Cover letter, ok to admit wanting better hours?

advsmuch08 · Jul 22, 2013

I think I would leave the better hours out. Instead say something along the lines of wanting to explore other areas of nursing. They want to hear about your desire to work with people on a closer basis, your enjoyment of patient education, and interest in promoting health and wellness in the community, etc.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2013

I think I would leave the better hours out.

I agree. My guess is, the manager wants to know why you want the clinic job. While part of that reason is better hours, it sounds more like you want to leave you NICU job rather that actually be in the clinic job. While hours might be your #1 reason for changing jobs (and I totally understand and respect that), is there not any other reason that you want the clinic job?

MrsNicuNurse · Jul 22, 2013

I'm glad I asked... And I think you're right about wanting to leave the nicu job, there are other factors such as politics, rude doctors, working there for ten years before earning full time days, ect that influence wanting to leave. But I love the little babies and connecting with the parents. I worked as a cna at a childrens hospital in nursing school and loved the pediatric population (Im applying at a pediatricians office if I didnt already mention that). So I think I woll really enjoy interacting with the kids and parents. There will also be a lot less stress than working in an icu. Im sure clinics have a different kind of stress such as time management which I consider a strength of mine. Thanks for the input, any other words of advice would be appreciated!

brownbook · Jul 22, 2013

I agree with all the above. However some clinics, doctor offices, have the reputation of chronically running late. What is supposed to be a 8 - 5 doctor office job turns into an 8 to 8 shift with doctors running late.

If they seem really interested in hiring you after your initial interview I think it is appropriate to ask if you will be expected to stay late often, or some polite way of putting it? You do need to consider your family, if your family is expecting you home at 6 and you are chronically home at 8 that could make no nights, weekends, holidays, not such a great deal.

BlueLightRN · Jul 27, 2013

I work in a clinic and while I didn't put it in my cover letter or list it as a reason why I wanted to work there, When the hiring manager asked me why I was leaving my old job, though, I told her the truth, I was working nights and 12 hour shifts and every holiday and wanted to be able to use my skills, help people. and be a nurse, while still being able to be home at night and not sleep during the day and working every Christmas lol.

ICU11 · Sep 3, 2013

I landed a job in a clinic recently by applying within my specialty, Neuro, and emphasized my desire to work with this population, wanting more time for patient education, etc. I also asked to shadow. When she asked in the interview what I wouldn't miss about my inpatient job, I did mention the hours. I thought it was a mistake at the time, but I got the job anyway!

amoLucia · Sep 3, 2013

To ICU11 - what a lucky way to have been able to get your point across. Good for you.

BlueLightRN · Sep 12, 2013

You can use it as a reason for leaving your old job and it's not an insult to your old job.

HappyWife77, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2013

I don't think its an insult to your current job. I think a future employers could relate and understand because they are already working the shifts you desire. They will "get" it. Good luck to you and don't give up until you get what you want. Sometimes it takes perseverance but its worth it. ;-)

smmm · Nov 4, 2015

Hi Mrs NICUNurse, when I read your post, it hit home right away! My first job out of school was in adult ICU on nights (which I did not enjoy), so the entire time I was looking for any OB (L&D, PP, NICU) jobs, which is what I always wanted to do, but all openings were for nights and I was not thrilled about starting at the bottom in a new place. After not having much luck with finding an OB job, I decided to just look for any outpatient day jobs because I was so done with nights, for the same reasons that you listed. Then, this past May, I found a NICU nights position at a great hospital where I used to work as a CNA for a short time, so I applied. It was between that and a day shift neuro clinic (which I gained interest in while being at the ICU) and I picked NICU because I always wanted to try it and knew if I passed it up, the opportunity might have never come around again. The place is great, the staff is super nice, manager is amazing...but switching to a day shift I was told during the interview takes "years"....like, almost ten years because the turnover is so slow...I'm not sure if I really want to do bedside nursing forever, and wait to work days in a hospital either since it is crazier so the "boring" outpatient clinic/surgery/GI type of environment sounds great.So I am torn now. I am exhausted of working nights (going on my 5th year now) but I know that I have it good where I am at and I do enjoy it. I don't want to work holidays, some weekends could be manageable, but I am also worried about the difference in income since I wouldn't be getting shift differential anymore, and my loans still have a waaay to go. At my current place, one has to work 9 months before being able to transfer between positions within the system. I was thinking about talking to my manager that I want to cut back on hours because I can't do nights anymore (which she knows I do not prefer), and looking for a part time days position. I know the flip-flopping would not be great but that way I have a place to fall back on in case I don't like the day position and I don't loose my seniority, experience, benefits, etc. I could do 16 hrs somewhere during the day and 16/20 in the NICU at night... this is all a roughdraft in my head right not but I am seriously considering not being able to last on nights for much longer than another year. I also wanted to work in clinics ideally since I like patient education, especially in women's health, but as brownbook mentioned, clinics deal with their own stress/time constraints, issues. If anyone can shed some light on my situation I would greatly appreciate it!