Reason for leaving question

[thegeekyrn]

I am currently working in LTC and while I greatly enjoy it, I would like to move on to a hospital setting. They always want to know why I want to leave my current position. I am stuck on that question. My facility has many things I don't like, but no place is perfect. Honestly, I really enjoy my job but I want to try a hospital and see what that is like too. I think that I would have more opportunities in a hospital setting. How do you keep it from sounding negative about your current position?

[RNRAC]

Maybe this is kind of naive...but why dont you say exactly that? That you like your position, but you have been there for a long time and you want to get involved in something new. One of the great things about nursing is that there are tons of different settings that you can work in, and many people dont do the same thing for their working lives. They move floors, facilities, type of facilities, cities, states, countries....

[arvolina]

I agree, that's a perfect response. I worked in an LTAC for 4 years, and really wanted to spread my wings. You aren't saying anything bad about the place that you are leaving... in fact, you are using it as an opportunity to re-express all the reasons you want the new job.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

I always hear the advice that you should leave a job while you still like it- rather than stagnate and grow to hate it. Also, a red flag in an interview is that you didn't get along with your coworkers/managers, so leaving on good terms is seen as a good thing- as is desiring personal and career growth.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

"Honestly, I really enjoy my job but I want to try a hospital and see what that is like too. I think that I would have more opportunities in a hospital setting"