Not getting charge nurse position

[frisky]

I have been a nurse for over 30 year and currently work in a Hospice inpatient facility.

I have many years of hospital experience including oncology, telemetry, med-surg and at one time was ACLS and PALS certified. I have worked in my current position as a staff nurse for 10 years. Recently our day charge nurse is retiring. I applied for the charge nurse position, but it went to a much younger and less experienced nurse. I was told by my manager that she could not stand the thought of losing me as a bedside nurse because she felt that was where I was most needed and felt that it would do the staff and patients a disservice if I was no longer providing direct patient care. Even though I find this a compliment I cannot help but feeling rather disappointed at her decision not to chose me as charge nurse. I have had my BSN since 1991 and am actively involved on many committees on our unit. I was told that the nurse that was chosen is interested in a management track and that they felt her goals aligned with the charge position. What I do think is sad is that my experience and dedication to our unit should have trumped the reasoning for hiring the other nurse into the position. I feel discouraged by this and am planning to educate myself in another field entirely and unfortunately leave nursing in the future. Am I right to feel this way or should I take this decision as an honest compliment and realize that my true talents are at the bedside?

[Caffeine_IV]

I don't have any advice but I'd be upset/discouraged as well.

[frisky]

Thanks for responding to my message. I guess my manager had her reasons. But after so many years with the company and never a bad review or single patient complaint I wish I was shown more respect.

[Libby1987]

But you're leaving nursing. Or is that in reaction to not being hired into charge?

And what about a raise? Would that make a difference?

[frisky]

I just feel disrespected. I know I am a good nurse and give 100% when I work with patients. I just don't know if I can do floor nursing when I am in my 60's. I feel I should have been the 1st pick due to my experience and wanting to now do a management track.

I am going to look into other fields in nursing, but I also have been interested in other careers as well. I need to make a decision and do something different before I get too old and people will not consider me. Thank you for responding to my post. I did get a raise during my last evaluation.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Maybe it was meant to be? Although you would be suitable, ask yourself if you really want the additional headaches that come with being in charge.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

only you know if you can trust this manager, it may well be organic fertilizer, but maybe not. i certainly understand your feelings of being disrespected.

[klone, MSN, RN]

I'm sorry. That must have been very devastating.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

IMO your manager gave the soft sell reasons for not selecting you, the hard sell reason is that many hospitals are staffed with disproportionately large numbers of nurses who will be eligible for retirement in the next 10-15 years and from a human resources planning perspective, it is to better to build capacity by grooming younger nurses for leadership roles.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

IMO your manager gave the soft sell reasons for not selecting you, the hard sell reason is that many hospitals are staffed with disproportionately large numbers of nurses who will be eligible for retirement in the next 10-15 years and from a human resources planning perspective, it is to better to build capacity by grooming younger nurses for leadership roles.

I agree. No offense intended whatsoever, OP, and I have no doubt you're a valued employee. But this situation just screams of some type of ulterior motive on management's part.

[frisky]

Thank you for the response. You have a good point. It does seem like so many younger nurses are being promoted and higher-level management may well be driving this. They can easily expect them to have their Master's degree in a short time because they are at the start of their careers. For us older nurses, getting an advanced degree so late in the game would probably not pay off.

[frisky]

Thank you for the support. Only a fellow nurse can understand