Interview question help please.

[NeoPediRN]

Hi! I'm a nurse who's been working essentially in peds for the past 2.5 years, with a little postpartum experience from working on a peds/maternal-child health floor in a community hospital. I've spent a little over a year now working in a NICU/PICU stepdown environment caring for some of the sickest children I've ever come across. We have a lot of kids who will essentially be terminal down the line, kids with severe cardiac defects, genetic and mitochondrial disorders, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc...we do get a lot of expreemies with feeding and growing needs/vent weans, etc, that generally have a good outcome too though, and kiddos who do recover. I originally became an RN because I wanted to go into maternity, but love kids too and went into peds after graduating when jobs were scarce. I actually thought for awhile I would end up going into a PICU. I've taken pause and really reflected on where I see my career going, and working in this environment has really taken an emotional toll on me. I'm fine at work but find myself really short with my family and friends, and generally sort of withdrawn just because I'm so burnt. There's just so much sadness, and it's a helpless feeling to know you work so hard to keep them alive and in the end you know you won't be able to save them. I've started job hunting and got called for a birthplace interview. It was originally for a per diem special care nursery position, but I just saw there are a couple of maternity positions that have opened. I submitted my app tonight for those positions, and am supposed to interview Thursday for the SCN position. How can I bring up my desire to be considered for one of the maternity positions? Should I just leave it alone and try to eventually transition if I get the per diem SCN job? This job would be perfect. It's 5 minutes from my house, a community hospital setting, which I love, includes LDRP and SCN. I can't stop thinking about it, but know I'm not a prime candidate.

[Ellekat2]

When you interview, mention that you've noticed that they have maternity positions open and that you would be willing to cross-train or take one of those positions. Emphasize that you want to work for the facility, and that you're willing to be flexible.

[79Tango]

Yes, get the Per Diem job first! Also mention that you will be obtaining extra certifications (NRP, STABLE, Fetal Monitoring) in case they ever need you to float or help out in other areas of the facility.

[LoveANurse09]

I would definately mention that you would be willing to cross train. Show them your interested in their facility. I think you be be a good candidate and take the per diem if your offered it! Good Luck!