Supervisors unappreciated

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 17, 2006

I appreciate nursing supervisors.

However, many people are under the impression that anyone can be trained to fill the role of nursing supervisor, which is totally untrue.

Judee Smudee, ADN, RN · May 17, 2006

A good supervisor is worth their weight in gold. Very important position. Takes a special person to do it right. Should be compensated accordingly. I agree they are underappreciated, especially the good ones.

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · May 17, 2006

They appreciate how ill our patients are - even the ones that are able to get out of bed, and do everything possible to get us extra help from the nursing pool when we need it.

It seems like a difficult and often thankless job, especially when having to pull nurses from one unit to cover another!

Blee

eernuts · Mar 14, 2008

All,

The supervisor job is the toughest in the house. Where I work, the supervisor is compensated at the same rate a nurse manager is. My problem is I'm having a tough time attracting people to the supervisor position because of the hours.

What other things would attract you to this job, knowing that the pay and benes are the same? I'm open to any suggestion.

Thanks!

hollydoll · Mar 14, 2008

Quite frankly administrative supervisors should be part of the nursing executive team as they see and deal with how each unit is managed or not managed particularly on the off-shifts and weekends. In my facility the AS have many more years of managerial experience and education than the nurse managers. Sorry, but sometimes nurse managers don't see the big picture where an AS does.

RN1989 · Mar 14, 2008

Supervisors aren't appreciated because they are nurses. Everyone in healthcare needs a scapegoat for when things don't go right (which is a lot of the time). Since there are so many factors involved in our profession's problems, there isn't a real person to blame. So the blame falls on the most convenient person. Since a house sup. is in the thick of things with staffing, bed control, etc. they get dumped on. In hospitals that don't use sups, then the charge nurses, managers, etc. get the blame.

hollydoll · Mar 14, 2008

Supervisors aren't appreciated because they are nurses. Everyone in healthcare needs a scapegoat for when things don't go right (which is a lot of the time). Since there are so many factors involved in our profession's problems, there isn't a real person to blame. So the blame falls on the most convenient person. Since a house sup. is in the thick of things with staffing, bed control, etc. they get dumped on. In hospitals that don't use sups, then the charge nurses, managers, etc. get the blame.

You are correct. I agree

valkyria, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2008

i agree that supervisors are not appreciated and i have seen how sh** rolls up hill and down. most organizations do not know how to treat their little people at the foundation, the nurses, so what would make anyone thing that things would change further up the ladder? i have been lucky enough to work for one very special charge nurse and equally appreciated nurse supervisor. i would have done anything for either, and they knew it. usually i was called upon and they knew i would not say no. that is the key. build a staff that you know will not say no to you. take care of your nurses so when you need them, which is often, they are there as you are for them. that seems easy but i have seen how difficult that task is. there has to be a distinction and not just in title, for the nursing supervisor. but, administration cannot take care of their nurses so why are we surprised. nursing supervisors deserve respect, recognition and all else that should come with the increased responsibility and obligation. and the day that they do not live up to the expectations of his/her nursing staff, they should be replaced.