Nursing is one of the most rewarding professions, and most nurses have a strong sense of purpose when they enter the field. They help others and want to make a difference in patients’ lives.
This profession requires hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. Nurses go above and beyond the call of duty. They deal with various people in various situations, which means they will learn time management skills and how to juggle priorities. They have not only the responsibility of helping you but also your family.
As a nurse manager, you ensure every shift goes smoothly. It isn’t always easy, but there are several things you can do to ensure you are a successful nurse manager. If you are interested in learning how to manage your team of nurses, we’ve listed some tips that will prove beneficial.
Learn New Skills
As a nurse manager, you must constantly learn new skills. It could mean learning how to perform simple tasks like taking patient vitals or how to work your way around the electronic medical record (EMR). If you want to be a successful nurse manager, you need to ensure you complete a BSN or MSN program. These programs will give you the skills necessary to succeed as a team leader. There are plenty of online courses available to choose from. For example, an online master’s in nursing administration can help you gain managerial expertise and prepare you for the role of a nurse manager. The online route will enable you to upskill flexibly and avoid burnout.
Know How to Communicate
If you aren’t an effective communicator, conflicts can arise between nurses and co-workers. This will result in decreased morale, medical negligence, and ultimately poor patient outcomes. You also need to ensure relations between nurses are amicable. So, hone your communication skills.
When you communicate effectively, others will listen to what you say. It is vital if your shift needs extra hands. If someone steps in to help, they must know what to do.
Maintain Professionalism
Whether you communicate with nurses, physicians, other staff members, or patients, you need to do so professionally. You should be able to remain calm and helpful, even in times of duress. You should reflect on the good qualities of being a nurse and apply these to your new role. As a nurse manager, you are expected to be someone others can look up to. You need to set an example for the nursing staff and follow the rules.
Know How to Delegate
Understand that you can’t do everything by yourself. When you are a nurse, you may have been accustomed to doing everything yourself, but as a manager, you must delegate. Nurses will not feel bad or guilty for asking for assistance from time to time, and it is your job to ensure they feel comfortable doing so. If a nurse is doing a lot of work alone, it will not help their morale. So, split tasks and distribute them based on every nurse’s competency.
Know Your Limits
Every manager has upper and lower limits. As a nurse manager, you may find that your lower limit is not as important as the upper limit. You may feel tempted to take on as much as possible. However, doing this could harm your performance because you will not have the energy or time to focus on everything.
It would help if you remembered that your limits would vary depending on the shift and day. It is something that will occur as time goes on. Some days, you may feel like doing everything, and some days you may need to scale back. Balance your routine, and don’t overburden yourself by crossing your physical and emotional limits.
Be a Good Listener
You must be a great listener, especially if you want to succeed as a nurse manager. Listen to nurses, physicians, and patients and understand/address their concerns or issues. If a problem comes to your attention, deal with it promptly. The longer you wait, the worse it will become.
If a nurse has a problem with another nurse, don’t get involved until you speak to both parties. Hear both sides before making any decisions. It will help you get the complete story.
Prioritize Patient Safety
No one must get injured during their shift, so you should try to do everything in your power to ensure this happens. It involves ensuring your nurses are not burned out. It is your job to keep everyone safe, including patients. Take care of things quickly, and do not let them fester. It would help ensure that all accidents were documented and reported.
Maintain a Positive Attitude
Being a positive and encouraging manager is an absolute must for you to succeed in this role. It means dropping negative attitudes and focusing on solutions, not problems. If you display positive character, your nurses will be more likely to go the extra mile for you and each other. You will also be more likely to resolve problems more quickly.
Keep Your Staff Happy
An engaged staff is an effective one. So, do all you can to ensure your nurses are satisfied with their jobs. It could include offering flexible schedules and competitive pay. It would help if you kept work conditions as stress-free as possible. Nurses who enjoy their work are likely to produce better patient outcomes.
Lead by Example
It would help if you led by example when you are a nurse manager, which means you need to manage your time wisely and avoid mistakes. Others must know you are human, and it is okay to be fallible as long as you make up for those mistakes with good work later. Ensure you are always prepared, and if you do not know the answer to something, ask for help.
Conclusion
As a nurse manager, you may feel too much responsibility or blame if things go wrong. It would help if you always remembered that patient safety comes first. This article mentions a few tips that can help you manage your team and ensure patient safety. Communicate well, keep your team happy, and lead by example. That’s how good managers achieve team goals.