Interview Help PLEASE!!!!

[KatieBug713]

Hello! I graduated from a university December 2011 and started right off as a graduate nurse in ICU; took my boards in Feb, passed, and became an RN. I learned that the ICU was just not the place for me. There were also lot of management and safety issues that I did not agree with. After about a month of thinking I decided to leave, I did put in a 2wk notice. I decided to take some time and think about what would suit me. I have been off now for a while and looking for jobs although job market here is few and far between and tough! It is all about who you know! Luckily my best friend is a nurse and she was able to help me get an interview with her manager. It is at the same hosiptal I was at before but different unit, not ICU, and different manager. I know that she will ask me my reasons for leaving. I want to be honest and up front with her, but I don't want my honesty to sound like I can't handle a nursing job. ICU was just not a good fit for me. And I didn't like that they made us take on 3 ICU patients right out of orientation and we only trained with 2. Is it wrong to say that I decided to take time away to examine things and think about where would be a good fit for me? I really need to land this job and I believe it would be a good learning experience. It is on an oncology/med-surg unit if you all are wondering. Any help is really appreciated! Thanks to all!

[piggypop]

I'm no expert in interviewing (being in only one formal interview myself), but I feel what you're saying. If I interpreted this correctly, you left a month or so after you were done with your orientation?... Anyway, I feel like I'm in a similar situation--I left a med-surg unit because it was too high intensity for me and I'm going to interview for a family practice.

The way I've been told/reading to approach this is to put it in a brighter way: "It wasn't a good fit for me," and maybe try to reflect on differences between ICU and med/surg that you would reflect on. I wouldn't discuss management issues--or at least complain about them. They'll likely interpret you as a whiner. (Basically the goal here is to turn it into the most positive thing you can, and bring up some things about med-surg you'll like!)

As far as taking time off to think about what you want to do, this I don't know. I mean, it really doesn't sound all that awful, and it's pretty hard to find a job without experience. If you were keeping yourself in the "nursing loop" during your time off, you may want to bring this up. Again, just try to shed as much positive light in a negative situation as you can. c:

Good luck!

[KatieBug713]

Yes you interpreted it correct. Thank you for your help! She told me to think about it and call her, but I have more things lined up so I think I'm going to call her and let her know that I have more to go on so I would like to explore my options before making a sound decision.