Question HR asked when apply for hospital....

[Answermyquestionpls]

I've worked at my job for the past two years. I started fresh out of college it's a rehab unit. It doesn't function well at all. Anything and everything that could be wrong with the place is. I haven't heard better about other floors in the hospital either. To be quite honest I don't know how the hospital functions. Since my two years are up I am ready to be at a different facility. There are sister hospitals to this facility but because I am going back to school part time, I want to go to the hospital that pays tuition reimbursement the best...and that isn't affiliated with this one. Well, after applying for one job a few weeks ago and basically immediately having the job go filled. I decided to apply for several jobs-3 to be exact. Well, the HR department contacted me and asked: "You have applied for a variety of positions...what is you goal in changing facilities?" and later stated "I can better assist you if I know more of what your interests are."

Not sure how to respond to the first one. I mean I can't say I want to get out of the facility I'm in because I hate it with a passion, fear for my license, don't know how it functions without killing everyone, etc....So anyone have any advice on how to respond to this question politically correct without burning bridges? Also, the interests thing kills me. I mean at this point I am willing to try just about anything that isn't ortho or stroke. I am sick sick sick of those populations. I want a change but to be quite honest I don't know what to change to. To be quite honest if there is one thing that I have learned over the past two years is that I feel the population of patients is not as important as the people you work with and your manager and their management style. I really care more about that and what I liked about the city I used to work in, was the new grads trained and interviewed with at least three units. They didn't have that here when I graduated...or now, and I sort of want to talk to alot of different people because most facilities have policies about stating you can't transfer within the first year. I don't know. All I know is I applied for a sicu position, a transplant unit, and a cancer program (not sure what it was but it had normal hours, no real description...didn't sound like it was in patient). Basically, I don't know. I feel so lost and I am afraid to tell them that because I feel they won't take me seriously. I really need advice. I don't know how much anyone can give with that. There is one thing. Even in school I never did an ICU. They didn't have enough clinical spots so I never experienced it. So I really don't know how I would feel about that. I just figured....anything else.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Say something about being a recent graduate and wanting to try something different than your current facility can offer. You can also say you're not sure what you want to do, and would enjoy interviewing with several different departments to get a flavor of things.

[dthomasa]

First of all, take a deep breath and think about your goals, if you are in school and need tuition reimbursement , that should be a priorty

Second you are a new graduate, therefore you are still looking for your niche', its ok...

Talk to a nurse recruiter and tell them you feel this position is not a good fit for you.

There are so many different options available in Nursing, so do your homework (research other options) and make a change.

In order to best serve the patients you need to feel "work place happiness" so talk to someone and get out of your situation without, bashing the unit you are in now....

Good Luck:)

[Batman25]

Say something about being a recent graduate and wanting to try something different than your current facility can offer. You can also say you're not sure what you want to do, and would enjoy interviewing with several different departments to get a flavor of things.

Agreed. It's honest and to the point. Keep it short, sweet, and simple.

[fungez]

My experience with recruiters is that they don't assist with anything. They are less than useless. Blow smoke at her. Tell her you have diverse interests and her facility is so yummy that any unit you worked in would be sunshine. Do not tell her you'd work any job just to get out of your old one. It's the truth, but they can't handle the truth. Play the game. I've had good luck going straight to the unit I'm interested in, resume in hand, and giving it to the manager. That way you can get a feel for both the boss and the staff. Don't give up. Job searching is annoying and at times demeaning but it's what you gotta do.

[Restoration]

I've had good luck going straight to the unit I'm interested in, resume in hand, and giving it to the manager. That way you can get a feel for both the boss and the staff. Don't give up. Job searching is annoying and at times demeaning but it's what you gotta do.

I agree with you....and though I didnt quite know what I was doing at the time, this is how I got my job.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I've found that if you go directly to a unit manager, rather than through human resources, you're MUCH more likely to get hired. In HR, you're just one page in a pile of papers.

The problem is...WHICH unit? That means figuring out what you want to try, and then learning who's the manager, and getting an appointment to talk, directly, NOT through HR.

[Katillac, RN]

My experience is that recruiters aren't exactly useless, but you need to think of it from their perspective. They want a candidate that is going to be a good fit, and if you apply for three very different positions, you may look desperate, and desperate people are often unhappy in their new jobs as well. So I agree that it's a good idea to talk about the fact that you are a new nurse, but I'm not sure I'd say you want to "try something different". That gives the impression that you'll be off and trying something new again before they can get enough hours out of you to justify the turnover costs.

But you don't need to lie or "blow smoke" either, because what would you say when she then asks why you think her facility or unit is the best to work for? Why not turn it the other way and say you're glad she asked about your interests, because you would really appreciate her sharing her perspective on the X position. That helps avoid the perception of being desperate; it's not that you'll take anything, you need more information on the open postions. Tell her that your experience has taught you that as a relatively new nurse, a unit that has a culture and management style that empowers you to do your best is important to you. Ask her what she knows about the working culture of the unit you are interested in. She'll get the point without your saying your former unit was a living hell. When she asks what kind of a culture and management style work for you, talk about looking for a collaborative, supportive, respectful environment. Talk about valuing inclusiveness, open commmunication and a positive outlook.

As far as your interests, think about the different positions you applied for and what you could bring to each one. SICU? Maybe you felt you were particularly successful with the recent post-ops in your ortho work and feel the SICU would enable you to expand on that success. Transplant? Maybe you have found you are successful with counseling and teaching and you want to expand on that. Check the allnurses specialty boards to see what you can learn about the different areas you apply in and what you could bring. If a posting didn't have much information, you tell the recruiter that and say you are hoping to talk with her more about the position to see if you think it would be a good fit.

I also think it's a good idea to go to units that you think you might like, resume in hand, and ask to talk with the manager. When she says she doesn't have time or openings and you have to go through HR, tell her that you'd really like just a few minutes of her time to talk about what her unit is like because you are interested in that kind of nursing in the future. Ask her what are the challenges and rewards of working there. Ask her what background and performance she looks for in her nurses, and what makes a nurse successful there. Leave your resume. If you like what you hear, then you can follow up with a letter to HR that says you were talking with so-and-so on such-and-such day and she indicated that she looks for X and X in a nurse and you are interested because you are skilled at X. Give specific examples, like if she says a successful nurse on her unit is able to multitask in a very hectic environment, say you're recognized in your current role as a nurse who stays calm in chaos. If the NM needs someone who really understand the pathophysiology of X, tell how you had top grades in your class in the X or you were the go-to person on your unit when other people had questions about X. And so on.

You're in a tough spot because you sound like you're pretty beat down from your current experience and really just want out of there. But just jumping to anything may be from the frying pan into the fire. So tough as it may be, think through the possibilities. Then you will be able to effectively sell yourself to the recruiters by educating them on why they need you and why you need them. This is guerilla marketing. The current economy requires job hunting nurses to jump through hoops they never had to a few years ago. In the end, though, I think it's worth it.

[gcupid]

Say something about being a recent graduate and wanting to try something different than your current facility can offer. You can also say you're not sure what you want to do, and would enjoy interviewing with several different departments to get a flavor of things.

This is the best politically correct statement but to me it can work in your favor or go against you depending the recruiter. To one recruiter this just may scream that I'm green, nice and I'll take anything. And most likely you'll end up on the floor with the greatest need the recruiter suggested & the highest turnover bc management cant keep anyone on it. Your response suggest that u r nice and surely this nice person can put up with that crappy floor. To another recruiter the response may suggest, we need to talk more to find out what seems to be what he/she is most interested in working. Maybe he/she should tour the different floors and talk to a few employees....

Yes by far the best response

[Simply Complicated]

I've always found that saying you have gained the experience you feel you will get from the position you are in, and are looking for the next step to advance your career. That you have done rehab, and are now looking for something that is more acute care, and the next level.

As far as why you applied to varying positions, tell them that you have broad interests, that you are early in your career and are exploring your options.