How to apply for a clinic

Hi Aimee. I have another friend who spells her name the same way.

What's new since you posted this? Are you working in a clinic somewhere? I hope things are working the way you wanted them to. Sounds like that area of Alabama is a scary place to work/live.

Blue

Hey Aimee! Found this old post searching for clinic job info. What did you dislike about the hospital and what do you like about the clinic? I'm trying to figure out what to do once I leave my med/surg job!!!

I just happened across your thread. I'm glad you found a clinic job, they're not always easy to find. I've been working in a large clinic for six years now, and I like it a lot. When I started, I didn't think I would ever get to know the patients; after all they're just in and out, and it took forever to remember which was which, or to be able to really visualize who I was talking to if they called on the phone. But eventually you do learn them all, and after repeated, repeated visits you do gradually get to know them, and on a more personal level than during a one-time stay in the hospital. One of the things I like best, honestly, is weekends and holidays off, and not having my phone ring begging me to work on my day/shift off. Yay! Mine is a hospital based clinic, so we're employees of the hospital, not the docs we work with, which also affords a lot of protection; you don't have the risk of being subject to the whims of some doc who is not necessarily a good boss. Plus I get hospital pay. I thought that, being a nurse, the hospital might bug me to work on the floors sometimes when they're short and I'm off duty, but they have not bothered any of the clinic nurses about it, except for the few who want to work on their weekends off.

Sounds like you were working in a dangerous area, so it's really great that you found a place to work where you feel safer and happier. Sometimes I think other nurses feel that clinic nurses don't work hard or have a lot of skills, but you and I know different- it's a different kind of work, but multitasking out the kazoo; problem-solving, using your critical thinking and problem-solving skills constantly, and having to deal with the not-so-uncommon emergency or crisis.

Congrats again.

I really love hearing all this feed back! I am struggling with the decision of what to do next. Of course, EVERYONE (nurses and even my computer programmer father!) is telling me to do more med/surg. But I am so unhappy and I know I can't work nights anymore, which is really all that would be available to me.

I'm considering applying to the clinic near me that serves low income income families. On the Cape, we have a large Brazilian population. I was just thinking about how well I tend to work with non-english speaking pts. I feel that I've learned to communicate with various types of people because of the many aphasic pts we get on my floor!!! I would also love to learn another language, and what a great motivation that would be!

I was wondering if anyone could describe the typical day in the clinic, or more importantly, the most common tasks required of a clinic nurse. I will search for an old thread of course, but any input would be so helpful. Thank you!!!!!!!