In need of advice for new position

[Germansherman]

Hi all, this is my first time posting on this site and I am in desperate need of some advice. Just for a little background, I have been an RN for 5 years. In that span, I have spent time in med/Surg and Med Onc outpatient. I have been very successful in these positions and have been very eager for advancement without knowing exactly which direction I want to go (Masters, NP, CNS).

I recently accepted a new position as a Professional Development Specialist in a nursing clinical practice, education and quality department at a new organization. I have been in this position for 3 months now and feel so lost.

I was given great reviews for my 90 day eval, which is encouraging, but it doesn't negate the fact that I have no idea how to do this job. What makes matters more complicated is I am suppose to take either a CNS or Masters in education track, but neither are appealing with how discouraged I feel.

I am expected to be on 'some' orientation for 6 months to a year, but I have had very little anyways. I anticipated a more structured orientation like when you start on the floor or a different unit yet it has been anything but that. My manager is a CNS and she believes I have great qualities for that role so she said I would be orienting with our other 2 CNSs, but they are so busy with their work that I have no hands on or structure. Of note, our CNSs do not see patients.

When trying to discuss how lost and devalued I feel, my manager says things are fine and not to worry, but I know how I am doing in this new role. I remind her I have only done patient care and she states being well aware of that and it's fine. I have had a difficult time transitioning to the office environment.

My orientation has comprised of just meeting leaders and managers and little bits about filling out forms, resources, etc. My manager stated to let her know if I need some things to work on so I don't get bored. I completed a few things and let her know so she gave me a project that has been sitting since March and it'll take a lot of coordination to be completed so I have more down time. When I let her know at my review that I had a lot of down time at my desk she snickered and said I shouldn't be bored.

Also, I cover the service lines of oncology, hospice, palliative care and a med/Surg floor. My manager says I just need to show my face more and they will give me work. I have worked with the nurse managers some but have to consistently make the effort as they are busy.

Perhaps I am not a good fit for this position as I am more of an introvert and my mind is still very stuck in direct patient care and task mode. Maybe I shouldn't have expected a hands on formal orientation either. Looking for some advice regarding this.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Perhaps see if you could shadow some other nurses in the same role.....

[TriciaJ, RN]

This does seem a very strange situation. You're supposed to be orienting, but your manager is giving you "make work" projects and loose instructions to make yourself more visible? Is this a newly-created position that doesn't yet have a clear job description? If you had a predecessor then it shouldn't be too hard to find out what that person was doing (unless she was doing nothing).

The good news is that you might be able to make this job whatever you want it to be. I agree with previous posters: shadowing is the way to go. Then figure out how you can best be of service and start offering. This process may require you to be more self-directed than you've had to be up till now. Scary but exciting. Let us know how it goes.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

This may sound a bit weird, but do you have a job description for the position? Sometimes titles are all fine, well and good, but if you do not know what it is you are to be doing--that is an issue.

And here's why. Professional Development Specialist sounds like it could be a couple of things. That you can start doing inservices for the nurses in a variety of subjects that you are learned in from you years of experience. It also can sound like you can offer support in the plan of care of the patients in the departments in which you represent.

Here's what I would do. You need to show your face on each of the departments that you are representing. Speak to the charge nurse (and you can email ahead, and tell them that you are planning on discussing patients at 0900 for instance) and see how the day is going, any potential issues/problems regarding the patients and their course of stay. Round on the patients. Ask charge about how the patient cases are managed to this point as far as what is the plan for each of the patients. You could help with the discharge care plan on some of the more complex patients. If there's a newer nurse on the floor, ask if there's any questions/comments/concerns on where they are to find resources.

You could also have conversation with the nurse manager, and see if there's any education that the staff could benefit from. Also, to ask when discharge planning meetings are, and that you would like to be invited to participate in same.

And you should have your list of VNA's, hospice houses, some agency private duty people, the local LTC, assisted living, elder services, adult day programs. Get an idea on if there's family that needs to be learned in medication management. In other words, know your own resources, and how to access them.

Best wishes!