Do you regret clinic nursing?

Specialties Ambulatory

Published

Dear All,

I am 9 mo post graduation w/ a BSN (and prior BS in education). I thought I would love L & D nursing and am working at a high-risk, high-volume hospital with a short staff. I LOVE my patients and working with them but the stress is overwhelming. I am afraid all the time. My body won't adjust to nights and working the weekends and holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's) is a bummer. I have to apply for vacation 6 mo out and I am always being the called the days I am off. I feel guilty when I say no because I know what it feels like to juggle so many patients.

I would like to go to clinic nursing but have heard from so many older nurse friends to stay at least 1-2 years. I would leave my position not feeling entirely competent and colleagues tell me to that things will get better by 1 year. I am afraid to leave and afraid to stay.

How did you decide to go to clinic nursing? Was it hard to make the switch? did you wish that you had not? I feel so forlorn.

I have volunteered with families for 6 years assisting with birth as labor support. I went to nursing school knowing that my only pathway was L & D. Yet, here I am 9 mo later wishing that I had not even considered nursing. Can someone give some advice?

Thanks so much,

SpudId.

What are the specific things you do in clinic nursing? What are the differences compared to hospital duties?

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

I worked in clinics in community health. Patient education is a big part of the day. Following up on labs and tests is really, really important.

Giving medications and simple treatments are common activities. Where I worked the nurses made all referral calls and appointments for the patients. We followed the immunization status of the patients across all age groups. We took care of routine medication requests and refills and made sure that appropriate labs were scheduled or obtained before follow-up appts with the docs. Lots more that I cannot get focused into clear thoughts just now...

I enjoyed this job and recently considered returning to community health.

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Regret? Nope! Never! Learned so much working so close with the physician. Hospitals' suck the life out of you. Seems they just want "bodys"...go through the motions and suck up the BS that is put out there. I am going back to the clinic just as soon as I can. People can be taught skills....but caring, compassion, and respect...thats something people should have learned a long time ago. I hate hopital nursing. It is dog-eat-dog and they will work you to death to save a few dollars. Definitely NOT where I want to be.

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Specializes in LTC, wound care.

I love clinic nursing. The patients walk in and they walk out. The only part of my job which is tense is phone triage, but that should be a piece of cake for an experienced RN. Patient education is a huge part of the job, also knowing what the doctor or provider would want on a patient before they go in the room is big. I work with a very happy, kind and compassionate bunch, it's a super great office and I love it. Eves and weekends, and holidays off, you get to know your patients, so that when they walk in from reception, you can assess so much. I don't think I can imagine being this happy anywhere else....really, and I never, ever expected this from this job. What a great bunch of people!

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clinic nursing is great if you're sick and tired of hospital toxicity.

i've been to med-surg, hemodialysis, and now ambulatory services. i have to say, when i started at the clinic, i thought i died and went to nursing heaven. but after a while, it gets pretty boring. i miss the challenges and the learning process when i was still at the hospital. like they say, you don't know what you're missing until it's gone.

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:loveya::) I have been fortunate in my experience(s) in the clinic environment.....I worked with physician and PA's, ARNP's that were eager to share their knowledge, expose me to new skills....and encourage me to grow. I left state due to family issues....although I left for the "right" reasons....I truly miss all those professional people who loved to learn and treated ALL staff with respect and courtesy. Another blessing....We PRAYED everyday, before the clinic opened...for our day...for our patients...that place was was awesome. I pray I find another clinic that has all these qualities. People truly cared for each other and our clients. If I could afford to go back--I would not hesitate. Very, Very rewarding at the end of the day.:redbeathe

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Specializes in Med/Tele, Home Health, Case Management.
:loveya::) I have been fortunate in my experience(s) in the clinic environment.....I worked with physician and PA's, ARNP's that were eager to share their knowledge, expose me to new skills....and encourage me to grow. I left state due to family issues....although I left for the "right" reasons....I truly miss all those professional people who loved to learn and treated ALL staff with respect and courtesy. Another blessing....We PRAYED everyday, before the clinic opened...for our day...for our patients...that place was was awesome. I pray I find another clinic that has all these qualities. People truly cared for each other and our clients. If I could afford to go back--I would not hesitate. Very, Very rewarding at the end of the day.:redbeathe

Sounds like a fabulous environment to work in. I'm just curious, what state were you in?

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riverview medical clinic....tri-cities washingon....(pasco-kennewick-richland). they are affiliated with "our lady of lourdes" hospital (ascension health). they now have grown two 2 clinics....outstanding place to be! if it were in the "cards" (financially) i would return in a "new york minute"!!! i live in murfreesboro, tn now. if anybody reading this post knows of a place in this area, with the same values and ethics...(in murfreesboro...i hate driving far to work)

please, let me in on the opportunity! peace of mind and the shear joy of going to work is worth more to me than any amount of $$$$ can buy. thank you for asking.:redpinkhe

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I know this post is old, but I just discovered it. The posts I've read on here make me feel better. At least I know that I am not alone. I have been a R.N. for 2 years (minus 1 month) and have worked in 3 different areas. I started in Trauma ICU (mistake), then got moved to Med/Tele (ok but critical care is not for me). Then I did Med/Surg for 2 months and HATED it! For the last year, I've been doing home health, which I really like. I would like to eventually work in a clinic and enjoy reading the posts from everyone. I just discovered that there is a major hospital/medical school in my area that is hiring for clinic positions and only require 1 year nursing experience.

What should I say when asked why I've had so many jobs since graduating?

Thanks for any feedback.

Where are you living now?

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tell them you havent found your "niche"...every nurse eventually finds it :)

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Specializes in Peds, education.

I worked for a (pediatric) clinic for 2 years and loved it most of the time. I quit to get married and they did not want to work with me. I'm also moving to a different state, but I'm trying to get a job in a clinic again. You cannot beat the hours. Most clinics are M-F 8-5, some have weekend hours.

I worked in OB for 6 months and Post-surgical ortho/neuro (the catch all floor) for 4 months. I just tell people I wanted a different area of nursing. No one has really questioned it too much. I wouldn't worry about having too many jobs. I think most people understand.

[My final goal is to teach nursing which I am currently in grad school for]

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