LTC or doctor's office

I worked in LTC for seven years before making a switch to clinic nursing nine years ago. I made the switch for better hours and frustration with low staffing levels and lack of management support in LTC. It was the best thing I ever did.

Are you a primary nurse for a physician or a nurse working behind the scenes? I have lots of patient contact in my job as primary nurse for a surgeon; but there is certainly lots of paperwork and phone calls. Prior Authorizations for surgeries and testing has become crazy! But with this I also set up and assist in minor surgery in the office and do a lot of patient education-which I love.

LTC certainly has it's share of paperwork too. Not to mention staffing; and dealing with phone calls at home begging you to come in on your day off.

You would certainly make more in LTC; but for me it just wasn't worth it.

Keep us posted!

If you are able to maintain your current position and can test the waters of LTC, then, I would go for it. If not, I'd probably stay where I am. I have been working in the clinic as an LPN for my primary job since I obtained my license and they have to kick me out of there. I do per diem on the med-surg floors every now and then, in order to gain bedside experience, but I am not interested in taking on that sort of slavery on a full time basis...but that is just me. My job (where I worked as an aide in the same clinic setting) paid my way through school and it was mandatory for all new grads to work on orient for 6 weeks in med-surg. It is nice sometimes to perform as a bedside nurse to be able to hang those IVs, pass the meds, do the tube feelings, etc... but it got tired fast because of the constant order changes and pressures from working the floors. I ran on the first thing smoking. Now, I go under more controlled circumstances (when I feel like it). I am off weekends and holidays and work relatively decent hours.

I do understand that you are a new nurse who wants to get her feet wet early on. Just test the waters before you let go of what you have for now.

Honestly I am a new nurse working in LTC I would advise to stick to your office job. LTC is so stressful! You will get tired of working every other weekend, and at my job if they are short CNA's they pull LPN's to the floor. Yes, it may be $4.00 more but you have to think about where you will be happier. Keep your weekends off, and your stress free job for a little bit less money. I am now trying to find a Doctor's office job because I can not take the stress any longer in LTC. Good Luck

I think that the OP can give it a try...it is alternate weekends, she may not have to give up the office position. I do understand trying to get some of the skills or to at least experience bedside nursing on some level. If nothing else, to get the fear out. I say this because if a person is just limited to office nursing, it may close a few doors if the market gets bad.

I am the first to admit that clinic nursing will always be my primary job unless I am thrown out. But, I do get my feet wet occasionally in other areas so it won't be such a culture shock. To me, as long as the OP does not give up the office position to try it, no one loses.

Consider how you feel about dealing with families. Working with your older residents can be rewarding, but the "drive-by" families often swoop in on weekends to play 20 questions with staff. And they always seem to want to play by following you down the hall as you are trying to pass meds!

If I ever work LTC, I would probably work nights for these very reasons. If I have to pass meds to over 60 people, as understanding as I usually am, I have no time to deal with fussy families, sorry to say..