Clinic or Hospital

[believeallispossible]

I am currently an Lpn-Student and will hopefully graduate by the end of July. I am currently working at the hospital as a CNA. I am finding out that I really don't like the hospital setting...it's so hectic, so much dramA, and I feel like it'd be HarD to learn everything as a new grad and I don't think i'd know how to do everything unless someone teaches me! There's only so much you learn in clinicals. I really am wanting to work at a clinic once i'm done with nursing school. My question is this: Which is easier, working at a clinic or working at a hospital? I already know the pay is much different but I don't care about that, it's about which one i'd enjoy better and be less overall stressed.

[AnaCatRN]

It can depend. Most often, clinic or physician office work is less stressful, but if you work for a doc who likes to triple book patients and see the whole town in one day, trying to keep up can be just as stressful as hospital work. However, it's a different kind of stress, and it's not as likely that anyone will die if you can't keep up. I've worked both, and I prefer clinic/office (I plan to become an NP, so it's most likely where I'll end up, anyway).

[Kim, HHRN]

Hi believe,

I am in the boat you are describing. I do not like the hospital setting. I'm a new grad working on a med surg floor. I worked as an intern there until I got my RN and now I HATE it. It is TOO cRaZy. I never saw myself working in the hospital setting, decided to stay just for the experience. It's killing my back, walking for 12 straight hours.

I feel like nothing but a medication deliverer. I love the patients but I don't get to spend much time with them. I am trying to follow the advice that everyone needs one year of med surg before going into anything else. I am almost off of orientation and don't feel like I have learned anything. Have not learned much on wound care, don't get the chance to start many IVs, and I just hate the mundane tasks.

I don't care anything about learning time management. I don't think it is gonna really help all that much down the road like some ppl claim. Wish I would have taken a different position.............

I say go for the clinic if that is what you believe will make you happy. You know what they say, if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life. Good luck to you.

[Turtle in scrubs]

A common thought is to get a year or two in with a hospital. I get that b/c you learn a lot and sort of cement much of what you learned in nursing school that didn't make that much sense at the time. On the other hand, life is short and in many areas clinic jobs are hard to come by. If there is one on offer that you are interested in, go for it! If it turns out it is not what you are wanting, you can always do something else down the road.

Good luck on your journey!

[fungez]

I've done both and clinic is a gazillion times easier. No holidays, no weekends, you can leave for an appointment in the middle of the day and no one has a heart attack.

[katkonk, BSN, RN]

If you really want to try primary care, then definitely go for a clinic. They are worlds apart and require a different knowledge base. A good place to begin is often your county hospital (low income/largely medicaid care-type institution and seek out their medical or surgical clinic. But it is very, very busy and you will work hard. However, it is M-Friday, if that is important to you, and it pays better than a doctor's office. You will learn hundreds of new things, and it will be a good background if you ever decide you want to transfer to...say...the VA clinics, or a public health nurse position (working for the state), etc. My 2 cents worth. Good luck.

[liberty_bell]

Honestly, as an LPN you would have hard time finding a job ( esp as a new grad) in a hospital since LVN's are mostly for LTC's. Being that you don't like the hospital setting this is good for you.