A career in nursing management provides a multitude of personal and professional rewards. Arguably the most impactful position in patient care, the nurse manager is the most able to work with bedside caregivers in meeting and exceeding patient safety and care improvement goals. On top of the professional fulfillment, the field also provides a comparatively strong level of career stability, as the nursing shortage has extended to management roles. The number of available nursing management positions provides the prospective nurse manager with both opportunities and challenges. Although open positions provide options for professional advancement, a mismatch between employer and nurse manager needs and expectations can create a high degree of tension and stress. However, prospective nurse managers don't have to gamble with their futures. Here are some tips for how to better evaluate the fit between yourself and your potential employer.
Before the interview: Do your homework
Research the open position as much as possible. What are the qualifications for the position? Is a specialty certification or master's degree required? Is the employer willing to allow a new manager time to obtain these certifications? If the answer is yes, are you willing to tackle after-hours studying toward the degree or specialty certification on top of the challenges of starting a new management position?
Dig beyond the organization's reputation and impressions of peers. Review as much information about the organization as possible. Potential sources are local newspapers, U.S. News & World Report articles, and national quality and core measure compliance indicators. Some of this information may even be available on the organization's Web site, along with accompanying service and employee benefit information. This research can greatly bolster the organization's interest in the nurse manager applicant because employers are usually impressed by a well-informed candidate.
During the interview: Interviews go both ways
The purpose of the interview is to gauge the candidate's level of preparation for the open position; however, you can use behavioral-based questions to gauge the organization's level of preparation for the new nurse manager. The following are some questions you can ask during the interview that may speak volumes about the organization's current state:
* What's the work expectation of the position?
* What accomplishments are expected in the first 90 to 180 days? To be successful, what would the new nurse manager have to accomplish?
* What kind of orientation is arranged for new managers? Is there a formal or informal mentoring program in which new managers may be partnered with successful, more tenured managers?
* What are some of the short-term and long-term challenges of the position?
* How long has the organization's current leadership team worked together?
The final word: Interview your prospective boss
Ultimately, a large part of the prospective nurse manager's success will be his or her relationship with the immediate supervisor. When speaking with your prospective supervisor, ask him or her: How long do you expect to be with the organization? Ask yourself: Do you have a professional and philosophical connection with him or her? Does the relationship seem to click? If the relationship doesn't seem likely to become mutually satisfactory, the likelihood of your success in the position will be greatly diminished.
What works for one person may not fit another's needs. For example, an organization without a management orientation program may not concern a manager with many years of experience, whereas a newly promoted manager may appreciate the extra guidance. The candidate needs to be self-aware about what's truly important to the new role in terms of salary, reputation, specialty, stability, and chances of upward mobility.
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