RN supervisor put on LPN med cart, feels disrespected

Dear Nurse Beth Advice Column - The following letter submitted anonymously in search for answers. Join the conversation!

Published  

So....as a CRRN with over 20+ years experience from floor nursing to D.O.N., I would like to know how it is that when hired as a supervisor you are placed on a medication cart for LPN, and moved from one unit to another, one med cart to another.  There have been 4 days training as RN supervisor and 3 days training on medication cart for LPN.  I am very confused.  How is this appropriate?  They higher you as a RN Supervisor then place you at LPN position and allow the nursing Supervisors their to continue working as supervisor without rotation on medication cart?  Something feels wrong about all of this.  There is an A.D.O.N and a D.O.N in the facility that are never seen and nowhere to be found.  Both young.  Can you help me to rationalize these processes in my mind.  2.5 years to retirement, thinking maybe need to do so earlier, but I still LOVE nursing.  Just don't like the politics and entitlement  noted observed over last 5 years or so.

Share this post

+ Add A Comment

4 Answers

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Without more context, it's hard to determine what the problem lies.

Let me try to break this down a bit, though. It sounds like the facility is dealing with some significant organizational issues.

Here are a few possibilities that might help explain what's going on:

  • Short staffing and role confusion. In many facilities, especially if staffing is tight, roles get blurred. They may rely on all supervisory staff (regardless of whether RNs, LPNs, or others) to "fill in the gaps" with day-to-day tasks like medication administration. This might happen because they're stretched thin and need all hands on deck.  However, if that's the case, it sounds like a poor management decision to hire someone at a higher level and then underutilize or misclassify their skills. This shows a lack of proper delegation and respect for the experience of its staff.
  • Communication. It sounds like you were not given a clear idea about your orientation and your role as a supervisor. Such a lack of communication is a serious concern. 
  • Training gaps or poor communication. Are you being oriented to the LPN med cart, or working as staff? Typically, when you are hired, you are given an orientation plan. There's a failure to communicate the roles and expectations for your position. Four days of RN supervisor training and three days on the med cart could signal a lack of proper onboarding. It's not uncommon for facilities to have inconsistent training across departments. 
  • Management issues. From what you're describing, the absence of the ADON and DON could indicate poor leadership or a lack of engagement from the top down. If they're not stepping up or providing oversight, it might be why there's so much confusion about roles. If there are discrepancies in how supervisors are treated, it indicates poor leadership.
  • Politics and entitlement. Unfortunately, the culture of entitlement you've observed could also contribute to this issue. It sounds like some people might be benefiting from the politics in place, and those in power are not addressing the inequities. That's incredibly discouraging when politics comes before patient care.

Before making any retirement decisions, maybe consider a couple of things:

  • You've been there a very short time, and it's worth getting more information before making any decisions.
  • Talk with your supervisor. Ask for your job description and find out if your med cart assignments are due to temporary short-staffing. Sometimes, issues can be addressed if they're brought up constructively. Listen closely to your supervisor. With 20 years of experience and maturity, you should be able to determine if your supervisor is someone you can work with.

If you decide to leave, look for opportunities outside your current facility. It might worth it to explore other settings where your experience is more appreciated and respected, especially since you still love nursing and have a great deal of valuable experience.

Best wishes on your decision,

Nurse Beth

Specializes in ICU,CCU,Med/Surg,LTC.

Unfortunately, this sounds typical of many LTC facilities. They lure you in with what sounds like a supervisor's position when what they really need are floor nurses. This sounds like a poorly staffed facility doing anything they can to get staff in the door. I would find the DON/Administrator or the hiring manager and get a better picture of what the expectations are. I'm sure you probably signed a job description for the Nurse Supervisor's position and probably somewhere in there it states you would fill in on the floor as needed...well here ya go...welcome to the floor!  It could be that they are training you on the different units "just in case" you need to serve in that role but I get the feeling you will be pushing a med cart far more often than being a supervisor.

Not that it's appropriate, but is it possible they are not staffed correctly or have call offs so put you on the med cart to fill staffing needs?

Specializes in LTC/Rehab, General Hospital Medical.

As a past 3-11 LPN supervisor, and current 7am-7pm LPN supervisor, I totally get where this is coming from. Sometimes I get thrown on a cart if there's an absence or hole, or if someone needs to go home.

I would keep a log or a note in your phone noting how many times a week of your shift you are on a cart. My past two jobs didn't do it much, but it stunk when I did/do.

I was also an overnight supervisor at my first nursing job, except I was on a cart 100% of the time. I got used to it, although it's much easier to manage if you're on the overnight.

Best of luck. I would talk to management and ask them what their norms are. But from what I've read here, it doesn't seem like they'll be too receptive or care very much...

+ Add a Comment