Calling fellow head nurses!

Re: Calling fellow head nurses!

Deemus — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 06:14:39 GMT

As a fellow Head Nurse, I also try to get everyone on board. I regularly ask vets, nurses and receptionists how they think the practice is doing generally. Some of my colleagues have had great ideas for things like tweaks to the rota, new protocols for the washing etc to make our lives easier. It may seem a little tedious but it makes the other staff feel more appreciated if their ideas are listened to.

Our appraisals are done by one of my nurses filling in a sheet with numbers one to five for various different areas of nursing. They fill it out as to how they feel they are doing in each area (1: I need more work/support in this area to 5: I think I'm great in this area). I fill one out for each nurse and then we get together to see how they compare and discuss where the nurse would like to go from there.

As I don't see everyone all day, every day we also have a "Grumble Book". I know it sounds childish but everyone gets a chance to air things that are irritating them so hopefully I can intervene before irritations become big issues. The only rule is it's not to turn into a bitch book. No personal comments allowed.

I am lucky in my practice that we're all pretty easy going (even the vets ;))

Hope it all goes well for you.

Re: Calling fellow head nurses!

Juliet Drummond DAVN (med) RVN D32/33 — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:07:38 GMT

[quote user="Nick BATFINK Shackleton Dip AVN(surg)VN"]

Have you thought of doing PDR (Personal Develop Reviews). So areas they need improve in, areas they excel at etc... Areas that they want to improve on through CPD

[/quote]

these are the same as appraisals, arn't they?

Re: Calling fellow head nurses!

Sal the 1st — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:03:20 GMT

I am an ex head nurse if it counts?

I went into a practice to replace the previous head nurse, had regular meetings (very informal usually involved a trip to the bowling alley and food once we had finished) which apparently had never happened before ( found it a bit difficult to believe until I had worked there a little while and then I understood!)

after about 6mths in the job which gave me a chance to get to know them and them a chance to know me at one of the nurses meetings I asked each nurse to write down anon on a piece of paper anything that they would like me to try and change to make their jobs easier or anything about me that they would like me to try and change (some of it was feasible and some of it wasnt) but it gave me quite a few ideas

Re: Calling fellow head nurses!

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:22:18 GMT

yeah 30 mins or so we do them at work. And have written proof too so it can be reviewed on a yearly basis. And give time frames for certain tasks to be completed.

Re: Calling fellow head nurses!

Sparky — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:18:22 GMT

ooooo good idea nick......silly question-but how do I go about doing it? just having a general chat with each nurse?

Re: Calling fellow head nurses!

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:01:17 GMT

Have you thought of doing PDR (Personal Develop Reviews). So areas they need improve in, areas they excel at etc... Areas that they want to improve on through CPD

Re: Calling fellow head nurses!

Sparky — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:12:02 GMT

Thank you finnigan! I'm really trying my best

Re: Calling fellow head nurses!

FINNIGAN — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:06:51 GMT

wish our head nurse was the same, well done