Nurses That Never Worked In A Hospital...

[guest1143647]

Do you find that patients assume you are inexperienced or unskilled as opposed to nurses that have worked in a hospital?

Do you feel "less than" a nurse that has worked in a hospital, or do you feel you missed out on something pertinent?

[NurseKtoyou]

I have been a nurse for about 5yrs. I didn't secure a hospital job right out of school and worked in assisted living. I guess I feel that I am less than a nurse because that's how other people make it seem. I now work In urgent care and Er nurses are glorified. I sometimes feel that I don't know enough to go to the hospital and work. Most outpatient jobs want you to have years of hospital experience. 

[LizRN572, BSN, MSN]

Hospitals are not for the weak that’s for sure! Ha, SIKE, SNFs are not for the weak, hospice, isn’t, Urgent Cares aren’t.. If you’re so insecure to think you need to work at a hospital to feel good about yourself than so be it. The truth is, each place has their own crazy, their own downfalls and difficulties. Everyone’s different. Some can handle death than others, some can handle trauma more than others. Some can handle more patients/less acuity than others. Unlike most, I rather have fewer patients with higher acuity. Most rather have more patients (up to 2500 and more as a school nurse for example working 5 schools, given less acuity-although not necessarily-emergencies can happen anywhere at any time). 
The point is, we are not all the same fish who want to or have better capabilities swimming in the same water. We are different fish better equipped to swim in different waters. Which leads me to conclude that no place is better than another as a whole but only better or worse for you, the one and only person you should worry about. 
 

Liz, RN

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

nursel56 said:

Do you find that patients assume you are inexperienced or unskilled as opposed to nurses that have worked in a hospital?

Do you feel "less than" a nurse that has worked in a hospital,or do you feel you missed out on something pertinent?

This goes to my nursing experience after I left hospitals. I have retired as a legal nurse consultant and nurse life care planner now, and while I was still working I  assisted attorneys to understand things like healthcare records, standards of practice, training logs, lines of communication and responsibility, patient teaching materials, and other aspects of health care nurses know better than anyone. I looked at care and other resources needed for life expectancy for people with catastrophic injury and researched vendors, providers, and costs. 
I occasionally got deposed by opposing counsel as part of pre-trial discovery. Their objective was to discredit me as an expert because they had already read my report and opinion and they knew they were toast. So after looking at my credentials and present job, they usually came in with what they though was the fatal bite. 

"How long has it been since you worked as a nurse?”

"I'm working as a nurse today, counselor.”

"How long since you did patient care?”

"According to the definition of nursing by the American Nurses Association, my personal assessments, planning, collaboration with other providers, and arranging for implementation are within the RN scope of practice. I do that every day.”

Now he's getting exasperated— mostly, I think, because like most of the known universe he can only conceptualize "nursing" as hands-on physical care and "following doctor's orders.” "OK, so how long has it been since you worked in a hospital?” 

"I left hospital nursing in (year) to pursue an advanced nursing role as a nurse life care planner, and obtained national certification in rehabilitation nursing, case management, and nurse life care planning to do so.” 

Sigh. "No more questions.”