Stable life vs not enough action! Do you ever envy your inpatient counterparts

[newrnltc]

Hello AN!

As a relatively new nurse in NYC, I have been lucky to be consistently employed. I started out part time in an SNF (5 months), then was hired full time in LTC (6 months). NOC shift 5 nights a week was hard to adjust to (all work, no life) and even though I grew to love my team and residents I left to work in a clinic (7 months to present). The hours are great, no holidays, no massively redundant paperwork and I get to spend more time with pts, see them come back, getting better etc.

By all counts I am quite lucky! But now I feel like I am missing out on alot of nursing experience. I am the only nurse there (the rest are MAs) and d/t the low acuity I feel like alot of the things I learned in school are slipping away (emergency mgmt, critical meds, IVs etc). I read journals to try and stay updated. I volunteer and am planning to get my MSN (CNS) not really for a pay bump but just to learn more things (I love nursing).

I guess what I want to ask is, nurses that are working in drs offices, clinics, home care, school nursing etc.. do you ever envy your inpatient counterparts? How do you deal with those feelings? As you know, NYC is a tough place for new grads (job opening wise). As a student, I had hoped to get my start in med surg. But after 100+ applications I grew disenchanted with applying to hospitals. Now I'm a "stale grad". For those of you who have worked in out patient settings longer:

Are you happy with your career? What are your future plans?

Thanks in advance.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I work in a large outpatient physician complex. I admit sometimes I am bored to tears. I joined out "code team" and respond to all emergencies. It adds variety to my day.

[LTCNS, LPN]

I left LTC to work in a clinic and lasted three months. The hours were great, no holidays, good benefits, etc...but there was no support and I was pulled in many different directions. To be honest, I was less stressed working the floor in LTC than I was in the clinic.

I am now head nurse in an Alzheimer's Assisted Living home and although there is rarely any action, the stress is minimal and benefits are great. I have been there for one month and in just two months, I will be eligible for a full week of vacation. We get 22 days off per year right out of the gate. I work 6:30am-3pm and will have to work holidays, but it's nothing new for me. The teamwork is phenomenal and we're never left short. I may have to start working every other weekend next month but that's okay. I will look forward to having days off during the week.

[goalienrse]

Don't be envious, like someone said before, its HIGHLY over rated. Most bed side nursing jobs are fit for dogs.

I will be leaving bed side as soon as I can and never ever looking back.

[LuckyDevil2020, BSN]

I do feel that way sometimes, but I have to remind myself that I am looking at my past jobs with rose colored glasses. There are upsides and downsides to every nursing job. And as for those people who give me half an eye-roll and "the tone" when they hear I work in a clinic are usually the ones asking me 15 minutes later how I got my job and if there are any openings.

[newrnltc]

100% right! I love hearing from you guys!