Am I making the right choice leaving the hospital?

[jpaulson]

Hi guys!

So, I have only been a nurse for about 2 years. I started off on a trauma med/surg floor for about a year. For the past year I have been working on a postpartum unit. I will be cross trained to labor hopefully within the next year. I gave up a day shift position to come to this unit, and, while I love my unit, working nights has been putting strain on my relationships, particularly with my husband. The wait for days here is predicted to be 5-10 years. I am craving a job with a more regular schedule where I can have weekends and holidays off and I have been looking at openings in outpatient clinics. There is currently an opening in an outpatient surgery center.

Here is my question...is it too soon for me to leave hospital nursing? I keep thinking I will regret it if I leave too soon, particularly since I have not be labor trained yet. Have any of you made the switch? What are the pros/cons you have discovered?

Thanks!

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

While I don't work the same specialty, speaking from experience I would recommend possibly taking a PRN position with your current place of employment, just to "keep your feet wet" if at all possible. It's much easier to get rehired full time later if you stay current.

I got burned out and was also wanting more family time when I left acute care for a few years. I was surprised how much changed in a short period of time. I was also shocked with the change in the job market. Many employers want recent experience for open positions. I for one thought I would never want to go back but a lot can change over time.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I would not go so far as to say you would be making a mistake. However, I would also suggest you stay on PRN in acute care. You will definitely find you have fewer options once you work in the outpatient setting for a few years. That being said, you may also find you really don't give a rat's hind end because the quality of life is better for you or you like the pace better or a million other reasons why some nurses leave acute care and never look back. Unfortunately there is no way to tell if you will be one of those, so keep a toe in the water until you figure it out. Best of luck.

[brownbook]

Just curious....if it weren't for the, "strain in your relationship, particularly with your husband" would you stay where you are?

I don't know how anybody can predict a 5 - 10 year wait for days? Nurses get married, move, have babies, etc.

I love out patient surgery but you need to do what you want.

Irregardless of my initial question, the idea of working out patient surgery and keeping PRN in acute care is good. But that may have you working crazier hours than what you are currently working, more strain.

You can work out patient surgery, get PACU experience, and although it isn't "acute" PACU experience you could get hired into acute care PACU later on. You could finagle your way into working as an out patient surgery circulating nurse which can get you hired into acute care OR nursing.

Out patient nursing doesn't have to be a dead end for ever working acute care again. Doubt that it will land you a job in L&D though.

[caliotter3]

Have read several posts from people who found it difficult to return to an acute care setting after having left. They are told that they lack recent experience, no matter how short a period of time has elapsed.