Hospital vs. Clinic

[FloatFNP-C]

Hi AN family! I have a third world problem I was wondering if I could get some advice on.

I'm about 7 mo into my BSN nursing career and recently was switched to day shift so I could orient on critical care (I am on the float pool). OH MY GOODNESS how much better do I feel! I love DAYS! I do not want to go back to night shift in a month. I've gained weight and it makes me feel just awful and sleepy all the time.

I've told my boss my preference. I will probably be next in line for days but there is a surplus of RNs on that shift and not enough on nights... I'll be on nights for a while.

A very renowned clinic associated with a hospital has asked to interview me next week. It's 9-5.

Pros: Better shift; I have a life before and after work; I will be able to go to the GYM and feel healthier; more time with my BRAND new husband :); specializing. Never again 6 PATIENTS!

Cons: Not having 3-4 days off a week; I will lose my hospital skills I've been busy gaining for the last 7 months; I will lose 2.5 years seniority at this hospital.

Having just starting my nursing career, I am nervous about leaving the hospital so soon. On a side note, we are going to start having kids within the next year and I wonder what schedule (12's vs 8's) is better (I'll be part-time). I am also thinking about going for my FNP and wonder if hospital experience is valued more/will help me more in school.

I would love some input from different perspectives since all of you have such vast experience and advice! Thanks for reading.

[didi768]

I can't get in either facility so count yourself blessed lol. I'm looking for an LPN to RN bridge and have no clue where to start. All I know is that I suck at A&P lol.

[pixie&pepper]

As a nurse you never stop learning. You will pick up new skills & experience different things wherever you work. Don't let this deter you. I left the hospital after 11 years due to severe burnout & took a clinic job. I am slowly feeling like a human being again. It's nice to have weekends off & go to parties, etc & not have to check your schedule & see if you're working that day. The quality of life is better.

[anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP]

Being float pool will you not choose nights you'd want to work? I HATED nights also (and was thankful to go to days after 9 months) but working 2 nights in a row (say a Sunday and Monday night) really wouldn't be too bad. Yes it'd take a day before and after to kind of "transition" but then you'd have the rest of the week and weekend to do whatever you needed.

What I hated on nights was I was new so didn't have much say in my schedule. A night on, 2 off, 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, etc. There wasn't enough time to really do anything cause almost every day I was sleeping getting ready to go to work or sleeping because I just got off work and was exhausted.

There are also many 24 hour gyms now. If my smaller town of 25,000 has one there is possibly one around you.

[explorereb96, ADN, BSN]

Didi

Ha Same age and live around the same area. I too am an LPN. I spent my first 10 years of nursing in the hospital. I went from med/surg to ortho. Then onto telemetry, ICU,CCU, ER. The last area in the hospital that I worked was the Cath Lab. I was the one that had my hand up whenever they wanted to pull someone. I couldn't stand the stagnation of med/surg. Then the hospitals had a big overhaul and got rid of LPNs. Stuck with RNS and nurse techs. Not only was I kicked out of the Units, I was kicked out of the hospital. Found a position within a subacute pediatric pulmonary facility where I spent the last 17 years. I haven't worked in 2 years, just getting the pre reqs done for the bridge program at Pasco Hernando State College.

[didi768]

Oh my gosh, how nice to meet you then!! I live off Waters/Hanley area in NW Tampa. I tried HCC but like I said, that class!!!! I wish hospitals would go back to training nurses like they did when my mom was an aide. She even delivered babies when the doc was late haha. We should get together sometime. Right now I can't drive, I have boot on from surgery on MOnday where they removed a bone spur. I still have to go back to Costa Rica before I can seriously look for work. My husband will die doing three jobs all the time ugh.

[didi768]

Wait, did you know I too worked in Ortho for years? Small world. Med-surg as well.

[klone, MSN, RN]

A very renowned clinic associated with a hospital has asked to interview me next week. It's 9-5.

Okay, DYING to know what clinic/hospital! (I see you're in Denver)

[klone, MSN, RN]

You may lose skills, you will gain different ones. That's just the facts of life with changing from one area of nursing to another. I am a better nurse for every job I've had, including clinic. :)

[klone, MSN, RN]

And finally, as someone who went from inpatient to clinic - I admit, I do miss working L&D sometimes. But I LOVE having all my nights free, my weekends free, and holidays free. No call. The only downside is that it's hard to schedule things like dentist or doctor's appointments. But I definitely think the trade-offs are worth working sane hours.

[FloatFNP-C, BSN, MSN, NP]

Thank you all so much. Wish me luck on the interview tomorrow, if I get it, I decided to accept it!

Thanks again. :)

[FloatFNP-C, BSN, MSN, NP]

National Jewish!

[klone, MSN, RN]

Ha, I figured it out after you said pulmonology. :)