How to answer this question without limiting myself

chloecatrn · Jul 11, 2010

"While my primary interest is cardiac nursing, and an opportunity on a unit specializing in cardiac disorders would be my preference, I am excited about the opportunity to participate in this Graduate Nurse residency program. I know that all varieties of patients have cardiac co-morbidities, and will welcome the chance to see how these disorders can effect the treatment of other illnesses."

*jojo* · Jul 11, 2010

That is seriously exactly what I was thinking but could not put into words! Thank you so much!

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 11, 2010

I wouldn't say that any unit could have patients with cardiac issues. That makes it sound as if you are ONLY interested in cardiac and would not be interested in other body systems.

I would start by emphasizing that you would be interested in any of the units available as they all match well with your interest in the care of hospitalized adults and all would provide many opportunities to further develop your nursing skills. Then I would say something like ... "However, if I have to chose just one, I would choose the cardiac unit because the cardiovascular system was one of my favorite subject areas in nursing school." Then I would reiterate that I'd be very happy with any unit offered.

In other words, "sandwich" your cardiac preference between 2 statements that emphasize that you would be happy with any assignment. That way, you tell them of your cardiac preference ... but without in any way refecting the others.

The ortho unit won't want you to look at their patients as cardiac patients who happen to have an ortho problem. The neuro unit will want you to focus on the neuro system, etc. They won't want you thinking of their specialty as "secondary" to cardiac. That's kind'a insulting to them.

*jojo* · Jul 11, 2010

Very good points that I had not considered! Thank you. Back to the drawing board!

I wouldn't say that any unit could have patients with cardiac issues. That makes it sound as if you are ONLY interested in cardiac and would not be interested in other body systems.
I would start by emphasizing that you would be interested in any of the units available as they all match well with your interest in the care of hospitalized adults and all would provide many opportunities to further develop your nursing skills. Then I would say something like ... "However, if I have to chose just one, I would choose the cardiac unit because the cardiovascular system was one of my favorite subject areas in nursing school." Then I would reiterate that I'd be very happy with any unit offered.
In other words, "sandwich" your cardiac preference between 2 statements that emphasize that you would be happy with any assignment. That way, you tell them of your cardiac preference ... but without in any way refecting the others.
The ortho unit won't want you to look at their patients as cardiac patients who happen to have an ortho problem. The neuro unit will want you to focus on the neuro system, etc. They won't want you thinking of their specialty as "secondary" to cardiac. That's kind'a insulting to them.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 11, 2010

Keep in mind that the leaders in every specialty want to hire people who have a genuine interest in THAT specialty and in THAT partucular patient population. They want their staff to care about those particular patients. So, convey an interest in all of the patients while you say that cardiac would be your first choice if you have to pick just one.

If cardiac is popular and you don't get your first choice, you will be in competition with people who say their first choice is neuro, and ortho, etc. Put yourself in the hiring manager's position and imagine how she would view your response.

chloecatrn · Jul 11, 2010

Hmm.

"I am very excited to have an opportunity to participate in this Graduate Nurse residency program My main interest is cardiac nursing, because xyz. As such, my first choice would be to pursue a position on a cardiac floor. However, I am aware that there is strong competition for spots in this program, and because of this, I would welcome the opportunity to pursue a position on another floor. First and foremost, my desire is to be a nurse. I possess skills abc that will make me an exceptional addition to any unit."

*jojo* · Jul 11, 2010

]I am thinking it might be better to leave out cardiac all together now. I rotate onto all units and don't have to make an "official" choice until after 12 weeks, so why make a statement and possibly put my foot in my mouth later?

They asked "what areas are you interested in working in?" Is it ok to say I am not interested in a specific area? ] Cardiac nursing does interest me but I don't want to close the door on other opportunities.

]

As a new grad with limited exposure/experience, I can not honestly say I know what I want. I enjoyed all of my clinical rotations, never felt "oh my, this is not for me" or "This is it". I enjoyed having an impact in people lives, whether it was helping alleviate their pain or ensuring their death was peaceful and dignified. I can't say that I would enjoy working on a cardiac unit at this hospital any more than any of the other units. I just know that in school it was a subject I excelled in.

Maybe I should write something like.....

I am a team player that thrives in fast paced environments. I welcome any opportunity to advance my nursing skills in an area that] promotes teamwork and quality patient care. ]

I don't know grrr, this seems to broad and short :confused:

This hospital is a Magnet Hospital and on each of the departmental web pages they list promotion of quality patient care as an attribute everyone must possess.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 11, 2010

My problem with your latest version is that it sounds "contrived and artificial." There is no personalilty in it. It's a generic statement that sounds like it was written by an advertising agency, not a personal one. In the end, it says nothing. Can you imagine anyone saying, "I am not a team player and can not handle fast paced environments" etc.?

Put some of "yourself" in the statement. All of the positions (except psych) are adult inpatient units that fall under the general category of medical/surgical nursing. It's not peds, OB, outpatient, etc. Say why you want to work on that type of unit or say that your first choice is cardiac or say something else ... but say something that doesn't sound like it came out of a pamphlet listing ways to answer a question without really saying anything.

Wasting the opportunity to show them something that sets you apart as an individual wastes an opportunity to pull YOUR application out of the big pile of generic applications.

*jojo* · Jul 11, 2010

][]quote=llg;4408650]My problem with your latest version is that it sounds "contrived and artificial." There is no personalilty in it. It's a generic statement that sounds like it was written by an advertising agency, not a personal one. In the end, it says nothing. Can you imagine anyone saying, "I am not a team player and can not handle fast paced environments" etc.?

Put some of "yourself" in the statement. All of the positions (except psych) are adult inpatient units that fall under the general category of medical/surgical nursing. It's not peds, OB, outpatient, etc. Say why you want to work on that type of unit or say that your first choice is cardiac or say something else ... but say something that doesn't sound like it came out of a pamphlet listing ways to answer a question without really saying anything.

Wasting the opportunity to show them something that sets you apart as an individual wastes an opportunity to pull YOUR application out of the big pile of generic applications.]

]You help is greatly appreciated! This is what I love about allnurses, honest advice!

I think my problem is that since I have already submitted a resume and made it past the initial phase of the hiring process, I am trying to answer this question in a way that doesn't repeat the objective statement I put on my resume. I also think that I am over thinking this simple question and should probably step away from it for the night and hopefully come up with 3 or 4 sentences that answer the question thoroughly without sounding generic, tomorrow. ]

]I would like to manage the care of hospitalized adult patients with medical, surgical, and/or psychiatric diagnoses; therefore, any opportunity to work with patients in these areas would interest me. If I had to pick a more specific area of interest, I would say that during nursing school I found caring for the complex and challenging needs of patients with cardiovascular disorders, particularly rewarding.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 12, 2010

I think your most recent version (in post #9) is the best one. It sounds like you actually wrote it and are sincere in the sentiment. It's possitive about all of the areas, but lets them know your preference.

I would add only 1 more sentence to the end ... something along the lines of ... "But I am sure that any of the clinial areas available would match well with my interest in the care of adult inpatients."

"Sandwich" your specific preference in between 2 general statements saying that you view all of the options as good ones.

Good luck!