Worst things about being a Nurse Manager...?

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 7, 2017

The HARDEST part of my job having difficult conversations with staff - performance, behavior, etc.

The WORST part is probably what feels like endless meetings, and never feeling like I'm caught up with my work. And a constant sense of failure. If I'm out on the floor helping out the nurses, I feel like I'm failing as a manager because I'm not doing "managery" things. If I'm in my office doing managery things, I feel like I'm failing the staff by not being more visible and helpful to them. So basically, I'm just one walking inferiority complex. That's why I drink.

TMI?

MrsRN86 · Dec 7, 2017

You basically summed up my life. It's lose,lose for sure. Ugh.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 8, 2017

I have to agree with klone! In fact, I literally answered the same to myself before I read her post. I am always feeling like I am failing in one are or another because my job requires me to be in two places at once. I stay after work late to catch up on the managerial things with direct reports and no matter what I actually accomplish, more is piled on related to the same direct report or another direct report. In addition, the countless meetings or trainings where no one wants to pay for my time (or that of my counterparts) despite requiring us to show up. Never mind the fact that we are not salaried, so it is more salt in our wounds after an especially long and physically demanding shift, where the expectation is made worse due our working the NOC shift.

Furthermore, I feel very much loved and respected by my direct reports. On the other hand, I feel absolutely no respect from the higher ups. The funny thing is that the higher ups will say that they respect the staff nurses because "they place hands on patients", but show little to no respect for those of us on the front-line that do so nearly every shift. They do not respect our time and they do not respect our work. For example, one senior leader (thankfully fired now) used to treat the front-line managers like we were stupid.

He would talk to us like we were his kids and if any of us were interested in joining a committee led by senior leaders to express our opinions of changes etc. we were told that it was not our place to be involved in such matters and we were over stepping ourselves. However, we were the ones to implement any and every decision he and the other senior leaders developed behind closed doors. Plus, we were the ones to educate the staff on ideas we not only did not fully agree with due to concerns we had to keep to ourselves, but sometimes did not understand. So if changes did not go well, the blame was ours and not their ideas with no input from us.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2017

I work in a prison environment, and I frequently run into meddling by facility administration, who have little understanding of how a medical operation should run. They have tried to become involved in scheduling and staff assignments.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 15, 2017

I work in a prison environment, and I frequently run into meddling by facility administration, who have little understanding of how a medical operation should run. They have tried to become involved in scheduling and staff assignments.

Sadly, it is funny because it is crazy! I am sure that there are a lot of holes in the assignments and scheduling! I have experienced similar issues too.

VinoLover2030 · Dec 24, 2017

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Guest1030015 · Jan 15, 2018

The HARDEST part of my job having difficult conversations with staff - performance, behavior, etc.
The WORST part is probably what feels like endless meetings, and never feeling like I'm caught up with my work. And a constant sense of failure. If I'm out on the floor helping out the nurses, I feel like I'm failing as a manager because I'm not doing "managery" things. If I'm in my office doing managery things, I feel like I'm failing the staff by not being more visible and helpful to them. So basically, I'm just one walking inferiority complex. That's why I drink.
TMI?

LOL. I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you. I wondered if I somehow wrote this myself, except I don't really drink: I stress-eat.

Guest1030015 · Jan 15, 2018

What's the worse part of your job as a Nurse Manager?

Getting sucked into the weeds of everyday drama (e.g., conduct issues, staffing issues, service recovery issues, etc.) and constantly ending up behind on all the administrative tasks for which I'm responsible. Working a gazillion hours and still not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Being torn between wanting to support organizational goals yet still be a staunch advocate for my staff.

The struggle of keeping on top of things day-to-day ultimately prevents me from working toward higher-level goals that would improve the work environment, professional accountability, and quality of care. Because I can't translate any of my visions into reality, I always feel like I'm failing, even if this isn't the perception of my staff or administration.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Jan 16, 2018

Because I can't translate any of my visions into reality, I always feel like I'm failing, even if this isn't the perception of my staff or administration.

I work for a state agency. Government outfits are notorious for "this is the way that we have always done it". My philosophy is that I change and fix what I can and laugh at the rest. I have seen some absurd decisions made by upper management. Me internalizing it and stressing over it isn't going to change it.