Tricky interview question

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

i'll be graduating this year and would like to do med-surg to develop my skills for a few years, but would like to move into other areas eventually. my question is in interviews if they ask my five year plan or why i want to work in this area what should i say? i feel like if i tell the truth they would not want to hire me knowing i'll quit once i become competent.

[mike_lee]

Tell them what they want to hear and then do according to your plan

[ruralgirl08]

I don't think there is any harm in telling them if you want to. As long as you emphasize how the current position is a very good fit for you now in your career, and you want to learn. I have been honest about my future goals in wanting to specialize, and it never hindered my chance at the job. You can't expect a new grad to want to stay in med-surg for there whole career, just make sure you don't sound like you are going to up and leave before 2yrs. They invest alot of time and money in training you, it needs to be worth there while too.

[AirforceRN, RN]

To be fair, getting a job (possibly over someone who has a passion for MedSurg) through lying isn't professional, ethical or very nice.

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

thanks for all of you replies.

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

to be fair, getting a job (possibly over someone who has a passion for medsurg) through lying isn't professional, ethical or very nice.

well i would want to work there for at least three years. who knows maybe it is my passion. i'm not sure what is yet. every teacher says do a year min in med-surg, not sure where i would go other then wal-mart. lol. who knows maybe that’s where i'll end up if the economy doesn’t pick up.

[back2bRN]

Be honest, treat the employer with integrity and they will treat you in kind.

Isn't there something in our code of ethics that speaks to this dilemma?

IMO an employee that is honest, but potentially short term is way better than the one who is longterm but untrustworthy and tells me what I want to hear.

[0402]

I was asked something along the lines of this at an interview I had recently (and I got the job), and I honestly see myself moving out into the Public Health arena in a few years. I told them that I feel that getting med/surg experience right out of the school is a very valuable experience and that I would need those skills, whether I move into a specialty later, I move out of the hospital setting or even if I stay in med/ surg. As much as I have a picture in my head of what I'd like to do in, say, 5 yrs, without real experience, I have no idea how I will feel in 1, 2 or 5 yrs.

[AprilRNurse]

You never really know what will happen in the next 5 years. Answer with that. Say something to the effect of "I don't really what what life will bring in the next 5 years, but for now I want to focus on learning and becomming the best nurse possible."