10 best and worst nursing bosses

Best: The Enabler

The Enabler knows that you have the means to accomplish any task, you just may need some guidance to get there. Instead of spending all day with you like the Teacher, they are more likely to make a few suggestions to get you on your way, and then leave the rest up to you.

The Enabler’s favorite catch phrases are “Have you thought about doing this?” or “What about trying this?” Their suggestions are never commands, and they are completely comfortable with you taking the lead on any project, as well as the praise when it succeeds. They want you to succeed, but don’t feel the need to push to get you there.

Best: The Captain

To the Captain, her employees are her team. It’s essential that everyone works together toward the same goal: better patient care. If there is a rift in the team, she’s the peacekeeper that swoops in to mend the wound. If the team succeeds, she credits every employee. But if the team loses, she takes the weight on his shoulders.

The Captain acts as the go-to player on the team. If something falls through the cracks, she is there to catch it. If someone calls in sick, she is there to fill in. If a last-minute patient pops up five minutes before the end of a shift, she will fall on the sword for the sake of her team. The Captain’s only goal as a manager is to make sure she is doing everything she can to make sure his team is running efficiently.

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