Outpatient Nursing

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I am currently working in Outpatient Nursing..as many of you know that aspect of nursing covers many skills and tasks. Is it still considered specialized nursing even though it covers so many things? I know that nurses need med-surg skills for at least two years to be marketable. I just dont want to hurt myself in the long run as a fairly new nurse by working in outpatient. Thanks so much for all your insight :)

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Specializes in hospice, ortho,clinical review.

I think it may depend on what your ultimate goal is. If it's to be in an acute setting or something that relies on those skills.

For me, I'm leaving an ortho unit for a review nurse position at an imaging company. My ultimate goal is to do wellness coaching in some capacity perhaps for the community. I have just under 1.5 years of bedside and only just under 10mos at the hospital and this company has no problem that I have less than the 2years. I always hear that too, that you have to have the 2 years acute or you'll regret it. I wonder how true it is...I guess I'll find out!

I'm a little scared b/c this is back to a cubicle so I really hope I won't feel pinned down or bored. The work itself sounds really interesting as I've been reading up on PET scans, so I hope that and some contact via the phone with pts will carry me through.

I think that's the cool thing with nursing, many branches on the tree. I'm not sure the old rules apply, some may disagree.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Geriatric Assessment, management and leadership.

Blondie, I agree with Kitty Hawk. The job choices you make depend on what your goals are. My first two years out of school I worked inpatient psych. I switched three different shifts in a wk and got hit, bit and urine thrown in my face. I wanted something that I could have a normal schedule and where I would not get beat up. I took a job in home health (I hated public health in school), and I loved it. I suggest you start making a list of what you want in a job such as hours, independence, etc and then look at what areas of nursing you like and go from there. I think I'll write an article for ezine on this! Thanks for the idea.

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Well, where I am kind of stumped is..although I know its not really an acute situation..but can be..it covers so many things. In one day I have been known to take care of a fairly painful wound that went wrong in recovery, give PRBCs, do INRs, give injections, help patients figure out health dilemmas..just to name a few. Its hardly your typical clinic nursing and I hear that outpatient nursing is starting to become really popular because of the diversity it gives with a reliable schedule. Also, at our facility, us outpatient nurses tend to get ER wounds if the ER is fairly busy and do assessments on floor patients in med surg. I love it but worry at the same time.

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Specializes in Geriatric Assessment, management and leadership.

Not to worry. If you love where you are now, stick with it until you find something else you love more! That is my motto. I always stayed in an area until I solved all the problems I could. Then I was bored so I made a change. In 36 years I have worked in psych, home health, med/surg, staff development, management, as a nurse practitioner, instructor, director of patient education and health promotion, editor, writer, MDS coordinator. I have loved them all!

If you are still concerned, start thinking about where you would like to be in 5 years. If you like wound care, consider becoming a wound care specialist. If you like management, you could manage an outpatient department. Lots and lots of possibilities on your nursing career journey.

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Thank you guys for your helpful insight...I appreciate it :)

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