Define "Clinical Experience"

nici1978 · Mar 4, 2008

usually it does mean acute care experience

nici

miko014 · Mar 4, 2008

That was what I said at first, but then she brought up the point that a lot of times "clinical" means pertaining to the patient (rather than the theory), so wouldn't any job where you work directly with patients be "clinical experience"? I mean, how can you work in a clinic and have it not be "clinical experience"?

miko014 · Mar 4, 2008

Oh, and sorry for the typo - I meant acute, not ascute, but it won't let me edit. :imbar

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 4, 2008

I think you and your friend are treating the "experience" requirement as if it were something technically defined in a dictionary -- but in reality, the only thing that will matter is whether or not her experience is of the type that the hiring manager will think is relevant to the job she is trying to fill.

The hiring manager is looking for a certain skill set. Does your friend have those skills and have experience using those skills regularly?

For example: Having 10 years of experience working in an adult ICU does not give the person the right type of experience to be the manager of an outpatient clinic ... or the educator for a neonatal unit. The type of experience needs to be relevant to the job sought. That's what counts most.

Most hiring managers who are looking for "experienced" people are looking to see a track record of successful employment (indicating a good employee) and satisfactory performance in a job that helped the person learn particular skills that are relevant to the job she is trying to fill. Different jobs require different types of experience. There is not 1 right type of experience to qualify you for every job.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 4, 2008

agree with llg - the only opinion that matters is the one who wants to know about her experience (employer, recruiter, school, etc.)

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Mar 4, 2008

Hi all - sorry if this is a double post - computer issues. If it shows up twice, Mods, please delete one!
Anyway, a friend of mine is applying for a new job, and she asked me a question, but I didn't know how to answer it. She is currently working in an outpt center, and wants to know if this counts as "clinical experience". The job requires "5 years clinical experience", but she only worked in the hospital for 2 years before starting the job she has now. Does it count?
What about doc's office experience? Sleep labs? Endo or radiology centers? Outpt clinics (duh!)? In other words, does "clinical experience" = "ascute inpt experience"?
Thanks!!

And hey there is a nursing shortage. Lets not split hairs. Working taking care of patients is clinical experience. Now reading the original post, someone asking for 5 years of clinical experience best be ready to pay for that as well.

As far as Dr.'s office, etc etc, you make no mention of asking about relevant/related clinical experience, such as requires 5 yr..'s ED nursing experience.

Rj

miko014 · Mar 5, 2008

I don't know the full details of the job she wants. It some kind of case management thing, I think. I didn't want to get that specific with the definition,I just wondered what you guys thought. I was all for clinical experience = hospital experience, but she kinda convinced me that clinical experience = pt care experience.

I do agree that the type of experience would normally be relevant, but in this case, I don't know what kind of case management it is, and don't really have enough details to know if her experience counts or not. Doesn't really matter, I guess - the person in charge of hiring is the one who gets to decide!

Thanks to all who replied!!