It's all happening so fast....

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey everyone,

I've been a med/surg nurse for 2.5 years. Yesterday my DON called me into her office to tell me the hospital had another nurse educator position open and she thought I should apply. I feel honored that she thought about me and recommended me for the position. I went home and talked to my husband about it. He thinks I should do it. There will most likely be an increase in pay and it will be a M-F job working 40 hrs per week. (instead of 36).

Well I thought it wouldn't hurt to send in my resume and maybe find out more information about the position. So i sent in my resume and literally within 10 minutes I was on the phone with the director's secretary. They want to interview me tomorrow!

I just don't know if I am ready to leave patient care. And do I really want to work M-F and give up all my free time? Oh decisions decisions. I don't want to pass up a great opportunity to advance my career but I'm really nervous.

Any advice or comfort would be greatly appreciated. :mad:

Specializes in NICU.

:rolleyes: Well... The interview went well. But.....

I first met with 3 of the current nurse educators. It was strange because even though they were very delightful people, they talked like the position I would be filling was a depressing one. We talked about what my responsibilities would be. The sheer number of responsibilities seemed absurd. It seemed like I would be responsible for what 4 people should be responsible for. And it seemed as if they knew that. The current nurse educator that I would be replacing said she was resigning because she couldn't handle the stress and all the responsibility anymore. She told me in the interview that there are some days that she leaves in tears. She said she is pulled in a million directions by multiple directors. They told me about all of my responsibilities because they said they wanted me to know what I was getting into. :uhoh21: They said they hoped that the new nurse educator could reshape to position for the better. ??

I would be responsible for 8 units. I would have to educate employees on new policies, procedures, and equipment (obviously). Teach CPR classes for all staff, teach computer classes, teach new employees how to learn the computer charting system, Teach new employee orientation, follow all new grads throughout their transition and meet with each new grad and their preceptor once a week, organize clinical rotations for nursing schools (there are 8 schools in our area), do chart reviews on every death in the hospital, check staff off on yearly competencies, visit each unit daily to make sure educational needs are being met (my units are split between my hospital and our sister hospital 10 miles away). Prepare staff for the upcoming Joint Commission visit. Hmm that is all I can think of off the top of my head.

Seems like a lot huh? That is why the current nurse educator is leaving. She is the third educator to leave in 2 years.

I met with the directors after my meeting with the educators. They just drilled me like any other interviewer would. They talked a lot about how they want the new educator out on the floor more. Not hiding in their office.

So after the interviews I went and found a nurse that used to work on my floor and left to become an educator. She quit after 1.5 years. She told me to run away, run far far away. She said they expect way to much and I didn't need to even get involved with it.

Sooo maybe I need to rethink this. Not only is the turn over rate high, but even the educators are telling me to think carefully..

I don't think I want to leave the bedside for something like this....

Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehab, HH.

Politely decline, before they even make an offer. Tell them you are happy where you are.

Unbelievable! And the units being in 2 different places. OMG. That is crazy!! Hard enough being in just one place. Those people are nuts.

Tiger...

Run like H3LL.

Life is WAY too short to get tangled up in a no-win situation...especially after what you've heard from multiple sources.

At the risk of being offensive, if you DO take this job, I have two other statements that you might buy into.

"Of course I love you, Baby."

"I'll call you tomorrow."

It'll be alright...live and learn. Just be grateful that you were smart enough to recognize the danger.

In my experience, most leadership positions are filled with "someone in mind" even before the interviews start. It sounds like they want you. I agree with the rest, go for it and perhaps see if there is a way that you can retain some clinical hours. The clinical skills are too easy to lose, and if you can staff every now and then it gives you credibility with the staff.

Ok, I take back my advice from above. (that is what I get by posting before I read the entire thread)! If you think you would love it, then I would go for it. But follow your heart because no amount of money or better hours is going to make the place that you spend the majority of your waking hours (and life hours) is going to make you happy. Good luck

Specializes in NICU.

Well I went in today and told them I didn't want the job. It was bitter sweet. But now I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Thanks for everyone's advice and support.

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