How much floor nurse experience do you think a manager should have before becoming a manager?
I feel that a new nurse needs at least 5 years as a floor nurse before moving into management.
IMO, 5 years of registered nurse experience at the very least, with charge nurse experience and leadership experience in other areas like committees etc. You need a nurse manager that has been exposed to different difficulties. You want a nurse manager that knows what your going through as a staff nurse, but also will not be bullied … there is more too this then just experience but your question focused on experience.
Minimum of 5 years, in the area they want to manage.
Floor Nurse experience is just a number but state of the mind to face the challenges that comes with the job is the answer. Do you notice that male nurses are promoted to managerial jobs than female and most of them sticks with it?
You will be respected more by your staff if you can do anything you ask them to do. Still need to admit what you don't know.
I graduate with my MSN in executive leadership in a few months and I've worked at the bedside my entire career. I will say this... no amount of floor experience could have prepared me like receiving a formal education and leadership training. There are many nurse managers in my program who verbalize the same sentiment. People's answers will vary but I would look into formal education while your preparing for advancement into leadership:)
At least 2 years. I would not choose to manage a floor/department where I was a staff member. Advise to manage another unit/department.
It will be great to get first some previous experience as a charge nurse or assistant nurse manager. This will surely help.
You are right. I think ultimately for good leader to sustain, there has to be moral ascendancy. Some senior staff can be manipulative.
At least a few years of experience are critical. I once had to work as a charge under a manager who had barely worked the floor for a few months, had never been a charge, but was able to get a job as the floor manager because of connections. That alone caused a lot of resentment among the floor staff, but it was exacerbated by the fact that when it came time to make changes to policy and adjust workflows, everything she suggested was completeley unrealistic and showed how little she understood the basic workflow of the floor, the needs of the nurses and the patients of our department She was also very condescending and dismissive to us when we tried to raise concerns about what was being done and acted like she always knew better than us about cares because she was a manager.
All of the best managers I have had were ones with years of bedside experience before going into management. Their experience showed in every aspect of their work: how they supported us, and how they disciplined us when necessary. The worst ones I have had were the ones that had little to no bedside experience, and it showed: they never advocated or stood up for us, they never made us feel supported. And I am going to be frank with you about one aspect: if you have little to no bedside experience, you will never truly have the respect of your nurses. Anyone in any position resents being told what to do or disciplined by someone who doesn't actually understand their job.
Leadership training is important as well. My opinion of an ideal manager would be someone who puts in a minimum of 3--5 years on the floor, enters a part time masters program while continuing to gain experience, and then goes into management.
You need to know the job,how the unit works and how to deal with people.4 to 5 years should be a good time span to learn what’s needed.Express a desire to learn what’s expected of those in management positions……are you responsible for scheduling,payroll,do you share being on call.
Before I became a manager I had 10 years of nursing experience, 7 within my specialty (mother baby). I had been a charge nurse and supervisor. I agree with another comment to become a charge nurse first.
At least 5 years.
At least 2 years. You need to know what it’s like to be “in the trenches” before taking a management role, IMO.
I believe a minimum of 2 years staff nurse experience is preferred prior to becoming a manager.
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