Start working in clinic or hospital?

Roseyposey · Dec 30, 2007

I work both in an urgent care clinic prn and a hospital. As far as stress and working conditions go, the clinic wins hands-down. The pay is about $4 per hour less and if I wanted the health insurance, it's more expensive. When I graduated, I already worked at the clinic but thought I needed the experience of the hospital, so I turned down my clinic manager's offer for a full-time position. I've been kicking myself ever since. I have learned a lot at the hospital and have met a lot of wonderful people - both patients and other employees, but I've never been so stressed out and disgusted with an employer in my entire life. The hours at the clinic are much more predictable - but there are times that I've had to stay over as much as an hour due to a laceration or chest pain, etc. at the last minute, but this is the exception, not the rule. I use a totally different skill set at the clinic vs. the hospital.

WhiteRN · Dec 30, 2007

I kinda can give some imput here. After I graduated I started working on a peds floor, I worked there 6mo and then landed a job at an Asthma and Allergy clinic. I worked there 3 years and then quit to stay at home with by boy. I was away for 2 yrs and then they called me again this month to come back to work and I did. The stress level is low and I am off major hoildays!!! I get to spend more time with my son but the trade off is that I lost a lot of my nursing skills. I have not started an IV in 5 years. Its a trade off. I am now trying to get back in the hospital part time. Do what you feel is best for your family.

Good Luck!!

nursemomo · Dec 30, 2007

I started work in a chemotherapy clinic. I loved my job there!! But I was disappointed when I did start work in a hospital at all the clinical skills I lost touch with at my office job. It was a 9-5er, and that was great. The only clinical skill I was adept at anymore was IV insertion. And accessing ports. We didn't use IV pumps, so that was gone...no catheters, nothing. It was a wonderful job and very rewarding, but I do believe that (at least in my case) that the pay was lower and skills were lost. It didn't take long to recover them, but still...

good luck!

RheatherN, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 30, 2007

i always thought i would want to go back to the clinic i worked at, but i sure like the skills part of the hospital. i knew my pt's in the clinic and did a lot before schooling, but i feel that if, after i graduate i need to make sure of my skills before i really decide to do clinic, in case i really ever want to go back to that. like someone else said, its a totally diff kinda place. i dont know about the less stress part though.. all in where you work i guess

GL!

-H-

pagandeva2000, LPN · Dec 31, 2007

I started working in the same clinic I worked in as an aide as soon as I passed NCLEX-PN. I was assigned there, although I assumed that I would be sent to the floor to 'pay my dues'. The stars shined on me for that decision. I am off weekends and all major holidays, and I have decent hours. I work the 'late' clinic; Mon, Wed, Fri, from 10:30 to 7pm, Tue and Thurs, 12:00 to 8:30. Most times, we leave earlier than the assigned time, but there are other times that if the doctors are a bit slow, we are there another two or three hours after the fact. I don't have young children, so, this is ideal for me. I don't have to get there so early and meet rush hour traffic and I can take care of some business in the morning. This is a clinic at a hospital, so the same rate of pay applies to all nurses no matter what the assignment is. I also get a bit of evening differential after 6pm.

You may lose some skills, but the stress level and margin of error is a great deal less than the floors. I do per diem in med-surg and home care sometimes to maintain the skills, but as far as I am concerned, they have to literally kick me out of the clinic before I leave there voluntarily.

lizzyberry · Dec 31, 2007

Im really concerned with finding the schedule that works with my young children. Does working at a clinic offer this?