How to get started

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · May 23, 2015

I will be brief. I currently hold a job as a nursing supervisor. I recently completed my MSN/MBA and I would like to find a job as an assistant nurse manager in a larger hospital or a nurse manager in a smaller hospital. I am wondering what is a good way to get started and where?

Nursing Supervisor? Are you a House Supervisor or a Charge Nurse?

Just to give you a heads up, assistant nurse managers in many places work as charge nurses even when a charge nurse is available because of short staffing (short staffing causes the charge nurse to be pulled to cover breaks or an assignment while you the ANM cover the floor as charge). However, the benefit in being an ANM even if you work as charge more often than not is the fact that you are a manager! You get to receive the training of a manager, make decisions that affect management, work on projects to fix things in your department, have a say in leadership decisions within the facility, network, train for the next job (if you have a manger that grooms you), and have direct reports so you can assist with changing behaviors through disciplinary actions. Charge Nurses who are not ANMs are leaders limited in their function and role and have his/her hands tied more often than not.

Anyway to answer your question, unless you hate where you work, apply to a position within your facility or your company. You have a reputation among your people and if it is good, that is your best shot at landing an ANM position.

If you wish to work elsewhere for whatever reason, having a nursing supervisor background will help. However, your best bet is to network. Reach out to friends and/or family that work at the other facilities to find out who the hiring managers are and have him/her put in a good word for you. Also through friends/family reach out to the recruiters of the other facilities/companies so you can have a shot at an interview and likely the job!

By the way, if this is your first ANM position, be open-minded and flexible. I liken the process to landing my first nursing position. I looked at facilities that were not the best and was open to shifts and hours that are not ideal and this way of thinking has worked for me! I secure my first and current ANM positon, where I am on my way to my next goal of Department Manager/Director in a few years. Good luck! :)

jrt4 · Jun 2, 2015

It would probably be helpful to know a little more about what you are currently doing as a supervisor. I kind of did the opposite. I was an assistant nurse manager at a small hospital and then became a nurse manager at a large academic medical center. Depending on your strengths...you might find one more appealing then the other... I was actually doing quite a bit more as the assistant nurse manager at the small hospital than I am as the manager at the larger hospital. I have a large realm of responsibility currently but delegated out to an assistant nurse manager and a clinical nurse specialist, as well as charge RNs. I also have many other resources available that I didn't have at the smaller hospital.

My advice would be to just look and see what is out there. Many organizations use "head hunters"...put your resume on monster and you will have some calling you daily. This isn't a bad place to start... a lot of the time they can get you interviews even if its not a position you are that interested in...it is good practice. If you have a certain area you are wanting to live in just check the hospital websites. A lot of sites have alerts you can place that will shoot you an email when a management position is posted.

Are you a member of any professional organizations? check their websites...most of them have a careers section and you don't even have to be a member. That is actually how I landed my current job.