If you want to take on a leadership role as a nurse manager, you need more than clinical skills. You need organisational, time management and communication skills to take on new responsibilities such as planning, budgeting, staff relations and quality improvement. Here we share with you some tips to become a successful nurse manager:
1. Keep communication open and honest:
As a nurse manager, you have to ensure that there is a smooth flow of information between different departments and nurses. Miscommunication or lack of proper communication can lead to low morale and lack of job satisfaction among staff members.
As a nurse manager, you act as a bridge between the nursing staff and the management. You must communicate the vision and mission of the management to the nursing staff so that they feel that they are part of the organisation. At the same time, you must take feedback from staff so that they feel heard and their inputs can help streamline processes. While you are offering feedback to your staff, you must:
- Ensure that your body language is positive
- Pay attention to details
- Avoid negative messages
- Ensure that there is no ambiguity
2. Encourage professional development:
As a nurse manager, you are in a unique position to invest in the professional development of your nurses. By offering learning and training opportunities, you can show your nurses that they are valued members of the team and that their career growth is a priority. Additionally, investing in the professional development of your nurses can help to improve patient care and outcomes at your facility.
For instance, if your facility has residents with learning disabilities, organise a training programme for nurses on how they can communicate well with them.
3. Be a mentor:
As a nurse manager, it is important that you mentor junior nurses. There are several steps you can take to ensure that your staff is getting the most out of your experience:
- Make yourself available to answer their questions and concerns
- Provide opportunities for nurses to shadow experienced practitioners
- Create an environment that values collaboration and feedback
4. Balance business needs and quality care:
Being a nurse manager requires you to wear many hats. In addition to providing direct patient care, you will have to juggle numerous administrative tasks. This can be a challenge, but it is one that can be overcome with careful planning and attention to detail.
- You must be able to schedule staffing in such a way that provides the highest quality of care for your patients. This means taking into account the skills and experience of your staff members, as well as the specific needs of each patient.
- You must also be prepared to coach staff members who are not meeting the standards set forth by the governing body for patient care.
- You must be willing to make adjustments to your administrative plan as needed to accommodate ad hoc tasks.
5. Promote positivity at the workplace:
You have to set the tone for the staff by leading by example and displaying a cheerful and positive attitude. This positivity allows the staff to perform better and enjoy working together. Also, recognising individual staff members for their exceptional performance can keep them motivated and driven. This can go a long way in improving staff morale.
6. Leverage technology:
Technology plays a crucial role in streamlining the work of care homes. From digital health records to online charting, new technologies are making it easier for care homes to provide quality care. By making patient information available electronically, nurses can quickly and easily access the data they need to provide care. As a nursing home manager, you can implement eMAR chart at your nursing home.
Electronic MAR charts and medication
The electronic MAR chart can help automate many administrative tasks associated with medication management, freeing up nurses’ time to provide patient care. By utilising this technology, nurses can
- Set alerts so that there’s no missed dose
- Take notes (there’s no confusion because of illegible handwriting)
- Make weekly, monthly and quarterly reports with ease
7. Use eMAR for better supervision:
As a new nurse manager, you can use the eMAR chart to supervise medication management processes at your facility. You can set alerts on the software in case nurses forget to administer a dose, you will receive notifications. Also, in case a medication error occurs, you can use an eMAR chart to identify at what stage did the mistake occur. All of these can help in ensuring better accountability among nurses. To know how the eMAR chartmedication system can help your care home, book a demo today
