How did you get your job?

[grandmawrinkle]

Is it even possible?

I have been looking around for something different and it appears (from what my co-workers have told me) that I have some natural management ability. I have 10 years of clinical experience and am working on an MSN. I'm certified. I sit on a hospital-wide committee. I have a lot of first line supervisory/charge experience -- been doing it about 1/4 to 1/2 my shifts for the past 9 years.

I am just getting really discouraged. In the past year/18 months, I have applied for two assistant NM positions at my facility and rejected for both. (I did get interviews.) (That said, my hospital was more or less transitioning a "unit coordinator" role to an ANM role, and both those jobs went to the people that had the unit coordinator position previously.) I recently applied to a (by reputation, very competitive) hospital-wide internal leadership program and got rejected from that -- I was about 75% I would be selected for that one (that was a written application only process, no interviews involved.)

So, what am I doing wrong? I would like to try to get my foot in the door before my MSN is complete, but it is just not working out for me. Am I being unrealistic with my expectations for myself? Should I just stop trying? Is nursing management really that competitive?

As an FYI -- I have not looked outside my facility. I didn't want to shake up my life too much while I am still taking classes. I don't know if I would have better luck if I looked elsewhere or not.

Any tips would be appreciated.

[catlover314]

If you can get feedback from anyone who sat on the interview panel, grab that opportunity; if someone would coach you in how to bring out the skills you possess that could compensate somewhat for your lack of management experience it would help you in future interviews. You've got to be able to sell yourself and that will mean knowing the organization's goals and initiatives inside and out. If there are additional opportunities for hospital wide committees, take advantage of those, especially those directly related to organizational goals, patient satisfaction, quality, or cost savings. Understand productivity inside and out so you can speak to that during interviews. Hope that helps a little.

[stephva1008]

You might not be doing anything wrong at all. The unit coordinator positions that transitioned to manager are probably paid less than a UM, esp a UM with your experience and education. Maybe with budget cuts they wanted to just pay someone less to do the same job? Which is a shame because where I am, unit coordinators are not even nurses, not sure about your location.

Of course, UM's in general make less than staff nurses but that's another thread

I would just keep pushing on and making your presence known. I don't think it sounds like you are doing anything wrong.

[MomRN0913]

First, i would definitely get some feedback. You seem extremely qualified. I would look outside of your current facility. Apply apply, apply. You would be surprised.

I got a little lucky with my position which I start on Monday. I have been a nurse for almost 5 years and almost all of it Critical Care/ICU. I only have my Associates. There is a new LTACH opened in the area of my hospital founded partially by one of the Dr.'s at my hospital. My ex Manager had contacted me asking if I was still looking for a job and told me he had an interview for me as a Nurse manager of the facility, which was a new position. They had interviewed a bunch of BSN qualified people, but no one was impressing them. That's when they asked my ex manager to help out (he works part time there) Well, I got the job after the first interview. I am just required to obtain my BSN within 2 years.

What I believe helped me. My Critical Care experience. And the other place I had applied prior considered me because of my critical care experience. (I was there strongest candidate they told me then never contacted me,t his other place) I have learned in my short nursing career that is HUGE. I probably wouldn't have gotten the position if I was a med/surg or tele nurse. I did get partially lucky, knowing the right people, and they know me as a nurse, as a person and how I handle situations.

I don't think you are doing anything wrong either. I think networking is key. Get to know everyone who is influential and can get to know your extreme value.

You really do have to sell yourself. Work what you have!