Sorry for all of my posts recently, I'm just struggling at the moment. I recently made a post about how much I disliked my current med/surg hospital job and wanted to quit. I have been in that job for a year and a half so feel I gave it a good chance. I tend to work night shifts weeks on end and it isn't sustainable for me anymore. I am looking into a position that allows me to have more regular hours. For over a month now I have been checking job postings every day and applying for any clinic position I felt was a decent fit. I have applied for 14 different positions and had three interviews. However, I am starting to feel really discouraged and am wondering if it is something with me or if I'm actually picking up some legitimate concerns for these postings.
The first position I interviewed for was a clinic for an independent company. The hours were good but during the interview, the manager stated the salary which honestly had me baulking. The price he listed was the lowest salary I have ever seen listed for an RN. It was $4.5 less per hour than I make now at the hospital as a newer grad, $2 less than at my community position. I ended up politely turning that one down.
The second was another clinic position in the community. Although it was listed as a clinic position, the hiring manager mentioned two or more times how I would make such a great community nurse doing home visits. I tried to as gently as I could mention I was just interested in the clinic, to which the manager stated that I would normally work in the clinic "but if the clinic is fully staffed that day we would need one of the clinic nurses to go out into the community." This wasn't at all listed in the job description. They also stated I would need to be available on call during some nights (1-2 a month) to answer phones about patient concerns and if I couldn't address it over the phone would have to drive out to see them in person. I am not sure if all of this is the norm for community nursing clinic positions, perhaps someone could shed some light. It also made $2 less an hour than my hospital job with little room for growth. I ended up turning down that position as well.
The third position was for a hospital clinic. The hours were listed as 8 hours Mon-Fri on the posting. As we were interviewing the manager told me that although the posting said 8 hours, I was expected to be available for 10 hours should the need be there. Another hospital clinic is being renovated as well, so they have been moved into the clinic listed. So there is double the number of staff with double the patients in a very small space. I am thankful to the manager for being so open, but it is giving me a bit of pause now too. I have heard people warning about the 8-hour shifts that then frequently transition into 10-hour shifts day after day week after week and the problems with being paid appropriately if the posting is listed as 8 hours.
I told my parents about my struggles and they feel that I'm being overly picky. My mom mentioned that no job is perfect. While I do understand this, I am nervous about what I perceive to be possible red flags. When I do transition over I want it to be for a job I see myself staying for years, hence why I am maybe being picky. My parents can also tell how miserable I am at my current job which is making me feel miserable about my life. They want me to find somewhere else asap now even if it is temporary. I guess I'm just concerned that I can't find any job that feels like it would be a decent fit. I'm honestly starting to wonder if I made a terrible mistake becoming a nurse since my health has declined so rapidly since starting my career. Any advice would be appreciated. Does it seem like I am honestly being picky? Or are there actual red flags in these interviews?
"$4.5 less per hour than I make now at the hospital as a newer grad" is doable . You need to move on. It is difficult to change areas. Look into insurance work.
Specializes in ED & Critical Care CEN, TCRN, CCRN, CFRN, CTRN.
I don't see an issue with being "picky", you should be! In the end, it's YOUR time invested! If the position doesn't pay what you feel you should earn, walking away can be a good choice! On the other hand, don't miss an opportunity to better yourself, or put yourself in a great position over a few dollars. There are jobs out here that will fit what you are looking for, you may have to relocate if they are not in your area!
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
On 6/19/2021 at 10:29 AM, Aliceozwalker said:
Thank you for your honesty. It is a bit tricky since I am in the running for a clinic position M-F 8-5 WITH hospital pay but it isn't for another 10 months (manager told me this when I expressed interest for the position). It's probably what is making me feel so picky in the meantime. I honestly should probably just find something temporary until that one opens up and I can apply. ?
With all due respect and not to burst your bubble, based on your description earlier in the thread I would not say you're actually in the running for a position that doesn't even currently exist except for 10 months from now, nor would I personally be making any decisions based on this non-existent position that may or may not open up in 10 months.
So many things could go wrong with this magic position that is opening up in 10 months: If it is opening up because someone else is leaving then they could decide they aren't going to leave; the powers that be could decide it isn't in the budget to open the position in 10 months; more qualified nurses than you may apply and get the position (rightfully so).
My point isn't to be a Negative Nancy but rather to be realistic. MANY of us in our careers have been told by managers that they want us to apply for a position and then when it comes down to it, we don't get that position for whatever reason. Focus on your options now that exist in present time and then if, 10 months from now, you find yourself being offered that position you can decide at that point what the best move is.
Your intuition is spot on. I have only worked outpatient positions. They will ALWAYS want more from you than advertised. You will find lower acuity in the clinic setting, but there are numerous other annoyances. Short staffing occurs in the clinic too. If they hire clinic floats to cover vacation, consider yourself lucky. Prior authorizations/triage take multiple phone calls and require more time than allotted in a day. If one of the MDs decides to change schedules or locations, you are expected to follow.
Have you considered a surgery center since you have that floor experience?
"Yes, you may take a pay cut to work in out patient, but unless you work in a HCOLA with a HCOLA pay, you should not be taking an almost $5/hr pay cut from NEW grad acute care to EXPERIENCED nurse in an outpatient setting (unless that $5/hr is purely differential pay. Then that is different)."
We have two different pay scales, inpatient vs outpatient. Moving from one to the other results in an automatic pay decrease. If you are at 50% on the inpatient pay scale, you automatically go to 50% on the outpatient pay scale.
"If I were you, I would ask if it were possible just to do 4 10s and have a three day weekend."
Four 10s typically include Wednesday or Thursday off. Nobody gets a 3 day weekend, including the providers.
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
I think it's OK to be picky with the knowledge that it means waiting longer for a new job. In my experience most outpatient positions pay less than acute care, but in the county system I worked in clinic nurses made the same as hospital nurses. Also outpatient surgery centers that are part of a hospital or large healthcare system seem to pay the same as acute care, at least in my area. What area of nursing are you most interested in?
And, if you want to take your time finding the right thing but also want to leave your current job asap, there are tons of temporary jobs. I've seen contracts for giving covid vaccines full time for 13 weeks, filling in at outpatient clinics, etc. I've found tons of local contracts and travel contracts. I used to think travel nursing was only for acute care, but I was wrong. Might be nice to try a few things while you decide what you want to do next.
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
I think its important to be picky as an RN, because there are a lot of jobs, and a lot of them suck.
As far as the community clinic job that requires some home visits... is that a PACE program or LIFE program? Elder care? That is normal. The patients live at home but have nursing home level of care. Nurses usually either love or hate that kind of job. I'm a love it type. I absolutely love home visits and I love floating around to different responsibilities in the community setting.
Take your time to figure out what type you are. Learn everything you can about these jobs. Ask to do a site visit or to shadow.
Have you considered Psych Nursing. Many free standing psych facilities only have 8 hour shifts with overtime if you want it. At the facility where I work most new hires start on Pm or Noc Shifts and can apply and move to day shift in 6 months and everybody except Core staff floats. This is mainly to give you the opportunity to see what unit you might like working. We all work alternating weekends.
Psych isn't for everyone but it is generally less taxing on the body and you have to have excellent people skills and be a quick thinker, So there is that to consider,
Your first post reminded me of a position I took some 9 years ago when I was burned out on hospital nursing. The position said 8 hours Monday-Friday, Occasional weekends and Holidays and no mandatory overtime. The owner was not transparent and I ended up in a nightmare job on salary with tons of extra work so the salary came out to about $10/hr. So go ahead and ask those questions and be sure it;s a job you want to take. You don't want to get into a situation you hate. This is just mt 2 cents.
Hppy
Thank you! If I am being honest I never want to do psych and it would be one of my bottom choices. I actually got into nursing because many of my family members struggled with mental health issues such as bipolar disorder. I sometimes relate a little too closely to some of the psych patients and find it easier to maintain a bit of a wall with other patients.
There IS life outside bedside nursing. Keep trying. I have seen nurses with zero experience get jobs in insurance/other non-beside positions. I have seen them do clinic nursing (for considerably less money). I have seen so many make their way out. I did it but admittedly, I had YEARS of experience before I jumped out. But what I want you to take away is not to lose hope. Keep on doing what you are doing; do your best. And keep trying in applying for jobs that interest you in the meantime.
I do wish you the best and hope you can hang in there a bit longer......just try not to be too picky in your search. If you do find a job outside bedside, give it a whirl and give it your all.
PS: You are not bugging *me* with all your posts. This is what this board is for. To interact, support and help one another. It's OK to express frustration and your desire to move on here. You are in a safe zone with me. Not to say I can't be a bit snarky when someone gets that way with me. But I have tried hard to change my snarky ways of late. I guess I am mellowing with age.
Thank you so much for your kindness. ? I did have another interview the other day and even though the money is less than I am making at the hospital, I have decided to accept either the third position (IV clinic) or the fourth interview position if I am offered. They will let me know if they are interested late this week. Unfortunately, with the way the system is now, a lot of nurses seem to be trying the same thing as me. The manager at my fourth interview has said she has never seen so many hospital applicants apply for the position before (due to the pay difference). I am getting interviews and screeners are giving my resume to the managers, but the competition for the clinic jobs seems to be pretty intense right now. I'm trying to keep positive and just keep applying. ?
No, you are not being picky in the slightest. You are about to have two solid years of Med-surg experience which, despite the mythical hierarchy in nursing, is VERY marketable and coveted to outpatient employers.
The first one sounded like they are trying to take advantage of nurses desperate to leave the bedside that they will take anything. Yes, you may take a pay cut to work in out patient, but unless you work in a HCOLA with a HCOLA pay, you should not be taking an almost $5/hr pay cut from NEW grad acute care to EXPERIENCED nurse in an outpatient setting (unless that $5/hr is purely differential pay. Then that is different).
The second one was atrocious. On call at night? Being forced to go see patients in the middle of the night and be at their beck and call? Yeah. No. Good for you not letting them take advantage of you.
The third one...that doesn't sound legal, unless you are getting paid overtime or if it is salary. If it is salary, I wouldn't bother with it. If it is hourly...depends on the situation and how often you were forced to stay over. If I were you, I would ask if it were possible just to do 4 10s and have a three day weekend.
After thinking things over a few days, I am really glad that I rejected the first two positions. The third I will accept if I am offered and a fourth clinic position I interviewed for (less pay but not crazy) I would also take. The third position would be overtime hours apparently. So that isn't so bad, and I would probably take it for that reason if offered. ?
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
That was my main reason for saying that yes, I felt you were being a bit too picky. Clinic nursing is pretty high in demand right now, and it's typical for it to pay $2-4/hour less than in-hospital nursing (due to the fact that it has very desirable hours and shifts), unless you are fortunate to work for a network that employs both clinic and hospital nurses and pays them the same, irrespective of their environment.
On 6/19/2021 at 11:50 PM, Been there,done that said:
"$4.5 less per hour than I make now at the hospital as a newer grad" is doable . You need to move on. It is difficult to change areas. Look into insurance work.
Best wishes.
I do agree I need to move on 100%. I thought things through and decided that I will accept the third interview position if offered and would also accept a fourth interview clinic position ($2 less an hour but honestly for the quality of life difference I would take it). I have been applying a lot and am getting interviews/ recruiters forwarding me but haven't gotten any offers yet. Most managers seem to like me and have told me honestly that there are a lot of strong hospital applicants looking to leave that have more experience than me. I'm hopeful job interview 3 or 4 offers. ?
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Been there,done that, ASN, RN
7,241 Posts
"$4.5 less per hour than I make now at the hospital as a newer grad" is doable . You need to move on. It is difficult to change areas. Look into insurance work.
Best wishes.