Talent Review With Manager

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Specializes in ICU.

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I have an annual interview scheduled with my manager on Monday to go over goals, strengths, weaknesses, etc. I’ve only had the job for a little over one year. I left an ICU LTAC to get my foot back in the door at a major hospital and make my way back to acute ICU so I took a job in med surg/ tele /Covid unit and I hate it. In fact, I’ve been having what I feel is a midlife career crisis in which I really just feel like leaving the whole profession. I don’t enjoy it anymore, but don’t have a clue what to do with the rest of my life. My husband and I are discussing opening our own business together in the near future. Anyway, I’m still trying to make my way back to ICU and sent in an application for it last week, so that until I maybe leave nursing I can at least tolerate it. That’s not factoring in all the Covid crap that makes work so unpleasant anyway.

My question is: What do I say in this interview about my goals?

I really don’t have any within my current job. My manager wants to train me for charge and I simply don’t want to do it. My unit is incredibly stressful as it is without trying to manage the floor. I want to go to work, do my job and go home. My manager is forcing us to lead educational webinars and crap on our days off. I have three days scheduled on my days off to teach for an hour about workplace violence early in the morning when my kids will be bothering me for breakfast. I didn’t volunteer for this- she volunteered me to the director of education who called me on my day off to ask when I wanted to do it. I’m just so aggravated with my job right now and don’t want to join leadership roles but that’s what she’s always pressing me for. I’ve done all that in other jobs. The most stressful job I had was as a house supervisor for a hospital. 

Any words of wisdom?

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Specializes in ER.

Just say what you think the manager wants. It's just like taking sociology in college you just give back all the politically correct BS that they fed you. 

Do not be honest about your angst or anything else. Give the manager what he or she wants, which is to hear what upper management wants to hear, and cross another task off the list. These managers get a lot of touchy-feely nonsense that just makes their days filled with busy work such as this.

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On 8/5/2021 at 9:34 AM, Milkofamnesia02 said:

My manager is forcing us to lead educational webinars and crap on our days off. I have three days scheduled on my days off to teach for an hour about workplace violence early in the morning when my kids will be bothering me for breakfast.

?

On 8/5/2021 at 9:34 AM, Milkofamnesia02 said:

she volunteered me to the director of education who called me on my day off to ask when I wanted to do it.

"Thanks for thinking of me but I don't have any extra availability at the moment."

Either that or make a PowerPoint of Grievances such as this very issue, and title it Workplace Violence.

On 8/5/2021 at 9:34 AM, Milkofamnesia02 said:

My question is: what do I say in this interview about my goals?

Just be very engaged/look interested and say that there are a lot of options and you're still working your way though considering all of them, then ask a question such as "how did you decide to get into management?" and let them talk until they're about to be late for a meeting.

Sorry...I wish I had something more productive to contribute but I just don't this time around. ?

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Specializes in school nurse.
On 8/5/2021 at 12:39 PM, JKL33 said:

?

then ask a question such as "how did you decide to get into management?" and let them talk until they're about to be late for a meeting.

Sorry...I wish I had something more productive to contribute but I just don't this time around. ?

This WAS a productive contribution...?

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
On 8/5/2021 at 12:39 PM, JKL33 said:

?

"Thanks for thinking of me but I don't have any extra availability at the moment."

Either that or make a PowerPoint of Grievances such as this very issue, and title it Workplace Violence.

Just be very engaged/look interested and say that there are a lot of options and you're still working your way though considering all of them, then ask a question such as "how did you decide to get into management?" and let them talk until they're about to be late for a meeting.

Sorry...I wish I had something more productive to contribute but I just don't this time around. ?

I just love this.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

I followed Nancy Reagan's advice when my supervisor asked to do more and just said no.

When they asked me what my five year goal was, I said it was to have another routine colonoscopy.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
7 hours ago, Davey Do said:

When they asked me what my five year goal was, I said it was to have another routine colonoscopy.

Hahahaha!! Very good goal, early detection and prevention of colon cancer is important. 

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

So, I've been in leadership for about 6 years now. And I've learned that there are two kinds of workers (actually, three, but that's a different story). One kind, usually the younger, more energetic type, is happy to take on different responsibilities, learn new things, participate in committees, come in extra when we're short, etc. The second  kind, generally later in their career, has done all that already. Now, they just want to come in, do their job, and go home.

I have mad respect for both kinds. There is room in the workplace for both kinds. As long as you show up when you're supposed to, and do a good job, I respect the second group who is like "Nope, btdt, not interested, I don't live to work, I work to live, and then I just want to go home." But I want you to be honest with me about which type you are. If you're in the latter group, just tell me, and I won't try pushing a square peg into a round hole. 

So my advice is to be honest-ish. Tell her that you did all that earlier in your career, and now you're at a time in your life that you just don't have the time or energy to take on other stuff. Assure her that you will be the best nurse you can be when you're scheduled to work, but that at this point in your life, that is all that you're willing to give an employer.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
On 8/6/2021 at 3:55 AM, klone said:

So, I've been in leadership for about 6 years now. And I've learned that there are two kinds of workers (actually, three, but that's a different story). One kind, usually the younger, more energetic type, is happy to take on different responsibilities, learn new things, participate in committees, come in extra when we're short, etc. The second  kind, generally later in their career, has done all that already. Now, they just want to come in, do their job, and go home.

I have mad respect for both kinds. There is room in the workplace for both kinds. As long as you show up when you're supposed to, and do a good job, I respect the second group who is like "Nope, btdt, not interested, I don't live to work, I work to live, and then I just want to go home." But I want you to be honest with me about which type you are. If you're in the latter group, just tell me, and I won't try pushing a square peg into a round hole. 

So my advice is to be honest-ish. Tell her that you did all that earlier in your career, and now you're at a time in your life that you just don't have the time or energy to take on other stuff. Assure her that you will be the best nurse you can be when you're scheduled to work, but that at this point in your life, that is all that you're willing to give an employer.

Totally agree with this. If you keep giving your manager mixed messages, she will keep “assigning” you extra tasks. We all understand people have life outside work; I don’t think it would be unreasonable to refuse a assignments, especially when she does not even discuss it you prior to giving you the task. 

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Specializes in oncology.
On 8/5/2021 at 9:34 AM, Milkofamnesia02 said:

any words of wisdom?

On 8/5/2021 at 9:34 AM, Milkofamnesia02 said:

when my kids will be bothering me for breakfast.

I had cats and when I wanted to sleep in I just threw a little more in their bowls to keep them satisfied, and let me sleep.  Children, of course, are not like that. I would stress to your manager that your time in the morning with your children is the most important time/role you can provide and operate from there...

Is what you are after a strictly 12 clock hour job? If so, understand you are limiting your opportunities with future employment. Do you want to be at the same place when you are 60 y.o. as you are today?

Ask your manager what other things you can do and add them to your resume/CV. Your manager must of seen something in you that would contribute to the unit's education and you are the right person to provide it.

The world has changed in the last 10 years. Employers want more than a warm body in a position. It is more than "I am an ICU nurse" (NICU, PICU, SIU, CCU, MIU, Burn ICU, Neuro ICU etc). Heck, the hospitals have more ICU units than general units now.  We say we are professionals but one criterion of a professional is you provide education and support to those who come after you. Don't like the subject your manager gave you? Suggest another...Don't know how to use Power point of Microsoft Teams? Ask for education. 

You want to move on from this job to another. Think about what you can add to your resume/c.v. Who knows, your current hospital/manager may have you in mind for something else. 

Stand out in the job search... 

BTW, your children may see you doing something that will enhance your and your coworkers education and take it to heart. They may find a strictly 12 hours clock job is not what they want. 

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3 hours ago, londonflo said:

The world has changed in the last 10 years. Employers want more than a warm body in a position.

As long as they're willing to pay for what they want.

Instead, they often greatly prefer that people somehow get these special projects done during their regular staff shifts.

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Specializes in oncology.
On 8/19/2021 at 3:31 PM, JKL33 said:

Instead, they often greatly prefer that people somehow get these special projects done during their regular staff shifts.

Yes I agree that there should be compensation for time spent. The OP did not say whether there was or not. Then the OP needs to ask for it.

I have been in jobs where additional tasks were required outside my job description ...For example, chasing after new nursing students for their vaccination records. I kept a record of my hours, suggested what other schools were doing and I requested and was reimbursed for my hours. Next semester, an outside source was in charge to my satisfaction. (I had hounded this solution for several years) 

On 8/5/2021 at 9:34 AM, Milkofamnesia02 said:

I’ve been having what I feel is a midlife career crisis in which I really just feel like leaving the whole profession. I don’t enjoy it anymore, but don’t have a clue what to do with the rest of my life. My husband and I are discussing opening our own business together in the near future.

Here is the kernel of truth. I hope the OP acts on this and makes herself happy. But why not embellish a resume, explore other aspects of a professional nurse's job with education presentations and connect with other nursing leaders. Shift work is just that..shift work. Where does it say in your Nurse Practice Act you are limited to shift work?

On 8/5/2021 at 9:34 AM, Milkofamnesia02 said:

what do I say in this interview about my goals? 

On 8/5/2021 at 9:34 AM, Milkofamnesia02 said:

I want to go to work, do my job and go home. 

I think she has aptly described her goals. 12 hour shifts, no more effort expended.

On 8/5/2021 at 9:34 AM, Milkofamnesia02 said:

My husband and I are discussing opening our own business together in the near future.

 But:

On 8/5/2021 at 9:34 AM, Milkofamnesia02 said:

Anyway, I’m still trying to make my way back to ICU

Why not make yourself stand out with webinar produced education versus doing nothing. 

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