Ready to resign (after 7 months) for dream job

[SimplyNicole, MSN, NP]

Good morning,

I know that you ladies & gents read these posts quite often but I don't know where else to vent. So a little background:

I have 3 years of nursing experience under my belt including;

-2 years of trauma

-7 months of case management/research nursing in an ambulatory setting (current job)

I am & have always been interested in community health & HIV care (I make this known to my employers every time that I interview). An opportunity opened up at a facility that I am interested in working for & have been volunteering for, for nearly 2 years. I applied & the manager asked to interview me the next morning. I have an interview scheduled this week. Of course, I do not plan to quit my current job unless I have a good, OFFICAL offer.

On the other hand, I work for a facility in which I am truly grateful for but very unhappy (for a few months now) working in. My co-works are amazing, extremely helpful/supportive. The physicians that I work with DIRECTLY state that I'm doing an amazing job & they're surprised by how quickly I've acclimated to this new role. I've already been charge nurse several times & I am a part of an education committee.

Now on to my vent session: I've had several encounters with my manager in which have caused me to have second thoughts about my job. Everything from spreading unnecessary, untrue rumors about the amount of assistance I provided in handling an urgent psychosocial matter on the unit to implying that I'm "not busy" or "bringing in patients" (we coordinate appointments based on the physicians' schedules). Just a little fact: this manager manages two units. She stops by our unit a few times throughout the week. I don't work with her directly, at all but she is the person that would conduct my evals each year.

I cover nearly 200 patients between 3 different physicians & I've worked very hard to adjust to this position & the new environment. Although I enjoy working with the team, I DO NOT see myself working under her (I can't stand saying that) for a long period of time. I've never dealt with this type of situation before & I would hate for it to spiral downhill.

Our last encounter, she wanted to have a meeting with me because she was not happy with the fact that I went above her in requesting equipment for my office despite following the policy. This is not the first time that she felt unhappy with the way I've done something & felt the need to remind me that she "is the manager".

What irritates me is that she doesn't know what goes on, on the floor; she doesn't understand our role/job. She's always cornering someone to ask why do we do things the way that we do. She mentioned to me in a prior meeting that I have no right to ask her if she can meet at specific time if I had no patients scheduled & I'm not "busy" but in the same breath said that she has "no way of tracking how many patients come onto floor" or what goes on, on the floor. Then proceeded to ask if I had any suggestions. There's been other examples. I'm just frustrated because I didn't know that I was walking into position under someone so manipulative & shady. She smiled in my face after cornering me in my own office because I didn't place a request through her 1st. At no point did she offer to call a maintenance service (to fix the equipment that I have) or suggest to help until I mentioned that I had documentation of the approval.

Excuse my vent, I'm really tired of this place and I dread being here because of her. I literally cried after she left my office in a rage because I was so shocked & felt as if I didn't belong. What should I do? I'm afraid to leave because I'm nervous about the way it may affect my team & I've only been here for 6-7 months but I can't let this get out of control.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

I'm not sure of the dilemma. You hate this job and may land your dream job. The answer seems obvious to me.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

There is a golden rule in ALL jobs --- never bypass your immediate supervisor for anything. That individual is accountable for everything that their subordinates do - as well as all expenditures. So it is entirely reasonable for him/her to insist on being informed. Highly competent managers establish clear rules and boundaries & only require 'permission' for issues that lack clear guidelines. Inexperienced managers tend to rely on micromanagement and personal involvement in everything. As time goes on, micromanagement will dissipate as the manager's self confidence & trust in subordinates increases. Without trust, micromanagement will continue to be the norm.

I'm not saying that there are not situations in which a boss & subordinate simply do not get along due to personal reasons & mutual dislike. If that's the case, it's best just to cut your losses and move on. But until then, you need to 'dance with the one that brought you' and obey the boss' rules.

Sorry you find yourself in such a pickle, but it appears that moving on is probably the best option.