You left work on Friday as a staff nurse and arrive on Monday as a supervisor. Everything looks the same, but everyone is looking at you with new expectations. Suddenly those new shoes are tight and uncomfortable.
Many nurses walk into the role of supervisor with little to no training. With the desire to make a difference, they eagerly step up to the plate before realizing they’re going to be supervising their friends. The very people they complained and commiserated with. Adjusting to the new role, and walking the line between friend and supervisor can be challenging, but there’s no need to sever old ties.
Opportunity is Knocking
A bigger paycheck might come with your new role as supervisor, but so does extra responsibility and additional stress. Give yourself time to adjust to these new responsibilities and not get overwhelmed. Remember how you felt on that first day at clinical, or on the floor. Even if you’ve worked at this hospital or facility for years, view this as a new learning experience.
You’ll come to realize that you may now be privy to confidential information about administration and other employees. To maintain your friends, you’ll have to clearly communicate that there are some things you can’t share. It’s not keeping secrets, but more so honoring and respecting your employees and acting as a professional.
Old Friends with New Expectations
You might have the same coworkers as last week, but now you’re their boss. You’ll have to earn their respect so they see you as a leader. Some might view you with jealousy, or fear what you might change about their job, or wonder what your expectations might be of them. Others might be thrilled at your new position and have lofty expectations of you.
Therefore, one of the first things you want to do is—nothing. Don’t change a thing until you’ve had time to adjust and observe. This transition period is beneficial for you, and your staff.
Other tips that will help you gain the respect of your new staff, and ease into your new role include:
- Be realistic and determine what’s in, and out, of your control. You can’t fix everything so don’t let your staff believe that you can.
- They have expectations, and so do you. Clarify what you expect and ask the same of your staff. Just like keeping your patients happy is critical to your success, so is having a dedicated, skilled staff who respects you.
- Nurses excel at teamwork and being a nurse supervisor is no different, except you’ve just become the captain of the team. Managing your time, maintaining a team mindset, and conducting yourself in that manner will help to eliminate the barrier of employee vs. management.
- Combat jealousy and those uncertain of your competency by enlisting their help. Allow them to communicate their concerns and listen without judgement. Don’t overlook the plethora of expertise that you have right at your fingers.
But You Went into Nursing to Help People
When you climb the career ladder into a supervisory role you might fear you will no longer receive the fulfillment and satisfaction from helping others. You still can, it just might not be from direct patient care.
As a nurse supervisor, you may often speak with patients and family members, but you will also have the chance to gain the satisfaction of helping your fellow nurses succeed. Some may find this aspect of nursing even more fulfilling.
Keys to Success as a Supervisor
- Educate yourself about what’s expected in your role from administration and from your staff. Allow yourself to have a transition period to observe and collect information before you make changes.
- Learn the chain of command and don’t step on any toes in your haste to excel in your position.
- Hone your communication skills and spend more time listening.
- Know who to seek for for advice. Having a mentor, or another expert supervisor, can help you learn from their mistakes rather than repeating them yourself.
- Review the policies and procedures. Even if you’ve seen them all before, look at them with a fresh eye because you might be the one who must enforce them.
Breaking In Those New Shoes
Adjusting into your new role as a nurse supervisor doesn’t have to be as uncomfortable as a new pair of shoes after a twelve-hour shift. If you give yourself, and your co-workers, time to adapt there’s no reason you can’t excel in your new position, maintain old friends, and maybe make a few new ones.
