Acute care versus outpatient

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  1. If offered the job:

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      Take it! Quit the other jobs.
    • 0
      Keep looking.
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      Other (please explain)

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I am interviewing for an full time outpatient position next week. It's in an area of nursing that's not really of a lot of interest to me, but I would certainly make the most of it, and there's plenty I COULD relate to what I want to be doing. However, I feel like if I take this, it wouldn't be fair to them if I continue to search for an acute care position. I have been a RN for 6 months, living in a very saturated area, so the search has been tough. Taking this position would probably mean having to quit the other PRN jobs I have right now (one of which is in my desired area of nursing, at a freestanding birth center). I worry that being out of acute care for too long would make it that much harder to get into it at some point (old new grad! :facepalm:). This clinic is tied to a hospital, however, I don't know if I could apply internally for positions in time, and I obviously would not ask this in an interview. I can barely pay my bills (especially now with student loan payments due), but I can pay them.

There are certainly positives, as this would be a nice regular schedule, I wouldn't be called off because of a low census, no nights, it's close to home, right by my gym... It would allow me to do a lot of the things I want to do outside of my career.

I suppose I'm just mulling it over as I type, and obviously I don't have a job offer yet. Any input?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

Apply! As I got to the end of your post, it seems like you have made your decision.

Curious, what makes that area of nursing less desirable for you? You never know if that area grows on you. You never know that position will open up doors for you.

When I first graduated, I was somewhat opened minded. Areas I knew I didn't want (i.e. psych) I didn't waste time or effort to apply. But, on the other hand, you know your situation and any experience is better than none.

Go for it and sending all the best to you. Hang in there!

Sent via iPink's phone using allnurses

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RunBaby,

I know that you (like me) wanted L&D, and you didn't say what area the other job is in, so it's a bit hard to respond. If it is in med surg, then (at least out here) it's relatively easy to transition into L&D if an opening comes up, in fact most of the L&D positions here want a years experience either in L&D or in med surg. So if that is the case there, I would take it without another thought!

You also didn't say what kind of shifts they may be offering. If it's 3 12s, then you may be able to keep the prn job at the birthing center for at least a day or two a week.

You gotta do what's right for you, and after 6 months the money issue would be at least most of the deciding factor for most of us. I wouldn't worry as much about the "old new grad" situation because you are probably doing about the same things in a birthing center as you would be doing on an L&D floor (correct me if I'm wrong), so a year experience there should still open some L&D doors for you.

I also wouldn't worry at all about the fairness of accepting a job and continuing to look. A lot of nurses do that, I did too! This is new to you, but not to the facility, they probably deal with it a few times a year and as long as you give a good notice when you leave you are doing the right thing!

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

@iPink, the job is in urology. My goal is L&D, but I also love emergency. There are things I can relate to L&D.

@scaredsilly, it's a M-F, 8-5 type of job, and the birth center is 24 hour on calls, so my whole weekend would be shot if I was on call, and I could only be available for call on Saturdays, as call is 0800-0800.

One of the jobs I just found out I didn't get (that I really wanted l) was a 3x12 hr LDRP job, which would have been perfect for keeping the FSBC job.

If this job meant getting acute care experience, it wouldn't even be a question. The fact that it means dropping everything else is my biggest barrier, I think. Because it's a clinic, there aren't a lot of nurses. The one that's leaving is retiring. She's the one that called me for the interview.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

Many people have a specialty goal but it may take longer for some to get there. That means being in another specialty for awhile to get where you want to be.

Don't dwell on the positions you didn't get or it'll fester. Move forward in trying to get somewhere that will lead you to that goal. You have to do what's best for you.

Sent via iPink's phone using allnurses

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RunbabyRN,

If you need the money from the job, it may not be a bad idea to take it. It is nice working a Monday through Friday job and outpatient jobs are generally (not always) a bit less stressful than acute care. These are some positives.

I work in outpatient Urology. It's not a bad gig, but honestly, I find it a bit monotonous (but this may happen with any specialty). I prefer the variety of acute care nursing, but not the scheduling and understaffing. I work per diem at the hospital to keep up with acute care so it gives me that dose of variety that I desire. Maybe you could find a per diem job in acute care that will work for you if you are doing a M-F job too.

Think about what you really need right now. Is it the money from the full time outpatient job or the experience working the per diem job in the area you are interested in? Also find out about being able to apply internally after working there some time. That way, if you dislike urology, you will have an in to try something else within the same system.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

@iPink- I don't expect to go straight into my desired field, it's more that I'm really trying to break into acute care in order to get there eventually. I'm applying for pretty much anything that doesn't make me want to gouge my eyes out, but the priority is acute care, whether in OB or not.

I just found out about two jobs I really wanted (both in OB) on the same day earlier this week, so it still stings, but I won't dwell. I just give myself the time to sulk and have a pity party and then move on. :)

@naptimeRN- If the per diem job I have right now in OB could sustain me, I would probably stick with that, but the work is SO sporadic. One of the nurses hasn't been called in in over two months. The hourly wage is about half (or less) that of hospital jobs in the area, and the shifts can be anywhere from 4-12 hours, depending on the family (not paid OT). It's truly a labor of love for me. The team is awesome, and I certainly love the work.

I started another thread asking if anyone knows about applying internally to the hospital system associated with the clinic. I know that they have entities that don't allow this, but I'm not sure about the clinics.

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Specializes in FNP- Urgent Care.

Do it! I have been toying with applying to outpatient/primary are jobs and I also wonder if it will really put a damper on my skills if I choose to go back one day to the hospital. It's hard to work PRN when your main job is M-F, so that is something to think about. Let us know what you decide!

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Just found out from a friend who works for the same entity that I would not be able to apply internally for hospital jobs. So that's a bummer.

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