depressed

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2008

I think you need to go back and try med-surg again. When you go to the interview you have to focus on the positives you will bring to the job. The negatives are just learning experiences and an avenue to grow professionally. OK so they may ask you to lsit some of your negative characteristics. Do not list any of your shortcomings at that place of employment. Have a response ready for this question. You also need to practice answering some of the typical questions answered in interviews. I have sat on many interview panels as well as individual interviews and I know exactly what I look for. I really look at someones personality to see if they will fit in because interpersonal conflict and conflict resolution takes up way too much of a managers time.

Flightline, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2008

When applying for a job, here's a tip: Let them do the investigating, don't help them do it. If you have a license to practice, then you have a license to practice. I know this may seem dishonest, but just put that you left for whatever good reason you can think of (like maybe you thought LTC was for you, but you now know you need more.). Check the box that says they can contact your former employer, and then let them do the work. Chances are they won't contact your former employer, and if they do, you're former employer won't start spouting off why you were fired, or even if you were fired.

And if it all goes bad? Then you don't get the job you were applying for--same as if you told them up front. Try another place.

I say this because it sounds like you want to be a good nurse, and all nurses make bad mistakes at one time or another. Some get caught and face the music. Some don't get caught and no one knows any different.

weirdRN, RN · Oct 15, 2008

I think you need to go back and try med-surg again. When you go to the interview you have to focus on the positives you will bring to the job. The negatives are just learning experiences and an avenue to grow professionally. OK so they may ask you to lsit some of your negative characteristics. Do not list any of your shortcomings at that place of employment. Have a response ready for this question. You also need to practice answering some of the typical questions answered in interviews. I have sat on many interview panels as well as individual interviews and I know exactly what I look for. I really look at someones personality to see if they will fit in because interpersonal conflict and conflict resolution takes up way too much of a managers time.

So like one of my negatives would be that I intensely dislike being treated like a child, and that can some times translate into cranky or snarky behavior when people do not consider that I have a brain?

Another would be that I come across as confident to the point that many people won't even know I need help until I am truely drowning.

Are those the kinds of things I should be prepared with or is there something else you would suggest?

weirdRN, RN · Oct 15, 2008

I say this because it sounds like you want to be a good nurse, and all nurses make bad mistakes at one time or another. Some get caught and face the music. Some don't get caught and no one knows any different.

Amen!

babydoll99_99 · Oct 15, 2008

So like one of my negatives would be that I intensely dislike being treated like a child, and that can some times translate into cranky or snarky behavior when people do not consider that I have a brain?
Another would be that I come across as confident to the point that many people won't even know I need help until I am truely drowning.
Are those the kinds of things I should be prepared with or is there something else you would suggest?

No I wouldn't use those negatives. Something like, "I am extremely hard on myself. I push myself a little too hard sometimes and that can be exhausting."

The trick to answering that question is you take something that is really a positive trait and say you do it too much.

If you want to go the more upfront route, you can use things that can be fixed. Like, " I think my negative would be that I can't hit the ground running as fast as I would like to because I need to learn how things work on your floor. But I am sure that will all be taken care of in orientation."

Flightline, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2008

No I wouldn't use those negatives. Something like, "I am extremely hard on myself. I push myself a little too hard sometimes and that can be exhausting."
The trick to answering that question is you take something that is really a positive trait and say you do it too much.
If you want to go the more upfront route, you can use things that can be fixed. Like, " I think my negative would be that I can't hit the ground running as fast as I would like to because I need to learn how things work on your floor. But I am sure that will all be taken care of in orientation."

That's very good advice. Sad that it has to be good advice, because the savy politics of it makes me want to throw up about as much as hearing the words McCain or Obama; nevertheless, it is very good advice.

"I think my biggest fault is how hard I beat myself up when I let my employer down. I think if I could improve on anything, I would try to realize that we can't always give 200%, sometimes we have to rest at 150%. That, and I am really working on trying to give quality care to 15 patients at once. Right now, I can only handle 10."

Dang it--I just got chunks of emesis in my keyboard. :no:

leosasha · Oct 15, 2008

Sounds like you are your own worst enemy. Also sounds like you could use some study on interpersonal communication skills. It's a tool like any other. Med/Surg is a tough business. Very stressful. Might I ask how you lost the position?

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 15, 2008

So like one of my negatives would be that I intensely dislike being treated like a child, and that can some times translate into cranky or snarky behavior when people do not consider that I have a brain?
Another would be that I come across as confident to the point that many people won't even know I need help until I am truely drowning.

Go to a place where your negatives are considered positives. Confidence, snarkiness, crankiness - go to the ER - they love that!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Oct 15, 2008

When applying for a job, here's a tip: Let them do the investigating, don't help them do it. If you have a license to practice, then you have a license to practice. I know this may seem dishonest, but just put that you left for whatever good reason you can think of (like maybe you thought LTC was for you, but you now know you need more.). Check the box that says they can contact your former employer, and then let them do the work. Chances are they won't contact your former employer, and if they do, you're former employer won't start spouting off why you were fired, or even if you were fired.
And if it all goes bad? Then you don't get the job you were applying for--same as if you told them up front. Try another place.
I say this because it sounds like you want to be a good nurse, and all nurses make bad mistakes at one time or another. Some get caught and face the music. Some don't get caught and no one knows any different.

What he said!