RN administration...remember from where you came.

Nurses General Nursing

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I was wondering if any of you direct patient care nurses feel that the nurse administrators should put on some scrubs, say, a couple times a year or so, and really see whats going on on the units. I think once a nurse climbs the ladder to the tippy top, they lose sight of what is happening at the "front lines".

I was charge nurse on a busy 3-11 shift. We were, as usual, short on staff when we started getting slammed with admissions. When our nursing supervisor asked our director of nursing if we could call someone in for some extra help, her reply was "NO...IT IS WHAT IT IS"

Sometimes I think they just lose touch.:twocents:

Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

where I did a 400 hr externship in the spring the unit's nurse educator and director would all don scrubs and take patients if the unit was swamped. It was really nice to see that type of teamwork and solidarity.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

While we've recently one that wore high heel every day, our current one is in scrubs, shows up with staff crisis and has been bedside. I think we've got a real one this time..:lol2:

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

Our DON is awesome! She wears scrubs to work everyday and is one of the best nurses I know! Last week she was one of us in the ER....the sicker they are they better she likes it. She can carry a full load & never miss a beat.........she has forgotten more that I will ever know! She does this on a regular basis ER,ICU,TELE,MS, anywhere she is needed. We love her.

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Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.
Our DON is awesome! She wears scrubs to work everyday and is one of the best nurses I know! Last week she was one of us in the ER....the sicker they are they better she likes it. She can carry a full load & never miss a beat.........she has forgotten more that I will ever know! She does this on a regular basis ER,ICU,TELE,MS, anywhere she is needed. We love her.

Holy crap is this a hospital DON? How big a facility and in what part of the country?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Working bedside is different from being in charge. I haven't been in charge on a shift, but many others have told me the responsibility is enormous.

Ditto that these managers need to get from behind the desk & do some serious nursing work where they actually sweat, and do direct patient care! I have said for years that the need to do a month or two at a time so they all rotate to each unit, & know the problems encountered. And it is usually the same problems, like too many admissions at the same time, staff not being replaced as other staff have called in sick etc, too low staffing, etc.

When we complain I think they honestly think we are all just whingeing. I have actually been told once to 'just get on with it, that's life'. I didn't stay long at that place, as I told the NM patient care was unsafe & I won't risk my license.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.
I am really interested in upper level healthcare administration. I'm not sure if I really want to GO there, though (or just observe from afar) ... still thinking on that. I think it would be an incredibly difficult challenge to try to meet today's shrinking healthcare budget and still deliver top notch care. Is it even possible?

I think I have identified some qualities that successful nurse leaders/CNOs/executives need to be good at their jobs, and those would be 1. an extensive clinical background, so they really do remember and keep in mind what it is like to be at the bedside 2. guts to listen to their nurses and stand up for them, and 3. a way to creatively problem solve within budgetary constraints.

Do these people exist? I am thinking maybe not, which is why we have such a hard time with our nurse administrators these days.

Heya, I know people who went into management/admin with the very best of intentions, but they changed quickly. One told me it is all about money, and if they didn't manage to cut their budgets, they are simply replaced. So I don't think anyone will ever win.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.
I bet it would be really eye-opening to shadow the manager I had one time who would come in at 10 am and be gone by 1 pm! Much to learn there. :doh:

Oh yes I have known managers who rock up at 9 am and are gone by 3 pm, because they 'had a hard day'. My old boss used to do this constantly.

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Specializes in med surg nursing.

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm glad to know I'm not alone.:)

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I tried management and often brought the nurses' point of view into the picture. I was constantly told by higher management that I had to stop thinking like "one of them." I'd remind them that I was "one of them" but just on a different level.

Needless to say, the job didn't work out.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

I've just started working as a unit manager (after 20 years on the floor and a couple years as a house supervisor) and I wear scrubs every day to work. I round on every patient, every day I work, and I help the nurses as needed. Don't assume just because some of us have gone into management that we are disconnected with what's going on. That said, I don't have any desire to go any higher up the administrative ladder. I love being on the floor and serving as a mentor for my staff - that's how I see my role.

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at our hospital the don is just a person with a fancy name. the 3 ceo's run everything...

3 CEOs?

Last time I checked, CEO = Chief Executive Officer. How can any organization be run efficiently with 3 people all claiming to be the Chief?

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Specializes in med surg nursing.
I've just started working as a unit manager (after 20 years on the floor and a couple years as a house supervisor) and I wear scrubs every day to work. I round on every patient, every day I work, and I help the nurses as needed. Don't assume just because some of us have gone into management that we are disconnected with what's going on. That said, I don't have any desire to go any higher up the administrative ladder. I love being on the floor and serving as a mentor for my staff - that's how I see my role.

I was refering to administration, you know, the ones we never see because their office is on the other side of the hospital or they are in meetings. My manager, however, is great. He will take an assignment when needed. Our off shift supervisors also wear scrubs and help out.

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