If you are a nurse manager, then you know that the role is not an easy one. It can be challenging to balance the needs of your nurses with the demands of your superiors. It is important to be a good leader and set clear expectations for your nurses. Here are some tips for navigating the many aspects of your role to be a good nurse manager.
A nurse manager is a registered nurse who has completed additional training and education in leadership and management. Nurse managers typically have experience working in a nursing role before moving into a management position.
As a nurse manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the work of other nurses in your unit or facility. You will be responsible for ensuring that your nurses are providing quality patient care and meeting all the expectations of their role.
Some people move up quickly to become a nurse manager, while others bide their time and get more hands-on experience first. Whatever your career trajectory, being a nurse manager offers a whole new set of challenges.
Whether you’re new to the role, or have been a practicing nurse manager for a few years and want some extra tips, here’s some guidance on how to be a good nurse manager.
Be A Leader People Want To Follow
As a nurse manager, you will need to be a good leader. You should be able to motivate your nurses and set clear expectations. Your nurses should feel like they can come to you with any concerns or questions. You should also be able to provide feedback to your nurses in a constructive way.
Being a good leader is not as easy as it sounds, and it means different things to different people. If you’re struggling to figure out what kind of leader you want to be, think about the managers you have had in the past who you admire. They may not have gotten everything right, but everyone is human. Think about aspects of their leadership style that made you feel supported and valued as a team member.
Often, leading by example is the best way to get your staff on side. Don’t be afraid to get stuck in and help them out with hands-on work from time to time. Show them the best way to deal with difficult patients by demonstrating this, rather than telling them what to do. These sorts of behaviors garner great respect from employees.
Encourage Professional Development
One of the best ways to retain nurses is to offer opportunities for professional development. As a nurse manager, you should encourage your nurses to further their education and pursue new certifications. As well as the nursing CEUs everyone has to take and renew, offer staff the opportunity to take specialist training modules too. Your team will appreciate the fact they are being invested in, and that they are worthy of additional training.
You can also provide opportunities for mentorship within your unit. Newer nurses can benefit from the experience of more seasoned ones. And experienced nurses can stay sharp by taking on a mentorship role.
Encourage A Good Work / Life Balance
Nurses have notoriously long hours and shift patterns. As such, it can be difficult to maintain a good work / life balance. As a nurse manager, you should encourage your nurses to take advantage of their vacation time and use their sick days.
You can also help by creating a more flexible work environment. If possible, offer your nurses the opportunity to choose their own hours or work from home to do paperwork on occasion. Most importantly, be someone your team members can call or come to if they need help with an issue. Even if you can’t always help them, being someone they know they can come to means a lot to everyone involved.
Ultimately, creating a more flexible and friendly work environment will help your nurses to maintain a good work / life balance.
Be Organized And Have A Plan
It is important to be organized as a nurse manager. You will need to keep track of your nurses’ schedules, assignments, and patients. You should also have a plan for dealing with difficult situations that may arise.
Being organized will help you to be a better leader and will make it easier for your nurses to follow your lead. Having a plan will also help you to be more effective in dealing with difficult situations. If your team senses you don’t have good oversight on what is happening, they will not respect you as much as they could.
Communicate Effectively
As a nurse manager, you should be able to communicate effectively. This means being able to listen to your nurses and understand their concerns. It also means being able to provide clear instructions and feedback.
Your ability to communicate will be a key factor in your success as a nurse manager. If you can’t communicate effectively, your team will not be able to work together as well.
Effective communication is also about remembering to thank your team members, praise good work, and give constructive criticism when someone didn’t do something so well. All of these things are skills you need to practice, to ensure your team knows you are both sincere and knowledgeable.