Back to ICU from clinic job

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Background: I took a job right out of my ADN in the ICU, a job that I dreamed about through school. After I got there I realized it wasn't all I had made it out to be in my head even though I loved the hands on application of my nursing skills and the patient population and learning opportunities. I took a job at a very busy local clinic working for 3 physicians of 14 in the practice but remained PRN at the hospital. The work is much less stressful, however, after some time there I have this urge to go back to the ICU. I think this is due in part to the monotony of having a new pt every 10 minutes from 8-5, M-F and also the fact that I feel more like a helper instead of THE nurse. Also, this practice uses mostly LPN's and CMA's (much like other office settings) and there is not really a great divide as far as tasks that can be performed there and the pay grade. Actually, there are several "primary nurses" that are CMA's and are technically higher up the chain and make more money than I do. I do not mean to sound egotistical, however, I worked hard for my license to practice as an RN so that my position and salary would reflect it. I just have that itch to go back and really make a difference but I really am torn.

I would just like to get some feedback from nurses who have been around the block and can help me clear thoughts in my head.

Thanks in advance!

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Do you have an itch to go back... or an itch for the money and respect you deserve?

Hospital nursing is the toughest job nurses can have. Look back upon the stress, weekends and holidays, and now administrations push for "customer" satisfaction.

How about a position that uses your clinic skills and your hospital skills , in a different setting?

I love my case management telecommuting position. Think about something new, different and exciting.

Good luck, keep us posted.

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Thanks for the reply. Money really isn't the issue because I'm getting paid roughly the same as I did in the hospital. There is an itch to go back because I enjoyed the hands on aspect of it all and the critical thinking involved. At the clinic, not really much critical thinking is involved as the doctors primarily deal directly with the patients.

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I totally understand how you are feeling about this. I am going through something similar (worked in hospital in Med/Surg and now work in a clinic). The whole order of things in terms of MA's, office managers, LPNS, RNs, etc is very new and strange to me as well. I liked my manager being an RN...that's what I am used to. As much as I complained about the insane workload all the time, I find myself missing the pace and the complexity and being THE nurse as you mentioned.

On the other hand, I like working days and no weekends. I like not pushing meds the entire shift. I like not running to call lights all shift to be told to "get me mayonnaise" or "you are late with my f'ing dilaudid". There are truly pros and cons to both. What is more/most important to you? Low stress or more critical thinking? I know one reason I really wanted a clinic job was for better hours. But you say you do not really like the M-F gig. Is the biggest positive for you the lower stress? Are you willing and okay to go back to the higher stress or is it becoming to much and burning you totally out?

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Specializes in Med/surg, Tele, educator, FNP.

I can totally relate, leaving the hospital made me feel bad. Even though I hate, I also love it. I do per diem now to get my fix and then to my regular day job happy. I mean being ONLY in the hospital did not work for me either. I have a happy medium now. Good luck, I think you can have both if the clinic is willing to cut your hours you can pick up per diem. Going fully to hospital is not bad either, it just depends where you are.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

What about picking up some Hospice or Home Health visits?

It would utilize your critical thinking and give you some hands-on patient care, while also bringing about some of that "purpose" it sounds like you're also looking for in your life.

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Specializes in ICU.

I can relate. I was in the ICU for almost 5 years where I esentially started my nursing career. I left for a few reasons, but not because I didn't like it. I'm doing a job I love now , I work remotely and don't ever see a patient ( or a coworker for that matter). However, the itch is there for some ICU action.

I however have have been out of the hospital for 3 years and I'm nervous as heck to try again. I'm getting am moving to a more expensive place and the extra money would be great, but I'm scared!

but I really do think there is something about the ICU that stays in your blood and gives you that itch!

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
but I really do think there is something about the ICU that stays in your blood and gives you that itch!

I think so too! I left years back, mostly b/c I really wanted a day job and I was nowhere near senior enough to get one. I left the SICU/CVICU of a big teaching hospital for a SNF. I didn't hate the SNF, but I worked way too hard for what they paid me. Finishing work at 3:30 came at a cost, for sure. That also happened to be when it started getting harder to get jobs. I worked in an LTACH for a while and then got back into the ICU. I remember telling my current asst. manager that I was aching to get back to critical care, like literal ache in the gut, and he said, "Yeah it gets into the blood." :yes:

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Are you willing and okay to go back to the higher stress or is it becoming to much and burning you totally out?

I really feel like the 5 days a week of clinic life and the monotony involved is burning me out. I actually worked in ICU yesterday and it was absolutely insane, not because anyone was crashing, but because I had 2 transfers and then picked up a patient and admitted another after 3:30. I enjoyed it because I felt like I was doing stuff all day that was making a difference and the patients were very appreciative (I know not all of them are however). I really though working M-F with weekends and holidays was great but I have noticed that I have no time to get anything accomplished during the week and was having to crash early every night so I could get up and get to work the next day. 3 12's are great for allowing me time to get things completed, especially my BSN schoolwork. Not to mention my wife and I really like to do things and the hospital schedule allows more scheduling flexibility to have time off without ever using vacation or taking off early and losing hours. All of the things that I thought were so bad when I left ended up not meaning that much when I saw them from another perspective. I think all of this has made me realize what fits my personality best and that nursing is just a job that is going to involve high stress and I'm going to have to handle it. The doors of opportunity are much wider as an ICU nurse than they are as a nurse in the clinic, and I want those doors to be there incase I ever want them.

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I think you found your answer :) I totally get it too. I stayed at the hospital to get my fix, and find that I tolerate it much better now being per diem. My clinic job is actually two 12's and one 8 hour shift a week, so I don't do the whole M-F 9-5 thing, so that's a plus. I see how that can be burning you out. It's nice having 3-4 days off a week! I never thought 2 felt like enough. It's nice to change things sometimes, because without change we may not know what we do and don't like and may always wonder "what if?" Glad you discovered where you are happiest for the time being.

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