New job opportunity: Pedi Hospital to Pedi Clinic : stay or go?

[PediatricRNTX]

Hi-

I have worked as a pedi RN (PM shift) for 8 months at a hospital. My experience has been so, so. Some days great, some horrific. No huge complaints other than the stress of going in each night and possibly being the only pediatric nurse (no CNA, no front desk, no other peds RN) in the entire hospital. I am under contract which I am capable of paying off.....

One afternoon after a bad day, I applied for a clinic pedi RN job and landed my second interview next week. It sounds like way less stress, but of course the pay is slightly less.

Anyone have pedi rn clinic experience? What is the job like? Stressful? Pros, cons - compared to hospital?

Thanks in advance.

[optimisticnewgrad]

Hi. I got a job in a pediatric clinic straight out of nursing school (I couldn't find a hospital job) and now I really regret not getting my obligatory one year of acute care experience. It seems now that no one wants to hire someone with clinic experience. You really need that acute care under your belt.

There were definitely aspects of clinic work that were wonderful and it was much less stressful than your job sounds like. But my options are severely limited now. If I were you I would just wait a few more months until you have a year of acute care experience before making any career changes.

Hope that helps. Best of luck!

Hi-

I have worked as a pedi RN (PM shift) for 8 months at a hospital. My experience has been so, so. Some days great, some horrific. No huge complaints other than the stress of going in each night and possibly being the only pediatric nurse (no CNA, no front desk, no other peds RN) in the entire hospital. I am under contract which I am capable of paying off.....

One afternoon after a bad day, I applied for a clinic pedi RN job and landed my second interview next week. It sounds like way less stress, but of course the pay is slightly less.

Anyone have pedi rn clinic experience? What is the job like? Stressful? Pros, cons - compared to hospital?

Thanks in advance.

[PediatricRNTX]

Thanks for response..turns out the clinic rn job was telephone triage...no thanks! I'm still at the hospital..working my *** off. :/