My job was eliminated

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Hi all,

I got news on Friday afternoon to come in in the am (on my day off) to talk about the new changes. I had a feeling it was coming. I came in on Monday and was told that the hospital was eliminating 1 assistant manager from all of the units and no other management positions were available. I was offered a job as a staff nurse on my unit that I have been an assistant manager on for 3 years. I am very sad about the change in status because I loved my job and felt I did a pretty good job. The trouble is I feel sort of humiliated and embarassed to go back to work. I believe the staff will be understanding and supportive.I want to be positive however I feel used and worthless, like my work was not important. Has anyone had a similar situation, or have advice on how to handle this. Any advice or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

I think that I would actually respect the fact that a manager whose position was eliminated would come back to work as a staff nurse and not just quit the hospital to find a management position elsewhere.

Just my 2 cents :)

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Shari, THe same thing happened to me last summer. I wish I had some real wisdom to make it easier, but it has been the hardest thing I have encountered in nursing this far. I still work in the same unit since there are very few places to do PICU. I am still toying with the idea of moving to an adult unit, or one that doesn't work weekends and holidays. Hang in there it does get easier slowly. Sheila:twocents:

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Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.

I was faced with a similar situation six years ago, when my supervisory position with a HHA was abruptly eliminated. They refused to give me another job description and used me as their gopher, giving me jobs that no one else wanted. In all actuality, what they really wanted was to get me off their payroll as quickly and as conveniently as possible. They succeeded.

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Thank you all for responding. It makes me feel better knowing it does happen. It just feels awful right now.Meghan- thanks the fact that you would respect a manager for coming to work as staff is great. I think many people would feel the same;however I feel very uncomfortable going in to work tomorrow with everybody knowing.SKT686 you should try the big people it may be fun. I have actually toyed with going to Neonatal ICU but I heard there is no autonomy even after you are a knowledgable and safe nurse. anyone else have advice for how to approach this without breaking down into tears tomorrow?

Thank you all for your help!

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
Thank you all for responding. It makes me feel better knowing it does happen. It just feels awful right now.Meghan- thanks the fact that you would respect a manager for coming to work as staff is great. I think many people would feel the same;however I feel very uncomfortable going in to work tomorrow with everybody knowing.SKT686 you should try the big people it may be fun. I have actually toyed with going to Neonatal ICU but I heard there is no autonomy even after you are a knowledgable and safe nurse. anyone else have advice for how to approach this without breaking down into tears tomorrow?

Thank you all for your help!

It sounds to me like you're still in shock.

All I can suggest is, concentrate on your patients and on getting your work done. I assure you, you won't have time to think much about anything else.

You might approach this new task with the attitude that this is going to be a good move for you personally. You might remind yourself about how much you truly missed the bedside and interacting with your patients. You're bringing way more skills and experience to that bedside now, and you have a greater understanding than the other nurses of "the Big Picture".

Believe me, I have a lot of respect for managers, but even more respect for managers who come back to the bedside--and I can think of two immediately. I still go to them for resource nurses, and they're always gracious and helpful.

You might take a few minutes and begin to think of this job not as something that they're throwing at you, or a demotion, or a decision foisted upon you by TPTB, but a decision that you made based on your range of alternatives.

Because whether you see it now or not, you've begun weighing the alternatives and made a conscious decision to change to being a bedside nurse (for now) at that hospital instead of getting into management at a different hospital, or turning to a different nursing area, or taking a sabbatical, or any one of a number of choices you could have made.

Embrace that decision instead of allowing yourself to feel like a victim, and move on. Give it a chance; you might like it. If you don't, your options are still wide open.

Best wishes for a smooth transition, whatever your final decision might be.

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Thank-you Angie,

All great advice and an excellent perspective. I do need to remember that I always did love being a bedside nurse. Being a charge nurse, manager and stafff nurse is a lot more hectic. I did not mention that I will be taking a significant pay cut and I was asked to take a position of permanent charge nurse(A buck an hour). When given that option, I replied that i would like to just be in the pool of staff and rotate charge like everyrone else when the manager is not present.I was told we will have to think about that. It is like being asked to do the same job, work twice as hard, and have no compensation.I know this is how many nurses feel all of the time;however this is to a much higher degree because it is specifically to me ( I do not know about any other Assistant Managers). Does anyone have any ideas how to approach this? I do not want to be angry or bitter if I accept this permanent charge position.The idea of just taking care of my patients is appealing. I do not want to upset my boss this is not her fault, it is a decision from TPTB. Please help!

Thank you

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Although my position was not eliminated, I too recently went back to staff nursing after being one of the case managers. I enjoy clinical nursing but it has been different - its much harder physically than I expected (and I've only been out of it for 2 yrs - lol). The staff comes to me as a resource also and I sincerely like to work with the new folks. Another way to look at it is that there are other opportunities too - perhaps go back to school? Go part-time at two different facilities? Take time for yourself and/or family?

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hi all,

i got news on friday afternoon to come in in the am (on my day off) to talk about the new changes. i had a feeling it was coming. i came in on monday and was told that the hospital was eliminating 1 assistant manager from all of the units and no other management positions were available. i was offered a job as a staff nurse on my unit that i have been an assistant manager on for 3 years. i am very sad about the change in status because i loved my job and felt i did a pretty good job. the trouble is i feel sort of humiliated and embarassed to go back to work. i believe the staff will be understanding and supportive.i want to be positive however i feel used and worthless, like my work was not important. has anyone had a similar situation, or have advice on how to handle this. any advice or ideas would be appreciated.

thanks

at least if you take the job as a staff nurse, you'll still be with the team! try not to feel humiliated and worthless because i'm sure the team works hard and believes in the vision of the facility. you didn't get fired or demoted so it's not about you and your performance. give the team a chance and be part of it.

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I also would respect manager that would return as staff, best of luck to you and keep us posted

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