Transitioning from ICU/Med-Surg to Outpatient

[Ele_123]

I'm an LPN and for the past few years I've worked in acute care on med-surg & ICU units. My current job is cutting hours and wants me to drive almost 100 miles (1 hour 45 minutes) to another hospital. Staff end up working very sporadically. I might work full-time one week and nothing for a couple weeks. It is very difficult to get a position as an LPN in acute care so I've been applying as an LPN at outpatient clinics/ doctor's offices. There are a couple questions that have seem to come up in the interview. One is about pay (this particular clinic asked for your previous pay rates on the application) and the other question is about why I want to work in outpatient care or at a doctor's office. One lady told me their clinic was fast-paced and asked if I was okay with it. I think I've had some pretty tough/ fast paced assignments at an LTAC. I've tried my best explaining how my experience is transferable, but it hasn't worked out very well and I have a couple more interviews coming up.

[jive turkey]

Get familiar with their mission and vision statements. Read the "about us" tabs on the clinic's website. Incorporate whatever it is they say in to your answers. As for questions about pay, maybe preface it by letting them know pay is not as important to you as being a part of a great team and working environment, and that you're flexible in regards to compensation...or something like that and see if they insist on a dollar amount. Hope that helps :-)