Primary Care vs Urgent Care Job as an RN

Specialties Ambulatory

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Specializes in LTC, Vent/ Trach.

Hi everyone, I am trying to decide between two positions: Urgent Care vs a primary care clinic as an RN.

 

Urgent Care:

- (2-3 12s weekly depending on if I want to part time or full time;

- major pay cut of  +$10 than what I made in long term care, about a 20k difference 

- similar work load to what I did in my 6 months working in the ED, so I can keep up certain skills like IV insertion/ phlebotomy, w/n the same hospital system 

- required to float to neighboring urgent cares,

- way more flexible schedule but every 3rd weekend, and schedule is 9a-9p

Primary care clinic

- way less practice with skills

-  more community oriented

- probably way less stressful),

- salaried position around 70k M-F 8a-5pm. No more nights, no more weekends! 

I've been a nurse for 2 years. Financially, I'm married without kids so I can afford to work part time, my husband travels for work every couple of weeks and I like going with him when I can so work 2-3 12s appeals to me in that sense. Long term goals are to work in occupational health, possibly community health. 

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Specializes in LTC, Vent/ Trach.

Just wanted to add that for me work life/ balance is a big priority. I love the idea of working in a community setting but don't love the hours of most clinic jobs......... Love to hear what you all think!

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Specializes in Psych, Hospice, Surgical unit, L&D/Postpartum.

I just left a job working three 12-hour shifts and I now work 40 hours a week Monday through Friday in a primary care clinic.  I'm struggling with the hours...

If you already know you like to travel with your husband then I would take the Urgent Care job so you can work just those two or three days per week and then maybe ask for more hours as time goes on.. you can always switch to primary care if you want to in the future.

 

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Specializes in LTC, Vent/ Trach.

@Erindel RN Thank you, I ended up going with the Urgent Care job and I started with a SNF nursing agency so I've been getting to make double working at local nursing homes in my area once or twice a week as well as doing the urgent care to keep up with skills. Thanks again for your reply

 

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Specializes in Psych, Hospice, Surgical unit, L&D/Postpartum.

Hey great! Now u will have good experience doing two diff types of nursing jobs. Glad it all worked out for u! Congrats!

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Specializes in Progressive Care, Sub-Acute, Hospice, Geriatrics.
On 7/7/2021 at 3:20 PM, eastcoastlovebug said:

@Erindel RN Thank you, I ended up going with the Urgent Care job and I started with a SNF nursing agency so I've been getting to make double working at local nursing homes in my area once or twice a week as well as doing the urgent care to keep up with skills. Thanks again for your reply

 

How is the job at an urgent care clinic? Care to describe the work that you do? Is it different from LTC?

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