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.
Just make something up then start working on your real goal... to get out of there by this time next year so you don't have to do another one of these.
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.
Not if they treat you like a line worker and send you home at 4am because census is low. The way to advance in nursing is education and planning.
KelRN215, BSN, RN
1 Article; 7,349 Posts
Just make something up then start working on your real goal... to get out of there by this time next year so you don't have to do another one of these.