Opportunities abound for nurses in management
By Stephen W. Earnhart, MS
President and Chief Executive Officer
Earnhart and Associates
Dallas
There is some serious action going on. You may not see it or be aware of it because you’re in the OR all day. But it is here, and it is real! I once said that I would try to spot trends and let you know about them. Well, there is a major trend occurring right now that you need to consider: a critical shortage of same-day surgery management personnel!
I was sitting here going over some notes, trying to decide the topic of this month’s column. I kept getting interrupted by the phone. Two more calls today from "headhunters" (personnel recruiters) asking me if I knew of anyone who would be interested in managing a new surgery
center in Chicago or New Jersey. "No!" I said for the seventh time in three weeks.
I then was interrupted by friends who work for one of the corporate ambulatory surgery center chains. They were lamenting the fact that they just couldn’t find nurses interested in management positions for half a dozen of their centers. I laughed and told them I was looking for several individuals myself, and after I had filled my positions, I’d try to help them.
Then I refocused on selecting a topic for this column, and it hit me: There is a glut of opportunities for nurses who are looking to get into the same-day surgery management role. To restate the obvious: Outpatient surgery centers are growing, and hospitals are taking a greater role. If you’re not aware of that already, you don’t get out enough.
The nice thing about these opportunities is that they are not just for the experienced OR manager, administrator, clinical coordinator, etc. Naturally, those are usually the roles in greatest demand and filled first, but opportunities abound for the nurse who is not currently in a management role. In fact, often times that is exactly what recruiters are looking for: staff with fresh ideas and a hunger to advance and succeed. Obviously, because of this shortage and I do mean it is a critical shortage if the more experienced nurse leaves for a new opportunity, it is the perfect time for the inexperienced to apply for the vacant slot. Most hospitals and ASCs are usually willing to give you a shot. (Let’s be realistic they may not have a choice.)
However, even if you are a warm body filling the position you still are getting the experience! When openings are being delayed until an administrator can be found, a little bit of experience goes a long way. The most experienced nurse administrators in the field today started out scrubbing or circulating cases. That’s exactly how I started.
What is required? Well, you need to be flexible. You probably need to at least consider relocation. Never tell headhunters that you won’t move. That turns them off immediately and drops you from their list. Tell them simply that you would consider moving for the right position. Most companies, mine included, would want you to spend a week or two in a very active same-day surgery program, learning more about the business side of the industry. You would be teamed with an experienced administrator who would be available to you at all times via phone, at the very least. Most companies, again mine included, will work with you hands-on until you are comfortable and able to go it alone. In other words, a strong support base usually is available.
The international markets are wide open for American expertise, especially in roles of nurse manager/administrators. I know of several openings right now in the Pacific Rim. Lots of opportunity for the right individuals.
Give these issues some thought, and consider what may be interesting to you. As always, I’d be more than happy to assist and pass on your name to people if you would like.
(Editor’s note: Stephen Earnhart can be contacted at Earnhart and Associates, 5905 Tree Shadow Place, Suite 1200, Dallas, TX 75252. E-mail: surgery@ onramp.net. World Wide Web: http://rampages. onramp.net/~surgery.)
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