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How to Walk Yourself into a Nursing Management Job |
We look at some of the ways nursing looking to get into management might boost their prospects.
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If you’ve been working for several years as a nurse, you may believe that you have what it takes to be a nursing manager. Maybe you do – but if you’;re going to step into that job, you’d better make sure you have what it takes to do the work. For starters, you should have already been preparing for this step, honing your leadership skills and learning what it takes to be an effective manager.
Many nurses who have been in the profession for some time just assumes that they’ll step into a nursing management role based purely on their seniority. But length of time as a nurse is no guarantee that you’re the right candidate for a management position.
Instead, you should be able to show solid examples of your own leadership that you’ve shown as a staff nurse. The person making the decision should be able to see how your behavior in specific situations led to change or improvement, thus showing that you have already been an informal leader.
You’ll know you’re an informal leader if you find your manager comes to you for your impressions and suggestions, and if your peers seek out your opinions. If other people regularly ask for your opinion, you’re seen by your peers as credible and responsible, both of which are great leadership qualities.
When going for a nursing manager position, you should be able to give examples of how you have inspired others to action, managed conflict effectively, and dealt with team members with mature judgment.
Remember that a move to management is a career decision that requires thoughtful planning, so you should look hard at your abilities and weigh your own strengths and weaknesses – if you don’t feel confident in any of the above areas, you may want to take continuing education courses or attend workshops devoted to increasing managerial skills.
Keep in mind that the single most important skill for any nursing manager is the ability to manage people. Learn how your staff thinks, reacts, and functions when challenged. You must treat people with respect, no matter what their background. If you can work well with a wide variety of people, then you can probably influence their work habits – and that’s what management is, after all.
If you have your eye on a management position, demonstrate initiative. Take on extra tasks that your nursing manager doesn’t want to do – offer to handle the scheduling calendar, or some other small job. Take on any extra work that you can without having a negative impact on your regular nursing job. This shows that you’re ready to take on ore responsibility.
And finally, if you want to be considered for a management position, ask about it. Tell your nursing manager that you’d like to move into a management position, and ask them to keep you in mind to take on extra responsibilities. Small tasks will lead to larger tasks, and you’ll be seen as someone who’s on their way to bigger things.
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