Once I got my MBA, one of the first things I did was to sit down with the director and her assistant. I pointed out to them that nurses who get a master’s degree do so because they don’t want to stay in their current role. The response was that there were no promotions available. They explained that we were budgeted for 10 assistant managers, and we currently have 14. Additionally, five people have been here longer than I have were promised any upcoming promotions. The result of all of this is that I would have to see nine people leave before I would even be considered for an assistant manager role. Assistant manager doesn’t even require a bachelor’s degree, as there are several who only have an associate’s in nursing.
I pointed out that I had more certifications and more education than any of those who were currently in roles over me, as many of those in line ahead of me don’t have a bachelor’s or a single board certification, much less a master’s and multiple board certifications. I am more qualified and certified than any other nurse in the department, including the director herself. That apparently didn’t matter.
My hospital is getting ready to open a free standing ED about 20 minutes down the road, and the staffing for that unit is coming from the staff of my current hospital. I asked them if I could apply to be the director of that facility. She told me that she was planning on running it directly and remotely herself, so there would be no director position to apply for. It’s more cost effective to not hire a new director, don’t you see…
The director then said, “I understand what you are trying to do. Just stick around, because there is a lot of growth planned over the next two years. There will be other opportunities for advancement, and you can apply for one of them.” To me, this was like being placed in the friend zone, where a woman leads you on in order to get you to continue to act like a boyfriend to take her out to dinner, but had no plans of ever letting things go any further.
So I began applying for other jobs. I first tried to get an assistant manager spot at other hospitals within the same company. I was offered one, but at the same pay that I am currently being paid, and I would no longer qualify for some of the incentive pays that I currently receive. In other words, a cut in pay. Topping it off, the position was an hour’s drive away. I turned it down.
So I applied to positions outside of the company. One of the interviews I went to lasted over 2 hours. I found myself saying things like “You hire professionals. They want to succeed and work for a place that is winning. A leader is there to give a team a common vision so they head in the direction that they already want to go, and the result is usually excellence.” They loved me. I was told that I could take a current position as an assistant manager, or I could wait and see if my other application for a more senior position would bear fruit. I elected to go for the higher position.
I then was asked to a second interview with the hospital’s board of directors. I went and got a Brooks Brothers suit for the interview. I got an email on Saturday, and the woman who would be my boss at the new hospital told me that she thought I was a great fit and this second interview was to be on Wednesday.
Then on Sunday, I got an email that the second interview would have to be postponed. Two days later, I was called by HR and told that I was no longer a candidate for either position, because the positions would be eliminated. As of this morning, both positions remain posted on the company’s job board.
I continue to search for a better job. It’s all good, I’ve only had an MBA for 2 weeks, and I have already had 6 job interviews. It will happen.
12 Comments
Honk Honk · November 20, 2025 at 6:04 am
Jobs are a construct of the white male patriarchy.
To each according to his need.
mike · November 20, 2025 at 7:46 am
I started out in high tech making what is now less than McDonalds money. Stayed at the first job for 3.5 years and knew it well. toward the end there I was training a new hire who openly complained to me about what he was making and stated the hourly number. I was a little shocked as it was a few dollars more than I was getting by the hour and I would not get to that pay rate that he was unhappy with for 3 years at the expected annual pay raise rate. Talked to the boss and she said that a raise to bring me into parity with the new people they were hiring was out of the question since it was against “company rules”, sorry. They expected me to just suck it up and keep up the same performance. I knew the excuse was bogus also, which made it worse.
Shortly after that I did what everyone else in that industry was doing in the early 1990’s and started job shopping. People would move around the industry constantly and make huge jumps in pay each time, which established their “worth” and fleshed out a resume, though not with much depth. The new job offered the money I thought I had deserved and giving my 2 weeks notice at the first place came as a great shock to them. Toward my last day they called me at home and essentially offered me to name my price to stay. I suppose the rule about pay raises was flexible after all. I did not take the bait. There had been a round of layoffs after the 1992 Bush recession, and I was aware that senior management wanted to let me go at that time since they knew I was unhappy. I was retained over their objections for performance reasons. They were replacing more expensive experienced people with cheaper new hires after the layoffs, and It was clear to me that the offer was a ruse to keep me there long enough to get the new hires up to speed and then I would be disposed of. It was simply time to go and it felt great.
@HomeInSC · November 20, 2025 at 8:43 am
Sounds like your interviewer knows your current management.
I have never spoken to my current employer without offer(s) in hand. It puts them on notice that you’re looking for a change. If you are especially competent they want you where you do >them< the most good.
Likewise, I have never accepted a counter-offer no matter how good it was. If you do accept their concession you are marked for stagnation or future negative consideration.
I've had a previous employer sue my new employer to try and stop me leaving.
I generally improved my position with each move in the high-tech world.
Retired now, not rich but comfortable. I do not miss the rodent wheel one bit. The income was sweet
JimmyPx · November 20, 2025 at 9:48 am
Divemedic, good for you. Just remember that age discrimination is live and well.
Oh they will NEVER admit it and you can NEVER prove it but it’s true.
I have several friends who are highly experienced and highly qualified but are in their 50s and hitting this wall.
Just keep plugging away and you’ll get the job you want and have earned.
Beans · November 20, 2025 at 1:13 pm
Besides ageism, sexism is very very strong these days. Hard to be a male in a female-only world (management.) Then there’s the whole ‘no white men’ thingy.
Add to that if your qualifications are greater than the interviewer’s.
It pays to research the interviewers and the current company structure.
Divemedic · November 20, 2025 at 1:15 pm
Nursing is heavily dominated by women
Steve S6 · November 20, 2025 at 1:39 pm
As is HR.
Randolph Scott · November 20, 2025 at 10:03 am
Stay in there, it will happen. I had the same crap happen to me in the early 2000 working in IT. It just takes time and it will happen.
Ken Morgan · November 20, 2025 at 10:41 am
Hang tough. You’ve worked this hard, it will pay off
Rich W. · November 20, 2025 at 11:13 am
I think you have run up against a problem of being a threat to those that interviewing you. Any time you apply for a position where the interviewing group is less qualified than you, they will see you as a threat to their position. This has happened to me at least once in my career as a degreed engineer. “You are over qualified. Your position is being eliminated”. And so on and soforth. I have on two occasions quit under those circumstances and was offered jobs, once at a month, the other time the next week. Your rep is known by other groups and at least one is drooling to make you an offer.
Anonymous · November 20, 2025 at 11:15 am
I’m soooo glad I’m retired…what a shit show!
Diane
JebTexas · November 20, 2025 at 11:52 am
Everbody knows we don’t hate the media enough. Everbody knows we don’t hate politicians enough. I’m coming to believe we don’t hate management enough either. Good luck to you in your quest!