UAP walking all over me...

[NurseLoveJoy88]

I'm a new nurse and I feel as though CNA's and other UAPs are walking all over me. I have to admit that I am a very passive person and its so hard for me to put my foot down at times. I'm hoping that you all can give me some pointers on how to be an effective charge nurse. Some of the cnas are nice and some are really testing me. I'm 20 years old, squeaky soft voice, and very passive. Please show me how to be tough but at the same time be approachable. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Well last night I had to put my foot down. There was a pt. that had a bm and needed to be changed. His family was there also and could definitely smell it. I said to the aide " Mr. X needs to be changed, I can help you if you like" she tells me " NO, I'll do it after I serve the residents dinner" I reply " he needs to be changed now and once again I can help" She stomps off and changes him and I helped served the rest of the residents. It felt so good standing up for the resident and being a great leader.

However, I was not bold enough to talk to the other two aides that were on a 2 hour break and not inside the facility. I still can't believe I didn't talk to them but I just couldn't get up enough courage. Next time I notice that someone is gone for that long I'm going to have to give them a warning.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

If you hem and haw and are nervous when asking they will eat you alive. In this instance you were polite, gave a directive, and didn't leave room for them to question you.

When you are new in a profession, it isn't an easy thing to exude confidence. However, if you are timid and show that you are unsure about the directives you are given (or worse, allow subordinates to dictate your decisions), seasoned subordinates will take advantage of this. It is a liberating thing to assert your authority once in a while. Don't mistake forcefulness for assertiveness; you can be assertive without being obnoxious about it. If your authority is always on display, you aren't using it properly. Of course, if it is never on display (as it sounds as if is the case here) the same is true.

In supervisory positions you sometimes have to make unpopular decisions, but if the ultimate responsibility is yours, it follows that the final say must be yours also. For new supervisors it is always a concern that subordinates might not respect you. You will gain their respect as your confidence grows and as you make well-thought-out decisions and stick with them.

Getting over your passivity (which you already realize you possess) will only benefit you in the long run. Being an effective supervisor is an acquired skill, and with experience you will only get better at it.