What can RNs do?

TazziRN, RN · Jun 19, 2008

You will earn more at a hospital.

If you work at a hospital you will have to work weekends and holidays. Get used to it.

NurseBrittney · Jun 19, 2008

is the only reason you want to be a nurse to make more money?

TX RN · Jun 19, 2008

Plenty of clinic jobs availbale where I'm at. But be prepared to earn less than what you would earn in a hospital setting. There are SOME hospital nursing positions that don't require weekends. Let me start a list, others can add if they want to.

1. PACU (only caveat is you may be required to be on-call, including occasionally on weekends)

2. Management (you're always on call ;P)

3. Endoscopy (same on-call caveat applies)

4. Day surgery

5. Infection Control Nurse

6. Hospital Health Nurse

7. Case Manager

Some of these jobs do require x amount of years of floor nursing experience. Good luck.

floridagrl2000 · Jun 19, 2008

I don't plan to get use to it. That's why I want to work in more of a clinic setting where they are closed on weekends. I have other licenses that may come in handy to make that happen.

floridagrl2000 · Jun 19, 2008

Nope. I have been a caregiver in the past, worked with kids, and have an aesthetician license as well as laser hair removal (CME). There's no question about me being a good nurse. There's just not enough of a demand for CME's in my area.

traveljen · Jun 19, 2008

thought i would just add that not all clinics are closed on weekends.

jjjoy, LPN · Jun 19, 2008

You need to check out the job market in your area.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend getting an RN with the *expectation* of being able to find M-F clinic work right out of school. Where I am, RN clinic positions are rather uncommon. They tend to be very specialized and require specific experience (eg several years working on a certain hospital unit). For the few positions where they're willing to hire a new grad RN into a specialized clinic role, if that position ever were to change, you'd have a hard time finding another similar role because there aren't that many around. And yes, clinic positions often do pay less than hospital positions, plus no overtime/night/weekend differentials that often pad a nurse's income.

I'm not saying it's impossible to get what you want, but I just wouldn't expect it to be a sure thing.

megananne7 · Jun 19, 2008

I am pretty sure I want to become an RN. Seems like an LPN is not the pay I would like since I am getting about that much already at my current job. I

As an LPN, I worked in assisted living making $17-$19 an hour. I also did work in assisted living as an RN for awhile and made $24.50 an hour.

I work at a hospital as an RN and make $22.52 an hour.

So, really, as an RN you're not making a whole lot much more.

And from my experience, nursing jobs in clinicals and dr offices can be hard to come by.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 19, 2008

I am pretty sure I want to become an RN. Seems like an LPN is not the pay I would like since I am getting about that much already at my current job. I have heard a lot about working in the hospital setting can be pretty lousy? I want to work no more than Mon-Fri because I can only see my husband on the weekends. It seems that a clinic type setting would make more since. What can RNs do when working at a Plastic Surgery/ Dermatology/ Gynecology type setting? Is the pay any less than at a hospital? Are hospitals that bad to work at?
I plan to call around some different offices in need of RNs, but any advice would be great!

I don't plan to get use to it. That's why I want to work in more of a clinic setting where they are closed on weekends. I have other licenses that may come in handy to make that happen.

Nope. I have been a caregiver in the past, worked with kids, and have an aesthetician license as well as laser hair removal (CME). There's no question about me being a good nurse. There's just not enough of a demand for CME's in my area.

Well, I don't know how realistic your goal is for a nurse of any kind...and I am not saying this to insult you. Practically every nurse I know began in hospitals, working evenings, nights and at least alternate weekends. Nursing doesn't come in a quaint, neat package, and the career is not always sensitive to the fact that you wish to have weekends off to spend with your husband, children, or even to tend to sick family members. Maybe you would have to rely more on the alternative licenses that you have. Also, if you don't wish to be a caregiver, then, LPN or RN is not the route for you to go at this time. Most expect you to pay some sort of dues to the bedside before obtaining some of the choice positions you are seeking, and that would probably include obtaining the BSN or MSN levels...and STILL want some years of bedside experience.

NeosynephRN · Jun 19, 2008

Good Luck..all the clinic jobs I know of around here require experience..and usually 2-3 years. Yes even plastic surgeons, they want you to be able to spot a problem fast, and usually without their backup..I mean what happens when a fresh post op comes in with a complication and your surgeon is in OR...fresh out of NS you would likey not be ready to deal with this!! You will have to pay your dues..just like the rest of us.

TazziRN, RN · Jun 19, 2008

Plenty of clinic jobs availbale where I'm at. But be prepared to earn less than what you would earn in a hospital setting. There are SOME hospital nursing positions that don't require weekends. Let me start a list, others can add if they want to.
1. PACU (only caveat is you may be required to be on-call, including occasionally on weekends)
2. Management (you're always on call ;P)
3. Endoscopy (same on-call caveat applies)
4. Day surgery
5. Infection Control Nurse
6. Hospital Health Nurse
7. Case Manager
Some of these jobs do require x amount of years of floor nursing experience. Good luck.

Case managers at our local facilities work weekends. There is always at least one on during the day shifts.