Reality Bites...

[resumecpr]

So, I've been working in adult critical care for about 10 years now. I've been having some issues with morale at my current job, and was feeling the urge to make a change so I applied for the supervisor position in the ICU I've been working in, as well as the PICU. (HUGE change going to PICU, I know!) Not 2 weeks after I applied, we hired an interim Supervisor to help with the many many issues on our floor. I then found myself in the office with this interim Supervisor, being told I was being pulled from charge nurse and other leadership type responsibilities due to my "negative attitude." I asked for direct examples, he had one. Just said that a new grad overheard me speaking negatively about another unit. So, there goes my chance at supervisor.

Further, my PICU interview went very well. I was told I was the most qualified by the interview commitee. Today I learned that the job was given to a nurse from med-surg with 1 year of experience. I have a feeling that "negative attitude" was heard through the grapevine.

Now I am at a loss and feeling completely inadequate. I do not feel like I mean a thing to the organization I work with. I have never had any bad feedback in over 3 years. I'm thinking I should just cut my losses and travel nurse. A huge change for me as I am settled socially and am not sure where to go, where to store my stuff, etc. Any advice is appreciated. I'll even take criticism. Not like it can get any worse...

[OCRN3]

Sometimes people tend to start picking at a certain person for awhile, then it passes. I would either wait it out till it passes and and see if you can transfer with the company, or wait till you have another job lined up.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

I think that once you've been identified as having a "negative attitude", it can be difficult to dig yourself out of that hole.

You may have dodged a bullet by not getting into a leadership position. People are extremely critical of anyone in a leadership role; it's like painting a big red bullseye on your back.

If it's still something you think you might want, maybe try sticking around for a while and make a point of coming to work every day with a smile, a happy attitude, and making others around you feel good. You may, after a time, be able to shake the dark cloud, and another leadership position may open up.

On the other hand, if you don't have anything tying you down- mortgage, marriage, kids- then traveling might be the thing to shake things up a bit for you and help you figure out the next step.

Whatever you decide, I wish you luck. Take care.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

It's entirely possible that TPTB had already chosen who was getting the supervisor job before you even applied. And since they had to have a "reason" to hire the person they'd already chosen instead of you, they came up with "bad attitude." Since you've been there for a long time and have no burning desire to head off to Seattle or San Francisco, hang on for a bit and give it a chance to blow over. In the mean time, explore other possibilities (like Seattle or San Francisco) and decide WHERE you'd like to go if you did travel. Collect certifications and start getting your paperwork together if you think you might like to travel. Figure out things like where you'd store your stuff, etc. There's no hurry. If the "bad attitude" business blows over and you want to stay, wonderful! In the mean time, there's nothing worse than quitting your job in a huff and then having to immediately figure out where to go and what to do with your stuff. (I know this; I've done it. Wasn't my best decision.)

[morte, LPN, LVN]

if you are union, I would be touching base with them.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

"I do not feel like I mean a thing to the organization I work with". No you don't , but very few of us are appreciated.The interim supervisor is your problem. For some reason they feel threatened by you. Interim supervisor also has a big mouth.

Is it to late to grieve the loss of charge/leadership duties? Most likely this is the time to move on.

Travel nursing may be too big a move though. Are you feeling the need to run, or are the opportunities limited in your area?

FYI. Travel nursing does not mean you leave your home. You take assignments in blocks of 13 weeks and can go back home.

Feel free to PM me, I've been there, did that.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

PPs are offering terrific insight & advice.

Charge nurse is the first step on the leadership ladder & unfortunately most organizations don't provide much training. But in any leadership position, you are representing the organization and your behavior is more highly scrutinized. So you have to be very careful about making any sort of negative comments that may have been perfectly acceptable as an 'individual'. This type of scrutiny is one of the things about leadership that turns a lot of people off.

Agree with PP - once the higher-ups have developed a negative perception of you, it is extremely hard to overcome. Everything you do will be filtered through this skewed lens. It may be a lot easier just to cut your losses and move on - older and wiser.

[resumecpr]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I have been a charge nurse on my current unit for over 2 years. I am one of 7 RNs that has worked on the unit for > 2 years. We employ about 80 RNs. There were 2 supervisor positions open, and I was asked to apply. There are still 2 positions open. Not one week after the interim supervisor started, I was taken off the charge schedule (actually scribbled out)...many colleagues questioned it and I was unaware of the plan to remove me from charge. I had to ask leadership what was going on.

It is a challenge for me to pick up and change jobs in my area. First, I am Canadian on a work Visa, second, there is only one other hospital in the area.

For now, I have chosen to lay low and have the full support of my fellow staff nurses. They are like family to me. I only talk about my newest climbing adventures and how I need a new mattress.

Thanks again. :)