The good manager, little things mean a lot!

1. Here is example of staffing crisis situation that was handled correctly. Yesterday was my 10th day of orientation on a rehab unit. It was full, 25 patients with one RN(my preceptor), one LPN and three aids to cover day shift. In fact they were short one licensed person and the acuity was high. They managed to find a RN who had never worked on the floor before to come in to be that licensed person. In the past in every other place I have worked the manager would have been walking around congradulating herself on finding that licensed person and would have gone no further with it. My manager did not stop there. She knew perfectly well that hving the responsibility for watching over an orientee and a nurse that was unfamiliar with the unit would have been a crushing responsibility for my preceptor. So my manager cancelled her meetings and postponed her other duties and spent the whole shift supporting and directing the strange nurse. I must say the unit manager still managed to keep an eye on everyday unit business and keep things running smoothly. So at the end of the day everybody was happy. My preceptor and I had a very busy team but with the support of the LPN and NAs we got through it fine. I was happy because I was learning and growing but not stressed, my preceptor was happy because she did not feel stretched to the limit, the pulled nurse was happy because she was not thrown to the wolves. Who were the winners here? The patients of course, they got proper care from staff people who were attentive and avaliable as in NOT RUSHED. I posted this in the activism forum because when the nurse manager got on the phone and told the powers that be that she was not going to make it to the meetings, that was a kind of activism. Just by taking that one small step and offering herself she had three happy nurses and a bunch of safe happy patients at the end of the day. I tell you I look forward to many more safe happy days just like it. PS I forgot to mention the unit secretaries, on this unit when it is that busy they put an extra secretary on from 11am till 7:30, that way days and evenings have a little extra help at the desk for half a shift. As you rehab nurses out there well know many, many patients are admitted and discharge everyday and that generates tons of paper work and other types of desk work. Having enough secretaries mean nurses do nursing not paperwork.

   Last edit by oramar on Jul 26, '03

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2. 

   About oramar

   Joined: Nov '98; Posts: 7,097; Likes: 5,244
   returned nurse

   8 Comments

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3. 
   Jul 27, '03

   Sounds like you have found a gem of a unit manager. They are few and far between but they are out there.
4. 
   Jul 27, '03

   Wonderful and rare!
   
   Please let your manager know that you appreciate her!
5. 
   Jul 27, '03

   This is wonderful, Oramar, and so rare, it just about takes my breath away. Wow, sounds like a GREAT place to work!
6. 
   Jul 27, '03

   Lovely. Three cheers for her ! They ARE rare, and I, too, consider myself one of the lucky ones. I have such a rare gem as well.
7. 
   Jul 28, '03

   Tell her we all appreciate and thank her for doing such a wonderful job as manager and to keep up the excellent work.
8. 
   Jul 28, '03

   woohooo they DO exist! they do exist!!! there may be hope after all???
9. 
   Jul 28, '03

   When you have someone like her going to bat.....EVERYONE'S a winner!
10. 
    Jul 28, '03

    We have a unit manager like that also. Let her know you appreciate her. Take care and good luck. It sounds like a wonderful place to work.

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