What are "caring" qualities of a nursing leader/manager?

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Can anybody give me a few caring qualities of a nurse leader/manager?

Thank you

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I am having difficulty with understanding the question.

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Me, as well.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care, Cardiac, EMS.

It's homework. Do your own. Maybe if you made a little bit more of an effort - as in "These are some of the examples I came up with, what do you all think?" - we might be more inclined to help.

But the value of your educational experience lies in doing the work, research, and thinking on your own - not in getting someone else to do it all for you.

Unless you like the idea of Google being your doctor.

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Specializes in critical care, home health.
Can anybody give me a few caring qualities of a nurse leader/manager?

A "caring" quality I can think of, from experience, is the willingness to help a nurse in need.

When my mom had a devastating MI, I was 1,200 miles away. I managed to cover two of my three shifts, but needed help to find a nurse to work my third. My manager said, "I can't help you. You are on your own".

Fortunately, a colleague of mine took up the cause and found another nurse to work my shift. So I was able to go and be with my mom while she was near death.

So I think "caring" would take into consideration that your nurses' parents are dying, and make allowances for that. Maternity leave (unpaid, of course) is given a free ride, but attending your mom's funeral means a ding in your record and no raise that year. Even if I had been given a raise, it would have been only about 10 cents per hour. While new grads were being paid several dollars more per hour than me. And I was training those new grads, because I'm a "valued employee" with experience.

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Can anybody give me a few caring qualities of a nurse leader/manager?

Thank you

Sounds like the typical academia rabble to me.

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It's homework. Do your own. Maybe if you made a little bit more of an effort - as in "These are some of the examples I came up with, what do you all think?" - we might be more inclined to help.

But the value of your educational experience lies in doing the work, research, and thinking on your own - not in getting someone else to do it all for you.

Unless you like the idea of Google being your doctor.

Well shoot, if you aren't a nurse yet, how on earth would you know what makes a good nurse manager or leader? I think a good leader will give you feedback on your performance, let you know when pts or other staff say nice things about you, and also give you advice or pointers on how to get through difficult situations or how to improve your practice.

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I think that a manager should remember what it was like when they were a new nurse, and be a good support system/mentor for their staff. One problem I see is when managers come right out of school with their degree and no practical experience, it's difficult for them to "be there" for their staff when they have often not had certain clinical experiences. I understand that this is a job of a preceptor, but I will have more respect for my manager, if she honestly knows how to do the job that her staff is expected to do. Being a good manager is way more than just having leadership skills. IMO, it's being able to get your hands dirty and actually be part of the machine when necessary.

A good leader will not keep a nurse, just because they are a "body". This goes for a "good" nurse with experience. If a nurse is toxic to the department, get rid of that nurse. I would rather work harder than have a cancerous nurse destroying the department. This includes nurses who love to "eat their young". I see no need for them.

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I think that a manager should remember what it was like when they were a new nurse, and be a good support system/mentor for their staff. One problem I see is when managers come right out of school with their degree and no practical experience, it's difficult for them to "be there" for their staff when they have often not had certain clinical experiences. I understand that this is a job of a preceptor, but I will have more respect for my manager, if she honestly knows how to do the job that her staff is expected to do. Being a good manager is way more than just having leadership skills. IMO, it's being able to get your hands dirty and actually be part of the machine when necessary.

A good leader will not keep a nurse, just because they are a "body". This goes for a "good" nurse with experience. If a nurse is toxic to the department, get rid of that nurse. I would rather work harder than have a cancerous nurse destroying the department. This includes nurses who love to "eat their young". I see no need for them.

I'm sorry to reply this way. I was trying to edit something that I wrote, and couldn't figure out how. I just wanted to say, that I have nothing against Degree nurses. I DO have an issue with someone that comes straight out of school and goes into a manager type position, with limited clinical experiences. I think that your boss, (in any profession) should at the very least be a resource person both academically and clinically.

I have had managers from both extremes. When the going gets tough, one would run into her office, and the other would roll up her sleeves and help out in any way she could. I'm just saying, I had respect for the one that had experience, and wasn't afraid to get involved and be visible when needed.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Not words, but example.... we have a brand new manager, couldn't recognize most of us and spout off a name. One of our own had her husband in our unit, late on a Saturday night, dying. The NEW manager showed up and was just present, supportive and stayed for hours.

The previous manager of 4 years wouldn't have come if you roped her feet and dragged her in, she'd find a way out if there wasn't anything in it for her.

The action spoke volumes as to her character traits.

I consider caring... not words but actual actions, no matter how big or small in circumstances where nothing is to be gained, and it's done anyway.

so I remain at a loss for words... but I see actions like these constantly from this new manager, so I know she cares.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Respect the big three; Schedule, salary, and family. A boss who doesn't consider the effects of actions on those three things is a poor manager indeed.

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Sheesh -

I really hope our little man teacher isn't upset with you posting a homework question up here...pretty sure this doesn't qualify as a "peer reviewed" journal...

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