Advice on answering why I want away from bedside nursing

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

I have an interview coming up at the imaging center I mentioned. Usually I'm honest to a fault and it can burn me. The position is not so much hands on, and that appeals to me right now. It's a good deal of phone work and teaching points, that appeals to me as well.

This position is also not an end point but rather a stepping stone. I'm finding out there's such a thing as a wellness coach RN for either insurance companies or private and I think that's my long range goal. Even public health. I've always known I'm not cut out for floor nursing long term. I've been with the hospital going on 9mos. Prior I was at a LTC for 8mos. I don't want to look like I'm constantly job hopping however it does look like that. In my previous career I was at 2 different companies for 9 years each, so I am capable of staying somewhere, however I'm not about to make myself miserable to fit a bunch of expectations.

I'm not sure if it's okay to say I am burning out for the pace of floor nursing and that's that. There are aspects of the job that I do enjoy. Mostly the teaching parts. But all the running around and short staff problems and doing all the extra really physical parts are really starting to get to me.

I'm tired of them not being able to read a freaking schedule to know who's supposed to work but instead leave us short staffed that we have to pick up an extra patient on an already heavy load especially trying to get them out to therapies, plus deal with discharges and post ops. It's just not worth it. My sleep and sanity are suffering flipping from Days/Nights I'm not adapting well to working nights, it sends me into a near mini depression and I'm not a depressed person overall.

I'm not sure if it's wise to tell this interviewer what my eventual long term plans are. However I've heard in nursing they expect you to want to move on after a year or two:uhoh3: So although I have good experinece interviewing and from my previous career, the nursing interviews seem to throw me.

So in a nutshell what are good reasons to want out of floor nursing and into a more 9-5 mon-fri clinic type job?

[noahsmama]

Do NOT tell them that you're burning out on floor nursing and start listing the negatives!!!!! It makes it sound like you're not so much interested in the job you're interviewing for, but would take anything to get out of floor nursing. Even if that's true, that's not the impression you want to make.

Instead, emphasize the positive. For example "One of my favorite parts of my current jobs is teaching, and what I love about this job (that I'm interviewing for) is that I'd get to do even more teaching!". If there are any other positives of the position you're applying to that appeal to you, mention those too, and if your current job has given you any experience with those other positives, mention that as well. If there are positives of the new job that appeal to you but that you do not yet have experience with, you could mention those as areas of growth, and talk (glowingly) about how much you look forward to new experiences.

I think it's ok to mention preferring the M-F 9-5 schedule too, but I wouldn't emphasize that too much -- again, you don't want them to think it's the only reason you want the job.

I did exactly this when interviewing for public health nursing jobs (I wasn't burnt out on hospital nursing, but the work hours weren't working for my family life), and it worked for me.

Again: positive, positive, positive!

Good luck!

[TopazLover, BSN, RN]

Rather than focus on the negatives that are tying you in knots why not focus on the positives. "I enjoy teaching patients" sounds much nicer than "I did not have time to teach patients". No employer wants to hear of your problems with the last job. They want an excited employee who wants to do what is necessary in their job. You might want to point out that you are interested in learning more about holistic care and this job would allow you to gain first hand knowledge about pathophysiology and how to recognize and treat people in response to these pathologies.

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

BTDT. "I very much enjoy patient teaching and care coordination. I think this would be a great opportunity for me, and I believe my interests very much fit this position. I enjoy floor nursing (gag!gag!biting the tongue to prevent facial spasm) but feel the M-F, 9-5 is very attractive, and, of course, I can be situationally flexible."

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

Thank you both! I like those tips. I am interested in a more holistic approach to things, I'm not sure how imaging ties into that. Once of their offices does 3D sonogram imaging that they market as a nice keepsake for whomever in the family. I'm not sure if this office does that as it's smaller.

But don't they always ask what you didn't like? I can appreciate to keep emphasizing the positives but what if I'm point blank asked what I didn't enjoy? Then what? Thank you, I don't know why I have trouble with these common sense basics but I do.

[redessa]

I agree with the others - accentuate the positive. Instead of saying "We're always so short staffed I feel like I'm running around like crazy," say something like "I love giving undivided attention and really working one on one with each patient." You can also mention that you like the idea of a more "normal" schedule but certainly don't tell them that shiftwork is driving you to the brink of depression.

Absolutely be honest with them, but focus on the positives as to why you feel pulled to their position rather than focusing on why you want to run away from your current one.

[TopazLover, BSN, RN]

If you are confronted with having to give a negative, frame it positively. Ex. "I was assigned to xx shift and it was a hardship on my family however I was able to make adjustments to make it work. This job would be more closely aligned with my family's hours."

[redessa]

But don't they always ask what you didn't like? I can appreciate to keep emphasizing the positives but what if I'm point blank asked what I didn't enjoy? Then what? Thank you, I don't know why I have trouble with these common sense basics but I do.

If they ask that, twist it back to the positives. For example, say that in the hospital setting, you don't feel you get to spend enough time with each individual.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

Just focus on why you want the new job, not why you hate your old one. Good luck.

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

BTDT. "I very much enjoy patient teaching and care coordination. I think this would be a great opportunity for me, and I believe my interests very much fit this position. I enjoy floor nursing (gag!gag!biting the tongue to prevent facial spasm) but feel the M-F, 9-5 is very attractive, and, of course, I can be situationally flexible."

Ooooh, I like this nice and concise, pretty much what all are saying. So it's okay to say Mon-Fri is an appealing benefit? This is actually care coordination from what I can gather. The position title is actually RN clinical review nurse. I "may" get to inject contrast dye by venipuncture. But my phone interview stressed it's not a lot of patient hands on.

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

I agree with the others - accentuate the positive. Instead of saying "We're always so short staffed I feel like I'm running around like crazy," say something like "I love giving undivided attention and really working one on one with each patient." You can also mention that you like the idea of a more "normal" schedule but certainly don't tell them that shiftwork is driving you to the brink of depression.

Absolutely be honest with them, but focus on the positives as to why you feel pulled to their position rather than focusing on why you want to run away from your current one.

Thank you! You made me laugh with the "brink of depression" No, I know enough to not say that or that I'm going insane, I was just venting that part to you guys. If I would have said anything negative per se, it would have been that the floor environment is becoming a bit taxing, something "softer" if you will. But you all have great suggestions of accenting the positives, makes more sense than to even bring up a negative. I've just had experiences with the question, what didn't you like about your last job, so I thought that was a given.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

op: i am leaving bedside nursing too. like you i had another career prior to nursing and remained with companies for yearssssss prior to taking another job. plus, like you, i have worked bedside for a few years (and a few different positions) and have had enough. in addition, like you i want to progress in my career.

i have interviewed for non-bedside nursing jobs and as the others have pointed out, all i have done was focus on positives. i love nursing (what it is supposed to be) and i focused on that during my interviews. when asked about transitioning away from bedside i point out my career goals.

understand that there are nurses who want to be bedside nurses even though he/she thinks otherwise. for instance, there are nurses who choose to leave bedside and quickly return because they cannot get out of the role of nursing on a small scale (direct patient care). with that said, be sure to let the interviewer(s) know that you are ready to nurse on a bigger scale and know that you are capable of thinking beyond direct patient care. if you have examples as a nurse or within your prior career, they will be very beneficial. good luck!!!