How's the transition from hospital to medical office?

[HKRN18]

Hello Everyone,

I’m a new RN. I’ve been working in the hospital setting for 10 months and I’m starting to think it’s not for me. I find it really stressful, and although I get 4 days off during the week I don’t like the long hours. Lately I’ve been thinking about making the transition to an outpatient facility or some type of medical office. So far I’ve thought about mental facilities, Pediatrics office, or the health department. Has anyone moved from the hospital setting to a medical office, if so how was your experience? Did you like it better? What are the pros and cons? What if I later decide to get back into the hospital setting, would that be hard for me to do?

[Nur7138]

I can say it is very stressful but try and stick it out for at least a year or go PRN. Please listen to me you will regret it. Yes after the complete year, try a different type of nursing job. There is no answer, it’s what you like and most important is what makes you a good nurse. There is a perfect job but you probably won’t appreciate it until you don’t have it anymore.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I left the hospital for community psych after 11 months.

No regrets about my move as I find community psych much more fulfilling. I like developing a relationship with my patients over time. I also like not working weekends, being able to grab lunch when I feel like it, use my cell phone if I want, not spend my days on camera scrutinized by administration and management with little support and the toxic environment. I do not have any of those problems currently.

However, I have decided to go back to school for my NP, and now I may need the flexibility of 3 12s again, so I may be back in the hospital soon. I am also considering per diem pediatric home health. I don't know if I could go back to the hospital after a year of the freedom and joy I've had in community psych.

I'm not really sure why folks get hung up on the one year rule. But even if you want to follow that rule, 10 months is enough time to start looking elsewhere.

You may have to take a paycut. For me it was 100% worth it, but it was a small paycut. For nurses who have been in the hospital for many years and make very high hourly rates, it is too much of a cut. In this way, some nurses find themselves in miserable positions over time. If you are motivated to make the move now, go for it.

[RNperdiem, RN]

There are fewer RN jobs outpatient compared to the hospitals. The MAs have taken over most doctors offices jobs, but some do use LPNs.

What you want, a lot of other nurses want too, so there will be competition, especially competition with nurses who have years of experience. Nurses who have the skills to perform procedural skills like conscious sedation or knowledge to handle telephone triage.

It might take a while to land a non-hospital job, so start now and keep your job until you find a good job. Being employed gives you time.

[jess11RN]

Pros to leaving the hospital for outpt: not having to take call, not having the constant "can you come in?" phone calls on your days off, no weekends, no holidays (although depending on where you go, weekends may still be involved), no evening or night shifts, less critical patients and they usually stay clothed (LOL).

Cons to leaving the hospital for outpt: running errands take more time because you're off when everyone else is off, places like the post office, bank, doctors offices aren't open when you're off, getting off at 5 stinks, rush hour traffic stinks, health insurance premiums are more (I now pay $1,200 vs $400 per month to cover my family), pay is less, less resources.