Urgent care verses bedside nursing

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Hi all! I am looking to work in a more laid back setting. The hospital is starting to wear me out and I've interviewed at many primary care doctors offices but haven't landed a job yet, as it's quite competitive/difficult to get a job in a doc office. That has then led me to urgent care nursing. Has anyone worked in urgent care ? If so, do you think it is more laid back than a hospital environment?

Any stories or suggestions are most welcome! :)

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
Chacha82, thank you for sharing! I'm glad you like urgent care. I'm definitely between a rock in a hard place right now. If the urgent care I interviewed at had more than one nurse per day (12 hour shift) I would definitely take it. I have a lot to think about and I appreciate your perspective!

60 patients in 12 hours? One patient every 12 minutes. There wouldn't be any time to paint your fingernails but I'd try that. With just a little help that'd be OK. Heck, give it a shot!

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

So I worked in both Pedi Urgent care (2 years) and regular Urgent Care (1 year, 8 months). Pedi Urgent Care was 1 RN or "Lead Tech", 2-3 MAs, 1 RT, 1 DR, and 1 ARNP. Regular Urgent Care was 1 RN, 2 MAs, 1 RT who also worked as MA, 1 DR, and 1 PA/ARNP. Pedi Urgent Care hours were M-F 5-11 and S/S 1-11 open 365. Regular Urgent Care was 363/days M-Sun 8 AM to 8 AM with Thanksgiving and Christmas off.

My experience is here in Florida.

Pedi Urgent Care was fast paced and just get em' in, get em' out. Swabs, splints, sutures, meds, etc. Occasional IV or cath (or scalp draw, gah!) and occasional seizing feverish baby. Didn't like it because of the hours and it was my nursing school job (started as MA/UC) so wanted more exposure. Anywhere from 60-130 patients per day, we would end up staying past 11.

Regular Urgent Care was much better. We did physicals, sick visits, x-rays, IVs, IM injections, drug tests, pre-employment stuff, EKGs, even EPI'ed folks coming in with reactions. BLS not ACLS though. Staffing was adequate HOWEVER I left because within 6 months of being there I was senior nurse. We had 4 nurses quit due to various reasons both personal and professional within a two week span so that left me bearing the brunt for the next year when we had turnover. I was promised that I only had to work every 3rd weekend but I was working every weekend or every other weekend. My husband travels for work and I need that every 3rd weekend schedule so we actually see each other. That was a managerial issue. Aside from that, I loved it, and I never felt short because I was the only nurse. I actually learned to suture and the providers were very hands on with teaching as well. I'd go back if I got my every 3rd weekend. Miss those 12 hour shifts. Only other issue was we were across the street from a major ER so we would get patients who really needed to be in the ER but would come to use instead (bad asthma issues, chest pain, stroke, etc) but I'd call 911 and get them out pretty quickly.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

DowntheRiver...In your experience did you always have a "busload" of patients that would show up the last 30 minutes before closing time? We used to be open until 11:00 and because of this rush at the last minute it would sometimes be 1:00 am or so before the last patient was discharged. At that time, there were no full time Urgent Care physicians, they all worked at various pediatric clinics in town, and all these guys had to be back at work the following mornings. We still only have 1 full time Urgent Care physician. Anyway, because of the physician's complaining, we started closing at 10:00. We still have the bus arrive during the last 30 minutes but at least everyone is usually out by midnight; sometimes sooner.

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.
DowntheRiver...In your experience did you always have a "busload" of patients that would show up the last 30 minutes before closing time? We used to be open until 11:00 and because of this rush at the last minute it would sometimes be 1:00 am or so before the last patient was discharged. At that time, there were no full time Urgent Care physicians, they all worked at various pediatric clinics in town, and all these guys had to be back at work the following mornings. We still only have 1 full time Urgent Care physician. Anyway, because of the physician's complaining, we started closing at 10:00. We still have the bus arrive during the last 30 minutes but at least everyone is usually out by midnight; sometimes sooner.

Yes sir, the bus would usually show up at 10:30. Usually wheezers that had been wheezing all day and mom/dad couldn't get them to sleep so finally decided to do something about it. Or sore throat all day and turns out it was strep. We petitioned to change hours but that would never happen. That UC is known for staying open later than any other UC in the area by an hour. We only had full time pediatric ER physicians or former pediatricians as our staff. Same with ARNPs.

Some nights we'd close at 11. Some nights we'd be out by 11:30. Others we'd end up out at 1 or 2.

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