Unit Manager Role?

I have never been a "unit manager" but this is what I have observed about them at my LTC facility. They check on all staff to see that all required charting is done every day. They seem to have the most trouble in getting the CNA's to do their required charting. They have to do frequent little 20-30 minute "inservices" mostly with the CNA's every week. They have to get the CNA's to do their work and have to deal with the problem CNA's who don't want to work. They are required to take turns in being "on call" at night and on week-ends. They sometimes have to work as "med cart nurses" if someone calls off on the 3-11 shift or 11-7 shift.

If you don't already have a folder/binder for new orders, create one for the floor nurses to put the copies in for you to follow up to ensure orders were transcribed correctly, faxed to pharmacy, notifications/orders charted, etc.

Same with lab tracking to make sure labs have been followed up on. In the past, I created a binder with alphabet tabs and made a sheet for each resident. Nothing fancy, just the resident name at the top and columns for date of order/draw, type of lab, faxed/called to MD, new orders rec'd. (Note: for the "new orders rec'd" column, we either put Y or N with the understanding if it was a Y, to see NN for orders.) You can have the floor nurses add them or add them yourself at your discretion.

If floor nurses are not required to audit carts for expired meds, dc'd meds, loose pills, dates on insulins/eye gtts, inhalers, etc., you could create a schedule for that to be done to keep carts in compliance. Usually once a week is sufficient.

Again, you can either assign the task or do it yourself.

Mostly, I would look at any issues you saw as a floor nurse and create systems to resolve them as UM. Of course, the idea is to create an efficient flow to the work environment with the goal of improving resident outcomes. Best of luck.

It really all depends on where you are working. Some unit managers function as mini DONs with 24 hr accountability of the unit and others are more of just more of a supervisor.

Where I work, we make out shift assignments for the CNAs and nurses, check the daily staffing needs and fix when needed, follow up with all calls to MDs and families, schedule appointments and pick up arrangements, supervise staff, take off orders and follow up with labs. Meetings, meetings and more meetings....daily clinical review, morning and afternoon stand up/ stand down, care plan conferences.....etc.