When to tell manager about interview

Are you using her as a personal reference or the job as past employment? If personal reference I would always ask permission to use her as a reference....I would simply explain you wish to entertain other options in your career and ask if using her is okay? Depending on what type of person/manager she is.. this could easily backfire.

Me.. I would not use her as personal reference.. I would use a trusted co-worker for that. Me.. I would not mention the interview at all as they will check references once they decide if they really want you. Then she will obviously know you are considering moving on.

Me.. when I am no longer working for a manager then I would ask permission to use as a reference.

I also started looking for other options shortly after taking my first nursing job. Like you, I wanted to use my NM for a reference but didn't want to tip my hand too soon that I was looking.

So, what I did was, I gave other references (clinical instructors from nursing school, previous supervisor from a non-nursing job) and told prospective employers when I interviewed with them that I would also provide them with the name and number of my current NM, if, after the interview, they were still interested in the possibility of employing me. I explained that I had not yet informed my NM that I was looking elsewhere, and that I was willing to do so if they were interested enough in me to want to talk to her, but that of course I would want to speak to her first to let her know to expect their call.

So, I had a few first interviews where I did not get a call back, then had an interview where they were interested enough in me that they did want to speak to my references. Let my NM know at that point that I wanted to use her as a reference. She was a bit surprised but took it in stride (by then I had been there a little over a year), and I guess she did give me a good reference, because I did get the job.

I felt comfortable doing this because I had a good relationship with my NM, and also felt pretty confident that it would not cause me big problems with her if I hadn't gotten that job, but I guess I was taking a chance. I thought about asking a co-worker to be a reference instead, but wasn't really sure who to ask.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you good luck!

Thanks. It's hard because I don't have any co-workers. I am the only nurse on and I only see the other nurses for 5 or so minutes when they are leaving and I am coming in. They would have nothing to say about me.

I have two references I definetely want to use (1) a previous supervisor (2) my preceptor but it's that last reference I am having a hard time with.. maybe a clinical instructor?

Thanks. It's hard because I don't have any co-workers. I am the only nurse on and I only see the other nurses for 5 or so minutes when they are leaving and I am coming in. They would have nothing to say about me.

I have two references I definetely want to use (1) a previous supervisor (2) my preceptor but it's that last reference I am having a hard time with.. maybe a clinical instructor?

Yes a clinical instructor would make a great reference. You could also use a nurse who might be a friend as she would know your character and assets.

Hope it works out for you.