what do you like and don't like about your nurse manager?

Hi! I might get a job as a nurse manager in a nursing home so i wanted to know everyone's input about what makes a good nurse manager. My background is in Med-Surg, never worked in LTC before but this job just landed in my lap so i'm having doubts about whether i can be effective in this role. What do you like and don't like about your nurse manager?
The thing I haven't liked about various nurse managers is that they left bedside nursing behind. I mean they no longer have that frame of reference at all.For instance, my unit has a problem with having working vitals equipment available and also has problems with worthless CNAs. Everyone knows it, but none of the managers ever address it. I wouldn't mind being a nurse manager someday, but I probably never will because I would insist on having to work at least one shift a week on the unit I manage. I can't help but believe if my unit manager had to experience having patients in trouble and not having reliable equipment around to assess them - or working most of a shift wondering where the heck the CNA was that those problems would be eliminated immediately.So the only way I would ever work as a unit managers is if I could work shifts on that unit. This means I'm gonna have to swing a hammer until I retire, but that's the way it is.

I can't really think of anything I don't like about my NM. She gets right in there and helps us out when things get hairy, circulates in the procedure rooms, is the "go to" person for hard sticks (and often just comes into the room and gets it done if she happens to walk by and sees you scrambling), and still does all the administrative things which need to be done. From time to time she gets a little short because she has so much responsibility and is feeling pressure from above, but if that's the worst that can be said about her, that's pretty good. I wouldn't want her job for all the tea in China-it's like being an air traffic controller but at a fraction of the salary.

I appreciate someone who understands where we are coming from... and as the previous posters have said, someone who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty if the need arises.I like working for someone who is approachable... who I can stop by the office and say "I have a concern... can we talk?" and know that even if I am way off base, she listened, and lets me get if off my chest.I think you need to be firm but fair, there needs to be clear expectations, and the appropriate tools/equipment to meet those expectationsHTH

Quote from lily1289 What don't like about your nurse manager?

Like: Approachable to take complaints too. Good sense of humor. Cares about the floor. Apologies and acknowledges if in the wrongDislike: Has been away from bedside for too many years, and doesn't know how it all really works. Can micro manage at times. He/She at times, ignore complaints that staff bring to him/her and only then does something after it snowballs into something huge.

I want to work wherever all of you work! I have no comment on my NM. She's probably hired someone to stalk me online, figure out this is me and hold my comments against me.

Like:Enthusiastic, sense of humor, realistic, not afraid to pitch in when necessary, considerate, supportive.Don't like:Hmm, not sure. I don't agree with her 100% of the time, of course, but overall I have no significant complaints. I've been truly blessed with great immediate leadership in all of my jobs so far.

I work night shift and never see my nurse manager.

Quote from MN-NurseThe thing I haven't liked about various nurse managers is that they left bedside nursing behind. I mean they no longer have that frame of reference at all.For instance, my unit has a problem with having working vitals equipment available and also has problems with worthless CNAs. Everyone knows it, but none of the managers ever address it. I wouldn't mind being a nurse manager someday, but I probably never will because I would insist on having to work at least one shift a week on the unit I manage. I can't help but believe if my unit manager had to experience having patients in trouble and not having reliable equipment around to assess them - or working most of a shift wondering where the heck the CNA was that those problems would be eliminated immediately.So the only way I would ever work as a unit managers is if I could work shifts on that unit. This means I'm gonna have to swing a hammer until I retire, but that's the way it is.

Quote from GodisthereWorthless CNA? I am a CNA and will disagree with that. We may do laundry, change Depends, bathe ppl who can't do it themselves, but far from worthless. No matter how thin you slice bread there's always two sidesMy nurse manager is actually quite nice. What makes her nice? She takes time out to connect w/ pts and nurses, and makes us feel like a gagillion bucks. She follows thru w/ what she says and is very POSITIVE!!!! Great post OP!!!John 3:16

Quote from KelRN215I don't think the person who said this was saying that all CNAs are worthless but that his/her unit has a problem with "worthless CNAs". I know exactly what they are talking about... we have CNAs on my floor who spend more time in the locker room on their cell phones than they do working. When you have CNAs who roll their eyes at you when you tell them a patient needs to be bathed and don't help change patients, turn patients and don't do their vitals on time, then yes, they are worthless.

A lot of people have major problems with our manager but day to day I really don't mind her. Maybe because I work nights and don't usually see her. What does bother me on occasion is when she sends nasty grams upset about something when she has no clue. She is a diploma nurse that worked OB briefly and then became the OB manager fairly quickly. It has been a very long time since she was a floor nurse. Peds has been thrown in her lap on top of it and she really doesn't want us because she doesn't know Peds. I try to understand that, but she has no idea what it is like to take care of patients that are not healthy and children that are terrified, feel yucky and do not want to be left alone in their rooms. I know that not ALL birthing moms are healthy and things can go wrong, but it isn't the norm. She doesn't understand that in Peds when you have one patient you at LEAST have two (mom/dad!). We also have parents that leave their infants and toddlers so we're also trying to balance babysitting and nursing. We might not get a chance to do the busy work she leaves us exactly when she wants us to even when census is low because inevitably, things happen.I know this is Peds and you're debating LTC but at the end of the day my advice remains, from the beginning be a "working manager". Don't lose your skills and knowledge of how working the floor really is. Even if you haven't worked LTC, get out there and figure it out - your staff will appreciate it! And don't neglect night shift...every now and then see if you can work a night too.