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?

[DarkKnightNurse]

Honestly I would look for another facility because for one reason or another there seems to be a glass ceiling where you work and youre being held back. You're more than qualified to be a charge nurse. My friend is a new grad BSN and after 3 months shes already a charge nurse so no reason you shouldn't be. you should have been a charge nurse way back in the 90s. Also, don't show any resentment to the new charge nurse. Support the decision while you look for another job. I wouldn't even tell anyone at my job that I was looking for another job. you don't need to tell the right hand what the left hand is doing.

[RNbri]

hope for the best

[lovinglife2015]

You didn't make it clear why you're leaving nursing? Is it only because you were not promoted? That's not the only nursing position in the world. If you're already going back to school, become a Nurse Practioner.

Don't bite off your nose to spite your face.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Heck yes, I would be upset. It is a compliment, but charge nurses need to be respected and someone who has their nose up a managers a** doesn't exactly make ME respect THEM as MY leader.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

I wanted to add that I have sort of the same problem you have. I am currently a charge nurse, who is involved in a lot of committee work. A relatively new nurse has her sites set on my position and management in the future. She is currently in a BSN program, but I still trump her with experience and schooling.

However, now that she shows interest in the management fast track, I have been kicked to the curb for committee work because I'm happy being where I am and have no desire to be a manager. The manager hands the other nurse all the committee work and I rarely get chosen. I know if I had a heart attack at work, miss super nurse would step over my body to get to my office.

Anyway, I wanted to commiserate. (((hugs)))

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

In real life experience does not trump friendship, politics and personal preference. In fact your age and experience and longevity at your place probably worked against you. First the fact that you never were interested in management before and also the more you are well known the more someone can find fault with you, your personality, any perceived weakness or flaws or idiosyncrasies. Someone new has a better chance as they may come across as more enthusiastic, a go getter, plus more moldable for management and easier on the budget. There may be truth that you are a good worker that the manager doesn't want to lose and have been pigeonholed as just a staff nurse because of the many years you have done just that. Your manager doesn't care that you are looking toward the future and realize it is not realistic physically to stay as a bedside nurse.

If it's any consolation you are not alone in your struggles both physically and in being disappointed at work whether because of a denied promotion or any countless ways experienced nurses can feel slighted in the workplace. Don't dwell on this, it won't help matters. Accept a promotion is not going to happen where you are working now. So given that, what is your next move going to be? If you still want a management job you will need to look elsewhere to get that opportunity. Or perhaps you want to switch gears and consider going back for your NP. If finances allow becoming an NP is probably the bedside nurses best bet to make it to retirement with back and body intact! I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do!

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

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?

You are going to leave nursing because you didn't get one stinking job?

Personally, I think middle management jobs in nursing are horrible; I want to stay as far away from them as possible.

However, if you want to go that direction, why would you stop after the first bump in the road?

[nursel56]

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.

When I started you would have been my charge nurse, profile-wise. That's when management felt the nurse with superior bedside skills was the right person to be a nurse manager. That isn't so anymore. The culture has changed. Wishing you the very best in your future endeavors, whatever direction you choose.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

I would have taken it as a slap in the face...couldn't lose you to bedside is BS. I would throw a little lawsuit for ageism their way.

[ANnot4me]

Quite often in nursing, nurse leaders are not chosen because they are good leaders, but because they are good followers. A good leader chooses other good leaders to lead and a poor leader chooses good followers.

[ontheway2crna]

I work with nurses with 20+ years of experience who are also nurse practitioners and they run the other way when they are offered to charge. I always hear it is not worth the extra 2 dollars for the stress. Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise. Maybe the new nurse isn't that great at the bedside and they are using her naivete to get a cheap charge nurse.

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

I think her line that the other nurse's goals alliances with the position says a lot. It wasn't about seniority. It was who fit the role. It isn't next in line. It is who is walking this path.

If you want management maybe you need to work on letting it known and showing that's your goal so that your goals align with the position.