How to describe burnout professionally during interviews?

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.

So here's my dilema that I could use some advice-

I have 2 interviews scheduled, 1 is a cardiac/tele unit and the other respiratory/cardiac. I currently work on a surgical onc unit with relatively stable tele pts. The problem is that I'm bored to tears. I'm sick of being the dilaudid waitress, hearing about my co-workers personal lives, artsy fartsy attitude of sitting on the desk indian-style with no shoes on, slobby booger-flinging on bathroom walls, and in general whining about how *busy* it is. Give me a break we all know we sit around the majority of the time.

I just want a little excitement in my shift, I love when I get complicated pts, which I'm the one who usually gets the high acuity pts.

I'm wanting to go into critical care and the cardiac/resp units is the best way to get there in my hospital.

My question is what would be a professional way to say I'm burnt out and bored besides just saying I am looking for a new challenge?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I would leave your colorful description of your present unit to yourself as you can appear to be a malcontent.........

Just say you are looking to further your career and new challenges for yourself and to give you more edcational opportunities that a different unit will bring to you.....

You do realize of course that in your new unit there will be co workers that drone on about......

co-workers personal lives, artsy fartsy attitude of sitting on the desk indian-style with no shoes on, slobby booger-flinging on bathroom walls, and in general whining about how *busy* it is.

as there are malcontents on every floor and people we just don't like in general. The grown up and professional thing we do is to learn how to play well with ohers........I wish you luck!

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

What is wrong with saying you want a new challenge? You do not have to justify that. WHY you want the challenge is for professional growth, to do direct patient care, to interact with patients more---- Good luck!

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Don't mention the "burned out" phrase at all.

It seems that you are not challenged enough on your current floor, so say that you feel that your current work is not challenging enough for you, and that you are looking for a job where you would have a chance to apply a larger variety of your clinical skills, would like to work with unstable patients, etc.

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.

Oh I understand there will be those types of co-workers on other units. I'm mainly looking for a challenge and would never mention the negatives of co-workers.

Thanks for the advice it's very helpful!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

The phenomenon of Burnout is not at all like what the OP is describing. Burnout is the result of emotional and physical exhaustion, coupled with powerlessness along with loss of ideals & meaning in one's job... refer to any of Heather Lachsinger's numerous research articles on this subject for more details.

The OP is describing boredom, plain and simple. There's no shame in wanting to seek a more challenging environment. That's why nursing is so great - there's always something new to try instead of just hanging out and growing more and more complacent. But to label this as "burnout" is doing a disservice to unfortunate people who are truly caught up in this terrible situation.

Up2nogoodRN -- best of luck on your job transition. I hope you find your work 'home' in critical care.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-Surge, Ortho.

I agree with HouTX, burn out is emotional and physical exhaustion, a big difference compared to bordem and a feeling of complacency, UpTo no good RN, you should try working in the ER or shock trauma, I believe you would do well, wish you the best.

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.
The phenomenon of Burnout is not at all like what the OP is describing. Burnout is the result of emotional and physical exhaustion, coupled with powerlessness along with loss of ideals & meaning in one's job... refer to any of Heather Lachsinger's numerous research articles on this subject for more details.

The OP is describing boredom, plain and simple. There's no shame in wanting to seek a more challenging environment. That's why nursing is so great - there's always something new to try instead of just hanging out and growing more and more complacent. But to label this as "burnout" is doing a disservice to unfortunate people who are truly caught up in this terrible situation.

Up2nogoodRN -- best of luck on your job transition. I hope you find your work 'home' in critical care.

Oops sorry, I can be complacent about using terms of speech casually and forget some may take it literally. Not being snarky at all but just recognizing some areas of personal growth to work on. But honestly I do 'feel' burnout at times as you described but did not state all the details in my first post.

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I just want a little excitement in my shift, I love when I get complicated pts, which I'm the one who usually gets the high acuity pts.

I'm wanting to go into critical care and the cardiac/resp units is the best way to get there in my hospital.

All areas of nursing become boring after a while. The ED can be pretty freakin' boring even when we're balls to the wall busy. Even in the chaos, there's a repetitiveness that can be mind-numbing.

Otherwise, for excitement, I'd recommend base jumping.

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