What happens to your integrity when you go into management?

travelbug1 · Nov 13, 2003

I've seen the same thing happen at places I have worked and it makes me sad because nurses need to feel that the nurses at the top of the organization stand up for their staff . With everything else we have to put up with the lack of support is the worst.

glascow · Nov 13, 2003

I've often wondered the same things.

I think once you get promoted to management, administration sends you to some kind of brainwashing retreat.

That's all I can figure.

CCU NRS · Nov 13, 2003

They all wanna be everything to everybody and when it all comes down the staff nurses are at the bottom of the totem pole. I really believe that the old addage those can't do teach is sort in action with a twist those who can't nurse administrate and poorly in most cases. Sad but true

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 13, 2003

When a nurse goes to mgmt, I call that going over to "The Dark Side".

oramar · Nov 13, 2003

From what I see there is one very specific cause for this change in behavior. Nurse managers are salaried. The only way they can be adequately compensated for the 50 plus hours they put in is through their bonus. How do they get that bonus? The bonus comes from a percent of what they come in under budget. How do they come in under budget? They screw their staff every chance they get out of pay. They leave positions open so they don't have to pay bennies and mandate overtime. They keep supplies so low that it causes shortages. The list goes on and on. I have said before the practice of paying bonuses should be banned.

CCU NRS · Nov 13, 2003

Originally posted by oramar
From what I see there is one very specific cause for this change in behavior. Nurse managers are salaried. The only way they can be adequately compensated for the 50 plus hours they put in is through their bonus. How do they get that bonus? The bonus comes from a percent of what they come in under budget. How do they come in under budget? They screw their staff every chance they get out of pay. They leave positions open so they don't have to pay bennies and mandate overtime. They keep supplies so low that it causes shortages. The list goes on and on. I have said before the practice of paying bonuses should be banned.

Yeah I can see that. I never really heard about bonuses in my area but I see all of the S/S you mention.

Dig your sig line

olympiad27 · Nov 13, 2003

Oramar I would have to disagree with you on the statement about being salaried as the explanation for the behavior. As a CNS I have always been salaried, and it has never stopped me from speaking out against poor medical practice, unfair, rude or discourteous treatment of nursing staff or unethical medical decisions. I may not always be popular with administration but there are certain things that I believe strongly in and one of them is to place value on a good staff nurse and not compromise my integrity be looking the other way when some physician is delivering bad care. I can then sleep well.

travelbug1 · Nov 14, 2003

I don't think they want to be everything to everybody , they just want to look good to higher administration and the docs. If they keep the docs happy then administration is happy. They seem to just blow which ever way the wind blows so they don't ruffle feathers or cause waves.

itsme · Nov 14, 2003

In the LTC where I am at, the nurses are union, and of course the management nurses are not, so we get NO support from them. We can be short 2 nurses on day shift, with 4 mgmt. nurses there and they will not help out one bit. I know they have there own work, but when you go to ask for help and they are discussing where to go for lunch, it pizzes you off a bit. I also like it when they say " YOu get guaranteed raises, I have to ask for mine, so earn your money". Gosh that is sooo not supportive. But at least we have some job security with the union, whereas if the administrator decides he has had enough of the nurse mngt, he can fire them and hire new. I almost wish that would happen! Oh well, brighter days ahead!!

travelbug1 · Nov 15, 2003

So would you say it is better or not to be unionized? I have never worked in a state where there was a nursing union so I don't know.

allnurses Guide · Nov 15, 2003

Here we go again . . . making blanket statements. ALL nurses who go into management do not become unethical or lose their integrity or forget where they come from.

sheesh, what cruel stereotypes.

Our nurse managers work very hard to make sure we have adequate staff. They pitch right in and help if we need them. Our DON and the administrator of our hospital do not favor the docs at the expense of the nurses. Actually, our docs for the most part are pretty good.

Not everything is perfect but life is not perfect.

If you are being treated badly, you have no one but yourself to blame for putting up with it.

steph