Lost and stressed student...

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Specializes in CNA.

Hi everyone. I am writing this just seeking advice and to let some feelings out. I have tried to post on other websites but don't seem to get much help or information back. I am currently a nursing student in my junior year (the toughest by far) and I am physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. I am constantly stressed.

To my main point, before nursing school I always said that I wanted to work somewhere that is fast paced (ED, L&D etc), but now that I am in nursing school, I am unsure I even want to work in a hospital at all for the sake of my mental health, and I don't think it is the best fit for me. I have heard that if you don't work in a hospital right out of nursing school you don't have as much flexibility in your career and you don't get paid much at all. Has anyone gone right out of school into a Clinic/community setting? What are my options if I graduate and choose not to work in a hospital? I definitely believe that outpatient/clinic settings are better fit for me. Are there any jobs that are comparable in pay to the hospital if I choose not to go there for the sake of my mental health?

Any advice or information will help? thanks.

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Don’t worry about where to go once you graduate yet. I hated the clinical time in the hospital. I never ever wanted to work there.

Well, here I am, working in acute care.

I also have classmates who never did acute care and are thriving. Plenty of options out there for everyone. Money can be less, more or the same, depending on the job.

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2 hours ago, fcnursing said:

Are there any jobs that are comparable in pay to the hospital if I choose not to go there for the sake of my mental health?

If there are, I'd bet one million trillion dollars that experienced nurses will be hired as opposed to new graduates. Low stress and high pay sounds like something that would attract fierce competition.

If you're 65 and looking to "retire" immediately after graduation, look for a clinic job. If you want to be marketable, and have versatile options, I think acute care is the best way to start out ...even if it's tough.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, PH, CM.

If things don't change by the time you graduate, they certainly will with your first job. I would very much recommend that you do at least 1 year in the hospital, and on Med/Surg. The Orientation Programs that hospitals have now are invaluable. A good one will last six months. Check job listings for RNs today, and you'll discover that most call for Acute Care experience - hospital. I have been in Public Health, Telemedicine, Administration and Case Management, and I could not imagine doing any of those jobs without my experience as a bedside nurse.

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I graduated and went straight into community health and have never looked back. Have never worked on an inpatient unit and it has never impacted my ability to get a job.

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Specializes in CNA.

@MHDNURSE Thanks for your response. That is also something I am interested in. If you don't mind me asking, what does your job normally entail? How is the pay? ?

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Specializes in NICU, L&D, Public Health.
On 10/28/2019 at 11:13 PM, Sour Lemon said:

If there are, I'd bet one million trillion dollars that experienced nurses will be hired as opposed to new graduates. Low stress and high pay sounds like something that would attract fierce competition.

If you're 65 and looking to "retire" immediately after graduation, look for a clinic job. If you want to be marketable, and have versatile options, I think acute care is the best way to start out ...even if it's tough.

I agree. I work in public health now making significantly more once I left the hospital, I had over 20 years of hospital experience. We have had new nurses start at the health department but their salaries do reflect their lack of experience.

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Specializes in Research, Neurology.

You do not have to work in inpatient as a new grad. That's the typical route most people go, but there are others out there like you who have no interest in hospital nursing. Not all jobs require inpatient experience- my current research role required neurology OR acute care experience. I agree with the others who said go to outpatient/clinic, there are clinic employers out there who will hire and train new grads. It doesn't have to be "boring" or "skill-less" as I've heard people say. I've seen new grads hired and trained into very specialized outpatient clinics like oncology infusion and a fertility clinic. Community or home health nursing may require more independence, so a new grad might need to build some experience first. In regards to income, yes hospital nursing tends to pay higher than outpatient roles. However keep in mind most inpatient positions are 3 12s, so 36 hours a week. Outpatient/clinic positions are often 4 10s or 5 8s- so 40 hours a week. 4 more hours of income a week can really add up over the year. Find out what a new grad makes in hospitals in your area and calculate and compare it out.

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Specializes in CNA.
9 minutes ago, Kyla RN said:

You do not have to work in inpatient as a new grad. That's the typical route most people go, but there are others out there like you who have no interest in hospital nursing. Not all jobs require inpatient experience- my current research role required neurology OR acute care experience. I agree with the others who said go to outpatient/clinic, there are clinic employers out there who will hire and train new grads. It doesn't have to be "boring" or "skill-less" as I've heard people say. I've seen new grads hired and trained into very specialized outpatient clinics like oncology infusion and a fertility clinic. Community or home health nursing may require more independence, so a new grad might need to build some experience first. In regards to income, yes hospital nursing tends to pay higher than outpatient roles. However keep in mind most inpatient positions are 3 12s, so 36 hours a week. Outpatient/clinic positions are often 4 10s or 5 8s- so 40 hours a week. 4 more hours of income a week can really add up over the year. Find out what a new grad makes in hospitals in your area and calculate and compare it out.

Thank you! I didn't think of it this way. I appreciate the advice ?

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Specializes in Community health.

I graduated and immediately got a job in a FQHC. I actually get paid slightly more than the New Grad Residency programs in our hospitals in the state. (However, because I don’t have opportunity for night differential, weekends, holidays etc, I’m sure it equals out.) I am so happy with my decision so far. I LOVE community health (and honestly it doesn’t hurt that I work 8-4:30). I know outpatient care or community isn’t for everyone, but do keep it in mind once you approach graduation.

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Specializes in CNA.

@CommunityRNBSN Thanks so much for your response ? this is definitely something I am interested in. What is a FQHC if you don't mind me asking?

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Specializes in Community health.
3 minutes ago, fcnursing said:

@CommunityRNBSN Thanks so much for your response ? this is definitely something I am interested in. What is a FQHC if you don't mind me asking?

Federally-Qualified Health Center. There’s a Wikipedia page on it! Basically we are part of the “medical safety net” so we see a lot of patients who are homeless, just out of prison, etc (as well as a lot of working class people who are stable). The patient population definitely has its challenges but there’s never a dull day.

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