maam" to her or is that normal for your area? Just curious.

She does not *require* me to say "yes maam" and it's not in my nature, but she makes you say yes enough times to confirm that you actually mean what you're saying that it's the easiest thing to do rather than keep re-framing myself and acknowledging the issue. I'm frustrated to the point where I'm worried I'm going to behave passive-aggressively.

[pinkiepieRN]

Are weights something that you can delegate?

Can this be a 2 way communication in that you are able to indicate that there's work that needs to happen before you can meet with her--in other words, "can we meet from 2-3:30?" Can any of this be done at morning rounds? Can the CNA's (or floor nurses) get and record the weight first thing in the a.m. when they get the resident's up (which would make sense) and then you review them as you round? If weekly weights/vitals have to happen, I would discuss doing all of this first thing, by the floor nurse, Hall1 on Mondays, Hall 2 on Tuesdays...and so on.

If this director is all into the never ending meetings, then you can look at ways to delegate and information gather....and get a bigger coffee cup, as hours of meetings and you will be craving a nap!! LOL

Weights are indeed delgatable and it takes multiple attempts at delegation for it to happen, not just for me, but the other unit managers as well. One of the other issues is that the dietician is constantly wanting re-weighs or putting people on weekly weights that the GNAs feel like they're getting weights on some people every day because it turns into three days in one week! The GNAs are overworked and understaffed and the nurses try to help, but sometimes it's just not all possible. I have a TON of residents who refuse weights regularly and have it documented as such and care planned, but she didn't want to hear any of it.