New RN in outpatient clinic

Specialties Ambulatory

Published

Hi Everyone, I will grad this december as RN, BSN and plan to move to Chicago and work at University of Chicago Hospital Systems. I would really like to begin as a clinic nurse at one of the hospital clinics as I really really don't like the inpatient setting. My plan is to start my masters in health systems management next fall and eventually move into a more administrative position. Does this sound reasonable? I have heard about the "one year med surg" thing soo many times, but I just don't feel this is for me. I don't see myself ever working in med-surg, cardiac, trauma or an area like that. I love working in the outpatient setting- I have worked for my father (family MD) for 9 years as his "office nurse/office manager" and just love working in that setting. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Len

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Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.

If your heart is in the clinical setting, then I say go for it! There are many opportunites for an RN in the clinical setting. You may not make as much in wages, but being happy and confident in you decision is what matters. I was a Certified Medical Assistant in the clinical setting for 9 years and then went back for my LPN and graduated this May. I passed my boards and am still working in the clinical setting. Some wonder why did I even go back to school. I did it for me and to be a nurse. During my clinical rotations at the hospital I knew that hospital work was not for me. I was going to try med-surg for awhile, but here where I live you work 32-36 hrs a week rotating weekends and holidays in the hospital versus the 40 I put in in the clinic with no weekends or holidays. I actually make more staying in the clinic then if I moved to the hospital. Anyways, clinic nursing is real nursing no matter what any one says. The best of luck with your decision and of course follow your heart.

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thanks so much. thats very encouraging to me.

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Hello. I just started my first job...I graduated in August. It is in a clinic and I love it! They let me work as a tech until I passed the NCLEX...which I passed and got my paper license last week.

Good Luck to you!

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Specializes in Surgical, Peds, UM.

Hello! I too am a fairly new (3 years ago) RN/BSN grad that hated Med/Surg nursing in school, but as you have probably heard a million times - I was encouraged to do at least a year in the hospital. So, after graduating I worked nights on a med/surg floor for 1 1/2 years, and as I expected, I hated it - not only the job, but having to work weekends and holidays. I left there to begin working at a Peds office, and I loved it. Hospital nursing isn't for everyone and I don't plan on ever going back :) Having said that, I'm really glad that I got that experience in the hospital. It definitely honed my clinical skills and gave me the confidence that I could do anything in nursing that I wanted to. Plus, I made about $7 less an hour at the Peds office. Just some random thoughts, your story sounded so much like mine I had to chime in! Good Luck in whatever you decide, and remember that there are too many opportunities out there for a nurse to stay in a job you hate!

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