RN's who went from hospital to clinic type setting...

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in hospice, ortho,clinical review.

I'm going to interview for a position for a MRI facility that has nationwide locations. I'm wondering about the pros and cons.

Right now I'm on a busy ortho floor, I've been there just over 6mos I've been with the hospital for about 8mos. Overall I work with a great crew, occassionally short staffed but who isn't. I never feel stupid or that I can't go to someone, great perks I agree. I work 3 twelves, also a huge benefit but no lie the nights do get to me I prefer days, but I'm greatful as is.

I love the skills part of the job. Working with orthopats hanging meds/blood etc... I like the physical part of the job helping people get to the bathroom, I have a harder time giving them boosts even with someone, getting them changed out if they're soiled, that all takes it toll on me. I work with nurses that have been injured on the job and I'm doing everything I possibly can to protect my joints, but face it...nursing is grueling work and I always knew I won't stay on floor nursing for long but I want to put in my time to be able to have more opportunities later so if I need more time to look better on the resume I get that.

I love the teaching parts of the job. I'm not sure how much is involved in this type of clinic setting. I know I'd love the Mon-Fri no weekends part, b/c for me I worked in a previous career that was Mon-Fri so this is harder to get used to. Although I don't like the 5 eights that included weekends, that always felt like I was working go figure!

I always feel bad if I interview with not being 100pct I want that job. I guess I have to understand I can be interviewing them just as much as they are me, to see if it's a good fit, but I don't like to waste anyone's time. Honestly I'm wondering if I might get bored although I'm not really thrilled to be in super intense situations. i.e. critical care. However someone may have a reaction to the contrast dye so that may be stressful not to mention you have to inject the dye by venipuncture (as it says on their site) and I have no idea how to do that and what learning curve is involved. We only do lab draws if the person has a PICC hardly complicated.

Anyone have any thoughts good or bad that I should consider? Can you tell I like to weigh my options carefully?:p

Specializes in School Nurse.

I would find out exactly what the job entails. I worked at 2 clincs (pediatric and adult internal medicine) and the RN's answered phone calls and talked to folks about labs all day. These were both temp sub jobs for employees that were on sick/maternity leave, through an agency, and I'm not sure I would have been able to work it for more than the couple weeks I filled in.

Specializes in hospice, ortho,clinical review.

Hey Heidi Thanks!

Well it's actually going to be a phone interview so all may be a moot point. It seems this company is opening a new location so that makes me nervous as they're not established here yet, but no harm in talking to them and finding out what's what.

I just wish I knew what exactly I wanted to do. I thought I wanted a pain management type clinic but I'm findng out that RN's pretty much hand out methadone in those, so I have no interest in that being my primary role. There's a center here that has accupuncture and whirlpools etc in addition to pharma management, but I've yet to find out what an RN does there.

I'm interested in holistic avenues but there's not much for RN's in this state other than taking a massive pay cut and working as a receptionist. I was offered that position but declinced just that wouldn't fulfil me. I'm interested in nutrition and just basically the promotion of wellness and teaching people better choices.

My husband thinks it's cool there's all these "branches" that extend from the so called tree of nursing, yeah but hard when you don't know what branch you want to take! I fear what I really may want to do, doesn't really exist or doesn't exist for a RN role.

What are the hours?

What's the pay?

Is this closer or further away from your home?

Benefits better/same/worse?

Holidays off?

What would your role be (I think you mentioned you need to find out)?

How big is the office?

I worked at a family practice for about 5 months and I was very bored, and I went to the hospital (still orienting). I considered going back, but I think i'm going to stick it out here for some more months to get a little more experience and then maybe transfer to a floor I like or out of the hospital. Who knows :) I did enjoy having the weekends off for the most part and hour long lunches and the half day I had weekly. I also enjoyed holidays off and the less stressful atmosphere.

+ Add a Comment