What did your manager do for you?

Nurses Relations

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I am moving from an inpatient nursing position as a charge nurse on a Pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant floor to a supervisor/manager position in a Pediatric/NICU Stepdown unit. Making the move after getting my masters and the hospital I currently work at would not let me advance and use my new degree, so I am going to a hospital that will. I have been a charge nurse for 3 years now but this position will be a little different. Please tell me what your managers do that make a difference in your lives? What do they do to help? What do they do that brightens your day? I want to be a good manager and it's important to me to make my nurses I will be managing feel respected and feel that they are making a difference. Any suggestions would help!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Well, approaching it from the downside- my big gripe about my manager is she does not communicate well with staff, and she plays favorites. So, I would say if you communicate and be very transparent with staff, and do not pick favorites- you'll do well.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

Be visible on the floor. Make your way around each day and greet the staff. Be available to talk. Listen to complaints, address the issue if necessary, and then let the employees know what you did or what the result was. Prove that you care about what they think and you're advocating for them. If it's a very busy day, don't be above helping the staff, or even throwing on a pair of scrubs and assisting with patient care for a couple of hours, if you're able. You're still a nurse, after all, and the staff will be appreciative if they know you're willing to help them in the ways that really count.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
Be visible on the floor. Make your way around each day and greet the staff. Be available to talk. Listen to complaints, address the issue if necessary, and then let the employees know what you did or what the result was. Prove that you care about what they think and you're advocating for them. If it's a very busy day, don't be above helping the staff, or even throwing on a pair of scrubs and assisting with patient care for a couple of hours, if you're able. You're still a nurse, after all, and the staff will be appreciative if they know you're willing to help them in the ways that really count.

I would add to this excellent post be visible to ALL of your staff, including night shift. And that does not mean showing up during the first or last 15 minutes of their shift (aka- the busiest time they have) and count that as being visible to them.

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My manager was a known and respected ICU nurse for many years. We respected her skills and knowledge. She has hired some awesome people over the last few years. I don't know how she does it, but having great coworkers makes a big difference in your day and in unit culture and morale.

When I had a patient issue and had to deal with the hospital legal department, she stood with me as I recounted my side. I did not stand alone.

She keeps in regular contact with the doctors to ensure good working relationships with our attendings and residents.

I sure hope she stays a long time.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
What do they do to help? What do they do that brightens your day?

They do absolutely nothing to help. They do absolutely nothing to brighten my days.

However, they are sticklers about sending nasty-gram emails with endless gripes: "You all need to step up your game!" "If you don't like it here, there are other places to work!" "Do not call me after 4:00pm on weekdays!"

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They do absolutely nothing to help. They do absolutely nothing to brighten my days.

However, they are sticklers about sending nasty-gram emails with endless gripes: "You all need to step up your game!" "If you don't like it here, there are other places to work!" "Do not call me after 4:00pm on weekdays!"

Oh Dear God. My response to this would be one word: Bye!

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Specializes in critical care.

My manager showed up at 4 in the morning with a bag of candy. It was a fantastic surprise. ❤️

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Specializes in Oncology.

When it's a busy day she has pizza delivered to our break room and answers call lights. She has a really good way of bringing up issues with staff without appearing confrontational.

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As mentioned before: communicate well, remember the night shift has staff so treat them once and awhile, be open to suggestions, help out on the floor if possible, recognize the hard work your staff members are doing, reprimand those who aren't pulling their weight, the list goes on..

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Oh Dear God. My response to this would be one word: Bye!
Unfortunately there's no nursing shortage around here, so resigning from a workplace can be a risky proposition if you have not secured employment prior to quitting.

And because there's no nursing shortage, the managerial team views us as replaceable cogs in a figurative machine. After all, there are several hundred online applications in their computer database waiting to be pulled if a member of nursing staff does decide to leave.

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Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

Biggest positives? She is on the floor constantly, will take calls at any time, will go to bat for our patients with the docs if need be

Biggest negatives? Doesn't keep promises regarding the schedule, doesn't value experienced staff, reminds us we're replaceable

Quite the mixed bag.

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