uncomfortable "selling" myself

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I am an LPN going back into nursing after having surrenderend my license to get recovery. During a recent job interview I was asked the million dollar question...Why do you want to be a nurse? I knew i had a blank stare on my face and struggled answering that question. I know i have the obvious genuine care and concern for another human being it takes to be a nurse but i struggle with trying to sell myself in an interview situation. It kind of niggles at me that I actually had to really think about Why I want to be a nurse? I felt really put on the spot. Will I ever become comfortable with trying to convince an interviewer that I am worthy of employment? I know i am but have a hard time doing this. another situation I am having anxiety over is an upcoming "administrative hearing" I am going to have on may 27th with the Az. board of fingerprinting. I will be given the opportunity to explain why my application should be granted. I am already struggling with the words that I want to say, Here again, i am going to have to be "selling" myself to another person. Inside I feel confident with the progress I have made regaining my life back through the recovery process but when it comes time to explain and convince an authoritative figure that I am "good to go", I fall to pieces. Is this a low self -esteem problem surfacing or just my stupid disease of addiction telling me in a sneaky quiet voice that I am just not worth it so dont even try. Do other nurses in recovery have these self -esteem issues?

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From my own experience (I abused alcohol) I feel a sense of remorse and shame, that doesn't seem to go completely away; and maybe this is what you are feeling. You really need to sell yourself. Give good eye contact, smile and answer there questions honestly.Tell them about your addiction briefly, then focus on your recovery. Focus on the positives. Tell them what they want to hear. State how you are so happy for this intervention and for all the help that you have received related to recovery, that you have met some really great people in recovery and have built quite a support system, etc, etc. Tell them how long you have been in recovery, how long you have been sober. Stress how all your random ua's have been negative, how you have a great relapse program in place and how you have so many people to call if need be. Stress how you love nursing and how you feel you can and do make a difference, no matter how small. You can E-mail me anytime, if you need to talk.

Mary, another nurse in recovery from Arizona.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, Education.

Hi Gr8fulnrs, Mary, aka Tall Cactus, just gave you some excellent advice. Read that post over and over!!! Yes, focus on the positive and be humble. Also, get someone who you are close to, to "role-play" with you. Practice possible questions and answers. Keep us posted. I will mark 5/27 on my calendar to say a special prayer. You will do great!! :nurse:

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Thankyou so much, that was excellent advice. what a great help you have been.

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Specializes in med-surg, oncology, critical care.

Hi, I'm facing the same soon too. I've been doing ok until now. I'm scared to death of going before the board. Convincing them that I'm ready to return to work. That I'm worthy. Heck, I've spent more time trying to get my license back than I did in school trying to get them to began with.

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Specializes in ICU.

I agree with the other posters about being positive.

But think about it,, you MUST sell yourself,, you're the only one that can do this,, no one else can do it for you. What else is there to do? Give up ?? You can't do that if you want to be a nurse. You've got to fight for this!

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Specializes in Wound Care.

Practice. Practice in front of family, friends, pets, dolls, mirrors. My nurses' groups give practice interviews to each other. My counselor or therapist has done it. I've gone on the internet and printed off questions and then answered them. The point of doing all of that is not to memorize your responses, but to get you out of the "deer caught in headlights" reaction. Get you more comfortable talking about how great you are. My guess is that you haven't done that too often. Try to think about why it's so uncomfortable for you. For me, I just don't think I'm that great. Even when I can't think of anything bad. But I write down everything positive about myself. Think about you like you are your best friend...because you should be. Then talk about you like you would talk about your best friend. I don't think it's wise to be dishonest, especially if it's to get something I wouldn't get if I was honest. You can do this. If a self-sabotaging, low self-esteem, self-loathing addict like myself can learn to love me and land a fabulous job....anyone can do it! Go get'er done!

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Specializes in med-surg, oncology, critical care.

Thanks, How wonderful that your happy and doing well. Your advice is awesome. The questions you were talking about, Where did you access them?

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Specializes in HH, SNF, LTC, Hospital.

Before sharing my story, my sponsor taught me to clear my mind of my own words and ask my Higher Power to speak thru me, it has worked on many occasions where I would have had trouble making my opinion known. I ask for guidance of all parts of me, my mind, body & spirit. The feeling after is so wonderful and I have often been in tears. But these are now tears of joy and relief as I walk through something instead of avoiding it...picture deep breaths in full of oxygen and God, exhales slow and easy of the shame, grief and insecurities.

Try asking your Higher Power to direct your words, thoughts and actions as you enter that hearing, if He brought you TO it, He'll take you THROUGH it.

5/27 is approaching...you're in my prayers.

Be alive, be sober, be you!

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I did exactly what you suggested...prior to entering the hearing i took a deep breath and invited my higher power in to me. and just like a miracle had occured... i answered the judges questions confidently and sure of my self. The words I needed were supplied to me just as if i had reheorificed a million times what to say. So the May 27th hearing went well and I'm just waiting on an answer. I know it will be a good one. I'll post the good news on my fingerprint clearance card as soon as it comes in the mail. thankyou shugrr22107NA and everyone for yourgreat advice.

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Specializes in HH, SNF, LTC, Hospital.

Thanks for being a part of my recovery. It's a WE program and HE takes care of all of us, if we just get out of His way!

I have an interview with a great hospital today, I think I'll just do what YOU did....

Be blessed!

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