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?

[frisky]

thank you for understanding. The sting will be less as time goes on, but I still think it would be a good idea for me to try my hand at something different

[frisky]

This also happened to another older nurse who was denied a charge nurse position a few years ago.

She felt the same way as I do, but after a while was glad not to have the responsibility.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Maybe she's the type of manager who only promotes her BFFs? Don't feel bad. Your employment record and performance review speaks for itself.

[Psychcns]

It seems like a wake up call of some sort.. If you want leadership it won't be at this facility. Maybe you are ready for a change. Maybe another area of nursing or advanced practice. Or leadership at another facility.

[anewsns]

That's maddening isn't it? It sounds like an ulterior motive to me as well and I would also feel disrespected . I think they should have given it to you if you wanted it, because though you may be invaluable in the bedside position , now they are at risk of losing you all together. I'm young and inexperienced as well, but I think if I was in the hiring position I would not have wanted to take that risk. Maybe the manager simply hadnt thought of it this way , that would be pretty dense though . They can't trap you in your position. There may be a $$ factor , they may see you as loyal and generally content so didn't have fears of you leaving . I don't know ..I feel upset for you .

[Libby1987]

I don't know. I'll be facing this myself in the near future. I love patient care but it is physically more demanding. And gets routine.

OTOH most days I can do it with my eyes closed and am paid well enough to do it. Supervising staff is frustrating, I don't really consider it a promotion.

Being paid well to do something you know inside out (growing where you can still) leaves more energy for personal life.

[caliotter3]

If you do find a change removing you from this place of employ in the near future, I doubt that this manager will be concerned with your loss. Ultimately, it is your decision about your career goals at this point. Just make sure that you consider all avenues thoroughly, do not cut off your nose to spite your face, as they say.

[MatrixRn]

First let me say I am sorry that you did not get the job.

Next let me say, take a look deep down and ask yourself did you really want that job...and I mean really want it? Some people apply for management not really knowing all it entails. Others apply just because they want off of the bedside or they think it is their due time. None of these reasons are the right ones. People should apply because it is their passion and they have the head for it.

Are you interested in mentoring staff or making sure it is done by someone else? The first is a dynamite floor nurse, the second is more managerial.

Do you desire to help the hospital with managing cost containment on the floor, fixing or supporting staff rotations to better serve the floor and the hospital, increasing the quality of care delivery etc. Or are your interests more in making sure you deliver optimal patient care? Again two very different points of view. The first managerial, the second not so much.

Experience and dedication to the unit does not trump someone who is willing to come into a unit and make changes. The new person does not bring any friendship or biases that will get in her way of making changes. The new person can come in and see each staff member as they are, with out the bias of knowing them and their history. Dedication to the unit, can and in all likelihood will slow the process of change that upper leadership is needing right now.

[Gooselady, BSN, RN]

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.

My first thought was "why would what happened necessarily be a sign of disrespect?"

Then I thought "You would feel EXACTLY the same darn way, fool!"

Still, 'disrespect' may have had no part in this at all. You can't know for sure, and I'd hate for you to 'add' that onto what is already a disappointment. I'm talking from a purely mental health perspective here. It sucks to have that kind of stuff runnin' through your head, and you are obviously a very valuable nurse whatever your circumstances; job, promotions, whatever.

Painfully and grudgingly, I can see the point of grooming the newer generation of nurses, and management has to make painful-to-individuals but best-for-the-group type decisions.

I could tell myself this all the day long and I STILL would feel a lot like you do I'm really sorry it happened this way . . . but just from your OP, I can't help but think this decision is a judgment of you, or your worthiness. It just doesn't SOUND like it to an objective ear. Anyway (hugs) I'm feeling it with you.

[NewYorkerGirl]

At my facility, most of the charges are very young. I agree that it's ageism: they don't want to invest in older workers. I'm sorry this happened to you, but you need to read the writing on the wall, OP. Tell your NM that you plan to stick around for X number of years only if you are charge, or else you're done and leaving entirely. The NM needs to know she'll get return on the investment, and how important this is to you.

I had to read some harsh writing on the wall in my last career, which I left in favor of nursing. I'm better off for it. You will be, too.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

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.

This can not be more true. It is so unfortunate that after many years being engaged, involved and loyal to a facility, which meant everything up to around 10 years ago, means little to nothing in this age of nursing as a business.

Because the nurse that was hired is less experienced, they can and will pay her more than likely at the bottom of the managerial pay scale. Additionally, they can mold her into their own image. The basics of management seems to be a emphasis on the business side of things, as opposed to patient care. And I would bet the farm and half the animals that she will be encouraged to get her Master's in business as opposed to nursing. Because you have a practice that is patient based, as opposed to business based, then yes, you are instrumental at the bedside. And that is not a bad thing, just discouraging, and a virtual "slap in the face" for your many years of productive, engaged participation.

Used to be that nurses were held to the standards of their practice and integrity--and were rewarded for that. That nurses who did not get positions in a supervisory role was usually because their practice had a lot to be desired. And it is hard to fathom that things have changed to the point where practice has taken a back seat to the business end of things.

And the lack of respect is astounding. When they use that "tell someone who gives a hoot" voice--you know the one I am sure. When you point out that you have been a stellar nurse with the best practice--and they are "don't care, if you don't like it leave" stuff. There are so many of us who have been there. And I am so sorry that this happened to you.

What you do is tough stuff. And I respect and admire nurses who have done it well for lengths of time.

Wishing you nothing but the best.

[UnbrokenRN09, BSN]

Management is all about politics, not about who's most qualified or deserving. If you provide above and beyond excellent patient care you more or less will never move up because that's difficult to replace. Plus a younger nurse is cheaper.

If that happened to me, I would just start applying for management jobs somewhere else. You'll probably land one eventually.