What makes a good Head Veterinary Nurse

RE: What makes a good Head Veterinary Nurse

Aims_RVN — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 15:28:51 GMT

Lead by example! Make sure you don't have an ego trip on having a desk, in fact refuse a desk! Spend plenty of time nursing alongside your team, this way you can mentor them and enjoy influencing them and watch them grown. Paperwork/admin time is boring anyway! If you have an integrated role and stand as practice manager too then you need admin time but then again, i have this role and manage with one day off the rota.

DELEGATE..... your nurses will thrive off responsibility and helping keep things moving. Don't drag yourself down with insurance forms etc, give some rope to your lovely nurses! After all BUSY MINDS DON'T HAVE TIME TO CREATE ISSUES AND DRAMA!

RE: What makes a good Head Veterinary Nurse

WelshyNurse — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 18:14:23 GMT

Set a good example for your nursing team.

Delegate, but remember to support also.

Some admin time needed, but you should predominantly be nursing. Of course this does depend on what your Manager asks you to do as part of the role. Manage your time well.

Be there for your team.

Be confident about having difficult conversations. Always seek advice first from HR/Practice Manager.

RE: What makes a good Head Veterinary Nurse

Alison Clare Hickman — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 09:20:32 GMT

Team leadership and delegation. Fun and fairness of treatment with a dash of firmness when it is required (e.g. "No, sorry but I can't give you the 24th off as I don't have enough cover for that day"... however, if you can swap with someone, that's good. Let me know please by the end of today/tomorrow/week what you will be doing" or "These tasks all need to be done by 3pm at the latest. Let me know if you are having difficulties achieving this by 2:30pm please")

Time management - yours and your colleagues.

Don't be a martyr. Do not be afraid to find volunteers, or select delegees, to do tasks - you are not a one person all singing all dancing band.

Give yourself plenty of admin time (you'll need it). Give yourself some hands on nursing practical time - you'll enjoy it.

Don't take work or worries home with you Practice mindfulness / unwind and relax, you are entitled to switch your brain and heart off.

Look at some Management and Leadership and Time Management skills CPD - there just might be something you can learn and use.

Send upwards to your boss anything you can't (or shouldn't be expected to) deal with - you are entitled to ask for their help. Thinking, personnel issues you have either tried to deal with and not managed to resolve or personnel issues that are way way beyond your expected capabilities to assist/resolve (e.g. physical or mental difficulties in your colleagues)

Inject some silly into the day and have a laugh with your colleagues. Recognise good work with a well timed Thank you and a pat on the back.

Just a few ideas...

Good luck!

RE: What makes a good Head Veterinary Nurse

VetNurse Anon a/c — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 21:30:44 GMT

Sorry I meant I was asking the above question....

What YOU think makes a excellent/good HEAD VETERINARY NURSE....

Any advice appreciated....