Staff Development Coordinator

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Hello,

I just had an interview to be a Staff Development Coordinator at a nursing home, however; I have only been a nurse for about 8 months and do not have much experience. Is there anyone else who has gotten a role such as this one with very little experience?

Thank you!

You are skeptical of management degrees and MBA's? Interesting. Thanks for your honest feedback!! I will see how my interview turned out!

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You are skeptical of management degrees and MBA's? Interesting. Thanks for your honest feedback!! I will see how my interview turned out!

No, I think the poster is skeptical of your nursing qualifications. It's hard to teach what you barely know. You're still a novice. People tend to chafe at the idea of being "educated" by someone who is a rank beginner. This is true in all walks of life not just nursing. Sorry you don't like what you're hearing here. And a word of warning. Nursing homes are notorious for putting under-qualified people in leaderships roles (like new grads as charge nurses) and then throwing them under the bus when the poo hits the fan. I'm sure you're pretty chuffed about getting this interview, as anyone would be. But you need to think long and hard about this. You will get push back from nurses and CNAs who have been doing the job longer than you. You've gotten pretty defensive here with perfect strangers who have challenged your qualifications. How will you respond to people you have to work with every day?

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And point of clarification...you passed your NCLEX in July (or the last Saturday in August) no? Did you start working as a nurse prior to getting your license? Because you know...math.

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I am perfectly capable of math. And yes...I worked as a graduate nurse. I am unsure of why everyone on this thread is so condescending.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
I am perfectly capable of math. And yes...I worked as a graduate nurse. I am unsure of why everyone on this thread is so condescending.

Don'r think of it as condescending. Think of it as educational (staff development, if you will) from those who have been in the trenches. And from those whose opinion you asked.

Hello,

I just had an interview to be a Staff Development Coordinator at a nursing home, however; I have only been a nurse for about 8 months and do not have much experience. Is there anyone else who has gotten a role such as this one with very little experience?

Thank you!

Seriously - you asked the question and you got your answers. Your job may not be easy, and your potential employers may be attempting to take advantage of your lack of experience.

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The last comment about math was extremely condescending, as well as the way things were worded on some comments. I appreciate constructive feedback from veteran nurses (I have already received this feedback from Nurse Practitioners in my family as well), but why be negative about it? There is a difference between stating your opinion constructively and coming across as belittling.

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I am perfectly capable of math. And yes...I worked as a graduate nurse. I am unsure of why everyone on this thread is so condescending.

Nobody means to be condescending. I know you don't like what you're hearing but it's important that you know what you will be facing. I certainly don't want you going into this position without your eyes open to the difficulties you will be facing. At 8 months of nursing there's no way that you can. We have had other posters who were put in positions of leadership too early and unfortunately it did not work out well for them. Regardless of your attitude I don't want you to go through what they did and I have done what I can to try to get you to understand. As the saying goes forewarned is fore-armed. I'm sorry you refuse to see that.

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I have not gotten defensive about my qualifications being questioned. I have many highly educated people (including nurses) in my family who have all been constructive in a positive way. I feel there is a way to be constructive without coming across as condescending. I appreciate your feedback and love the way it was written. It is objective and I like the info you have me about the SNF. THANK YOU!

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I definitely see that! Outside of this post, I have received constructive and objective feedback which is what I want so I appreciate that very much! And believe me...I have been thinking long and hard about this, as I did about my current leadership role in the assisted living. I just think there is a way to come across as objective as opposed to belittling. I have many veteran nurses in my family who are also telling me the same exact thing as here so I am open to hear it, but I would like posts to be objective and instead of posts hinting that I cannot do math (example).

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I have many veteran nurses in my family who are also telling me the same exact thing as here so I am open to hear it, but I would like posts to be objective and instead of posts hinting that I cannot do math (example).

The problem is your family members are actually speaking to you so you see their facial expressions and body language. On a forum it is extremely difficult (impossible really) to interpret tone and intent. As for the math thing...I was trying to be gentle. I didn't want you think I was accusing you of inflating your experience. Believe me, it's been done before in situations much like yours. If you get caught in it, and they all have, your credibility gets reduced and the real flaming begins.

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My family does not see my face. They live across the country. I wish they saw my face though...it would be very nice. I appreciate constructive feedback and there is a lot to think about if I am asked back for a second interview. We will see what happens first though!

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I will weigh in here :) In my area (Tulsa, OK) Staffing Development Coordinator's in nursing homes do VERY little actual staffing development. They primarily make up the schedules, interview potential new hires and cover shifts when needed. That last thing is a BIG one...they cover shifts when needed...nursing shifts, CNA shifts...anything they cannot get covered THEY work it. I have had two friends work as Staffing Development Coordinators: they both burned out in a few months because they were working over 100 hours a week EVERY WEEK. One time when state showed up, my friend "T" had to clock out because she hit 20 hours but she didn't go home...

Make sure you know exactly what the job entails before accepting :)

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