"Career Suicide"

[dannygirl315]

I have a hospital job right now, but because of the hours and stress in addition to home life and little kids, I'm thinking of going to the clinic. The hours would be better for my kids right now. I'm just wondering if leaving the hospital and going to the clinic would be "career suicide". Someday when the kids are older will I be able to get back into the hospital or will I be stuck in the clinic forever if I make this move?

[Farawyn]

How long have you worked in the hospital?

[dannygirl315]

How long have you worked in the hospital?

4 years. 3 as a Tech and about 16 months as an RN. All of that time spent in the same department of a small hospital that's part of a large health care system. The clinic job would be through the same health care system.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

You have to do what works for you right now. If the clinic job gives less stress and more time for your family, I say go for it. Who knows? You may enjoy the clinic work.

In a few years, the nurse dynamic may be different than now. Right now there is a surplus of nurses in most places and hospitals can afford to pick & choose. Perhaps it will be different in the future.

[Ruger8mm]

As a clinic RN I can assure you many of us never understood what was involved in being a clinic RN. I was surprised with the level of skill, knowledge and critical thinking skills that are required for certain aspects of clinic RN triage and community measures. And the hours rock!

I don't think you'll be committing "career suicide".

[lavenderskies, BSN]

You might be committing hospital "career suicide" but that in no way equates to "career suicide" and there is no way to really know hiring trends in 5 years.

[nutella, MSN, RN]

I have a hospital job right now, but because of the hours and stress in addition to home life and little kids, I'm thinking of going to the clinic. The hours would be better for my kids right now. I'm just wondering if leaving the hospital and going to the clinic would be "career suicide". Someday when the kids are older will I be able to get back into the hospital or will I be stuck in the clinic forever if I make this move?

You never know where you are going to be in a couple of years....

In my opinion it is best to do what works for you best. There will be something else come along in a couple of years if you do not want to stay in the clinic anymore.

I switched jobs and have worked in different settings from hospital to community and back to hospital.

[RNperdiem, RN]

Do you want a job or a career? If your family is your main focus and you are not willing to make sacrifices favoring work, then a job at a clinic is fine and might suit you better.

[Ruger8mm]

You might be committing hospital "career suicide" but that in no way equates to "career suicide" and there is no way to really know hiring trends in 5 years.

I tend to think no in regard to "hospital suicide". I've seen LTC charge nurses preferred on the floor when hiring as well as home care nurses getting floor supervisor positions.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

would you be taking a cut in pay?

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

You can stay prn at the hospital.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

25 years later (after being a clinic nurse) I have a great job in research at a university and have done it for the last 11 years.