Naomi, RN

Hi Daisy.....I sincerely hope that you, or any other nurse manager that has stepped down and shared your feelings here, feel that I have looked down on you or disparaged you. That was not my intention at all. I too work in a very busy, understaffed unit with a great person as my charge nurse who is totally ineffective up the chain of command; and our nurse manager, who we never saw, also resigned 3 days ago. I have great respect and admiration for those nurses who are braving management in this changing time of healthcare reform, HMOs, etc. Yes, the bottom line does seem to be the ultimate goal. Maybe we should be getting business degrees with our nursing degrees. I saw this only half joking. We need to be more, do more, and have more diverse knowledges to stay in the game these days. I do not believe there is a nurse out there now who can survive in a management position, especially middle management, with the conditions and climate the way it is now. It must change, and nurses need to be the visionaries and the catalysts to this change. It won't work the way it is now. That is evident from the sad and angry nurses that started this discussion. To all of you, I tip my hat. Thank you. Naomi, RN

Hi, its Naomi again. I was disturbed by all the negative responses about nursing management. For those of you that have left management and returned to floor nursing, I have some questions. I am thick in the middle of a management and leadership class at an RN to BSN program, and your responses and our lectures have me confused. I want to better understand what processes in our educations, our profession, our values (especially caring), unions, and professional organizations, that has had the ability to keep good nurses out of powerful positions? Why aren't nurses empowered to be the true leaders/managers of healthcare in this country? Why do nurses not believe that they could effect great change and be even more effective at providing safe, professional and compassionate care for our patients anywhere but at the bedside? I would appreciate introspective, honest replies to this querry. We all know about the harrassment of staffing etc. I am trying to find out the real reason that so many nurses cannot ascend the ranks without being trampled down? Thank you in advance for your thoughtful responses, Naomi, RN

I am trying to find a management/eadership theory that would support a case study that involves just what you all are discussing. In the case study 2 units merge and the staff morale is low, the nurses from the previously seperated units are not getting along, and the one nurse that is causing the most unrest is your best friend. And, oh yeah, you were promoted to nurse manager 6 months ago, and now are the nurse manager for the combined new unit. Lots of problems in this study. I need a good management/leadership theory (not nursing theory) to support this case study. Please respon with any suggestions. Thanks, Naomi, RN