Going from Informatics back into Nursing Management

[TNnursejane, BSN, RN]

I have 26 years of Critical Care experience and 6 yrs in Risk Management. Currently I work with the Electronic Health Record. After 5 yrs in this field, I don't feel that it's a good fit. I want to go back into Nursing Leadership. How do I convince a CNO that what I've done for the last few years has prepared me to be a Nurse Manager over a med-surg unit in a small teaching hospital. I want to go back into the realm of patient care but not to the bedside full-time but into nursing administration. After 33 yrs as a nurse, I still want to get into management. Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks so much!

TNnursejane

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Wow, you have a great background! What area of the country are you in? In my neck of the woods, it's become very difficult to recruit "experienced" nurse managers, so there are a lot of newbies in those jobs. It also illustrates just how hard those (manager) jobs are - LOL.

Maybe you could do some PRN work in acute care... enough to show any prospective employer that you can function competently in today's clinical environment.

[TNnursejane, BSN, RN]

Great idea HouTX. I'm actually going back into the clinical area in a LTAC. I did not get the nurse manager position but that's OK. Don't think I was quite ready for the position as of yet anyway. We'll see how the LTAC goes!

My background just comes from luck of the draw and being in the right place at the right time. I've been very blessed but now it's time to really make a decision and hang my hat somewhere.

Thanks again!

TNnursejane