I vividly remember being called a “nurse’s nurse” as a negative and taking it as a compliment. I was the Director of Nursing at a local hospice. I was in the Administrator’s office fighting for something for the nursing staff; he didn’t want to budge on money and support for the nurses. When I wouldn’t see things his way, he slammed me with the ultimate in put-down’s in his view and the highest compliment in mine. (He was a nurse too, by the way). I left that job soon after and went back to the bedside.

What is it about Nursing Leadership? Why is it an “us” versus “them” so often? Why do nurses check their nurse card at the door as soon as they land their management position and forget everything they ever knew about doing the work of taking care of patients? Why do they turn their back on the worker bees in the profession?

The scuttle-butt in Washington, DC right now about capping travel nurses’ salaries isn’t a new idea. Hospitals/clinics have always tried to keep nurse wages low. Fighting for nurse/patient ratios isn’t a new thing either. There have always been too many patients per nurse. Low staffing isn’t new either. Hospitals have always had staffing issues. So what is the “new” feeling about these issues?

I believe a couple of things are at play. Covid, for one. We are blaming so much bad behavior on Covid. Organizations are using Covid as an excuse to cut staff, to make ratios ridiculous, and to say they need to make up for money lost. AND the second reason we are hearing about these issues, in the media, is because nursing is no longer just one of three professions for women (teacher, secretary, nurse). If this generation of male or female nurses gets fed up with the wages/workload/safety issues, they will find something else to do and they will be loud and proud on their way out of the profession.

What’s the solution to these age-old issues? Before hospitals have to close their doors because all of the nurses have left, these organizations could make a few changes and see huge rewards. Nursing leaders have to put their caps/pins/capes back on and think like a nurse. They need to show some respect to the people who touch the patients. Respect can be shown through higher pay, better staffing ratios and safe work environments. If organizations can pay travelers, they can up their staff’s pay. If an organization would base their elective surgery and admits based on actual staff in the building, ratios and safety would be greatly improved. If nursing leadership would step out form behind the desk and work on the floor, lend a hand, answer call lights- really SHOW UP for their staff (not micromanage through texts and emails about answering call lights and giving baths). Get your hands dirty once in a while, cover for a break, be charge nurse for a day. You get the point. Be nurses’ nurses. Stop the greed.

A nurse’s job is to take care of the patient. A nurse manager’s job is to take care of the nurse.