Leaving Bedside Nursing. Interview help

[Beave11]

After 9 years of bedside nursing, I am actively looking for something different mostly medical technology. My problem is that I am awful at the interview process. I fumble my words. I know the question will come up of why I’m changing from bedside nursing. I think just saying that I’m burnt out and tired of patients not treating me with respect is not a well thought answer! Does anyone have experience in this?

[CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN]

10 hours ago, Beave11 said:

After 9 years of bedside nursing, I am actively looking for something different mostly medical technology. My problem is that I am awful at the interview process. I fumble my words. I know the question will come up of why I’m changing from bedside nursing. I think just saying that I’m burnt out and tired of patients not treating me with respect is not a well thought answer! Does anyone have experience in this?

First off, Google "nursing interview questions" and practice. Literally stand in front of a mirror, and answer them aloud. This really helps with the "word searching" we all do under pressure.

As far as to why you are leaving the bedside, consider using "new challenge", "new skills acquisition" and "work life balance" to build your answer.

[EDNURSE20, BSN]

I tend to interview well, I think, I got my first job on my first interview and then my second job again after one interview. Leaving both time knowing the job was mine. 

I have found practising answers to be the wrong way to prepare. The question comes up and I’m trying to remember my answer. that’s when I fumble my words. Or worst, a question comes up that I haven’t prepared for and I’m lost. My mind just goes blank. 

in my experience interview questions tend to want example from your practise. So I think back on different situations that stand out as being bad, difficult, learning opportunity, great ect. So I can apply those situation to a wide range of questions, without trying to memorise a perfect answer. 
 

a lot of nurses leave the bedside at some point in there career. I don’t think there’s any need to sugar coat it, especially in this climate, be honest. But also show interest in the job too. 

[RNperdiem, RN]

According to a coworker of mine who switched from bedside to hospital education and professional development: don't ever say you are there because of burnout. 

What an interviewer is looking for is someone who is actually knows something about the job they are interviewing for and can explain what they can bring to the role with some interest and excitement about the job. 

If you don't actually know much about medical technology, do your homework before the interview. See if you can shadow someone, talk to a few people working in the field about what they do all day, how the work functions, if this type of job you can see yourself being successful in, the pros and the cons. In an interview, you give better, precise answers if you have done some work ahead of time to know the company, know the work, know what you can contribute. If you talk about your current job, mention the up-to-date clinical knowledge you have. Don't talk badly about your employer.

Best of luck!

["nursy", RN]

Agree with pp, don't focus on anything negative.  Always talk about positive, I.e.   I'm looking to expand my knowledge base, I love learning new things, while I was doing my nursing I realized how fascinated I was about the medical tech aspects, etc etc.  If you go in with any complaints about previous job, you may be perceived as hard to please, difficult to get along with, troublemaker etc.