Is honesty the best policy in this scenerio?

[raindrop]

I've been a RN for 6 years, and before becoming a RN, I was an LPN for 5. I had the same job as an LPN for the entire five years, but after becoming a RN, I have majorly jumped jobs. A year here, 3 years traveling, a year there, a year traveling. Why, you ask? The BOYFRIEND. I followed my bf around, wherever his job landed, I followed. Even if we were split up, I would still follow him because I knew we would get back together. I loved him so much.

Looking back, yeah, totally dumb. We split up 3 months ago for good. There is absolutely no way we are getting back together, and even if we did, I am not going to move anywhere. I would like to get one of my old jobs back in my hometown, but I know they are going to ask why I only stayed put for 1 year *5 years ago*. I think about this a lot and I do believe that giving them the honest answer and the lessons I've learned is the best answer to give. And to ensure the manager that it won't happen again, I will probably include how I want roots, how I am looking forward to buying a house in the same neighborhood as the hospital, etc (which is true).

whadda think?

[caliotter3]

I don't see how you can go wrong by being truthful about it. Anyway, what could you come up with for an alternative reason? Good luck.

[squeakyRN]

I would be honest about it but not go into too much details unless you needed too or they asked. Say it was a personal choice and you realize now that you want to settle down and you really like this place when you worked there before. Good luck!

[kaiasunshine]

Yeah honestly it's a fair-enough reason! If they ask and you said "I was in a relationship with someone whose job moved around a lot and I went with him, but we're no longer together and I'm more than ready to settle down now." or something like that I can't see anyone having any problems with it!

[leslie :-D]

Yeah honestly it's a fair-enough reason! If they ask and you said "I was in a relationship with someone whose job moved around a lot and I went with him, but we're no longer together and I'm more than ready to settle down now." or something like that I can't see anyone having any problems with it!

i agree, that something along these lines...

except you may want to add that you made some silly mistakes back then, have matured tremendously, and now have the need to establish some roots.

most people are very understanding, when it comes to doing things for 'love'.

much luck to you.

leslie

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I imagine that they might not even ask. It's not all that unusual for a new nurse to change jobs frequently early on. It sometimes takes a while to find your niche. So if you still cringe at being honest (although I agree with all of the above posts), it would likely work to just say that you quickly found that a particular position just wasn't a good fit for you.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

I would like to get one of my old jobs back in my hometown, but I know they are going to ask why I only stayed put for 1 year *5 years ago*. QUOTE] I'm sure they'll check your records and see that you are eligible for re-hire. If they do ask why you left I think you should simply say that you left "for personal reasons" .That's the truth -chasing a man is the truth, too but the first option makes you sound more grown up- which you certainly are now. Good Luck-let us know what happens.I'm curious to see if they do ask...

[nursel56]

It's always best to be honest about things like that if they ask. I moved around quite a bit from age 20 to age 30 also. Nobody ever asked me why.

[backatit2]

Yeah honestly it's a fair-enough reason! If they ask and you said "I was in a relationship with someone whose job moved around a lot and I went with him, but we're no longer together and I'm more than ready to settle down now." or something like that I can't see anyone having any problems with it!

i agree - you don't have to include details like you moved with him even when you were split up. you can even use the word "fiance" - it's understandable that you moved to be with the man you loved and expected to marry.

[suanna]

How about " I was in a relationship where my significant other was required to make multiple geographic changes for his career." " We are no longer together so I am happy to say I can make a more long term committment to my career goals" You can always follow up with: " I enjoyed my time working here and was dissapointed when my family commitments required me to leave. I'm glad have the chance to offer a long term committment to this position". Telling them you were in an unstable relationship that you put before your committment to this employer isn't going to be helpful or necessary. That falls into the catagory of TMI.

[EmergencyNrse]

You should stay focused on the present. You traveled and gained experience not available in remaining with a single location/hospital. You did this, this and this. (blah-blah-blah)

It is none of their business what the catalyst for you moving had been and certainly not any business about your relationship(s). It has no bearing on your ability to do your job. It is an invalid and borderline illegal question. Like asking "do you plan on getting pregnant"?

You have to paint yourself in a positive light. Stay focused on what you can do for them and what an asset you will be to the institution. Leave all that other trash in the past. Then there is no compromising your integrity with honest vs. dishonest.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I like the suggestion that one poster made about getting some travel experience. If I were interviewing you and you offered up that the reason you left was in order to follow a BF, I would question whether or not you would leave after I hired you. Love is a tricky and sometimes unpredictable factor...and is none of anyone's business but YOURS. I seriously doubt that they would ask you this in the first place.