INPATIENT VS. OUTPATIENT NURSING // hours, $$, mental health, & all about my new infusion job!

[@CCC9437]

Literally everything you were saying in the beginning. I'm am so severely depressed and anxious all the time. The absolute lowest point of my life.. I keep thinking about how much time I wasted going into nursing. I am looking into outpatient. As a new grad I don't think I can do bedside nursing

[@AD_2314]

I feel the exact same and am in the same boat

[@RanndiMarie01]

I’ve been a bedside nurse for 4 years. I graduated May 2020 so I experienced all of COVID as a new grad. I’ve felt the same way as you this entire time. I started travel nursing 2 years ago and that helped a little, but now I’m at a new assignment and I literally told the charge nurse the other day I couldn’t handle another patient and couldn’t safely care for the patients I already had if I took another. The place I’m at now I didn’t know can have 1:6 patient ratio on DAYS! I had just discharged one of my six patients and when I told the charge that she said “Well if we have a patient to fill the bed your going to have to take them”. Other nurses only had five, but sure enough as soon as the room was clean another patient showed up without any notice whatsoever. I don’t think I can do bedside after this assignment. I am so fed up with how hospitals treat their nurses and their patients.

[@samanthagasmire9508]

Right there with you. I’m 3 months in to my inpatient residency and hold back tears all the time at work then go home cry, and do it all over again the next day. My house is a mess with dished piled high and laundry not done, bc those 12 hour days you have no time to even rest when you get home, it’s shove food in your face, change and try to get a full night’s sleep to then wake up, hurriedly get ready for work, to do it all over again. I had no idea this new career was going to affect me so much. It has bleed into every aspect of my life: emotionally, physically, mentally and psychologically, in a negative way. The days I’m not working I feel like all I do is recover from the 3 days I did work. This. Ain’t. It. Hearing your story is uplifting about outpatient and having time to pursue passions.

[@samanthagasmire9508]

Update: I quit a last Monday and by this Monday have a new job that I am so excited about. It’s an outpatient private clinic where clients are focused on staying healthy. A friend of mine described it as Lala medicine and I would have to agree 🤣 excited for some Lala medicine

[@andreeanasca8216]

thank you for your encouragement and vulnerability! I need to get out of bedside ASAP, it is not aligned with my values in life. I want to go to the gym 5 times a week and inpatient nursing is not allowing me to do that and many other things that I love. I`m also tired of skipping church on Sundays because of working. But more than anything, seeing people being so sick is making me feel depressed. It really pulls you in this dark hole and you can`t see the light of life anymore. Kind of it is sucking the life out of you one shift at a time.

[@JessieJames89JG]

I have never related to a video more. I still question sometimes why I became a nurse… and I’m 6 years in. Leaving bedside improved my work life balance and helped preserve my mental health. Glad you realized it early on!! I wish I had made the switch sooner. Working in the clinic has been my favorite job

[@jennadeleon4017]

Im currently doing my New Grad residency as LPN and Im realizing now that I dont like bedside. I would like to leave but most jobs need 1yr acute med experience. What should I do :(

[@NatiRod829]

I am in the middle of transitioning from inpatient to outpatient and was scrolling through KZbin for advice and words of encouragement, I'm just so happy I came across your video. I'm hoping in a few months I can say the things you're saying. Inpatient nursing really robbed me of my joy, passion, work-life balance, relationships, friends, etc. Thanks for the kind reminder that choosing your peace and moving to outpatient doesn't mean you're a failure.

[@samantharieli]

I’ve been so busy I haven’t been on KZbin in so long but coming back to this comment made me so happy!! We work to live, not live to work. And nursing is SO many things, not just bedside! You’re a better nurse if you’re passionate about what you’re doing

[@RanndiMarie01]

I’m currently a travel med surg nurse and have been a nurse for 4 years. I’ve felt so drained the entire time being a bedside nurse. Travel nursing has helped a little, being able to explore new areas, but I have still always felt dread and anxiety about work. I don’t even like to drive by the hospital I work at on days off because I have those feelings just looking at the building. Over the last year I really took a deep dive into finding what I wanted to do while trying to utilize my degree. I found nurse coaching and am currently in a certification class for it. It really spoke to me as there are so many niches you can get into and can also start your own business if you want. I of course haven’t started this job yet as I’m still getting certified for it, but I figured someone else might find it helpful to hear this in case they hadn’t heard of it before.

[@laurengrant7911]

Coming back to this video because it was the only one to give me peace when I was struggling with my job. I started in the PICU as a new grad and stayed there 1 yr 3 mo. I recently got diagnosed with ADHD and was really struggling creating a routine/schedule while working inpatient in a difficult environment. Leaving a nursing job that early on, especially right out of college, was such a blow to my ego. I still have comments from fellow nurses (sadly enough) asking why I left inpatient so early and shaming me almost for not making it longer in the ICU setting. I really liked critical care, but it was not the job for me at that stage in my life; figuring out how my brain works, feeling isolated, dealing with severe pre-shift anxiety. Not all nursing jobs work for everyone, and that doesn't make me any less of a nurse. I used to view outpatient in such a negative light while in the PICU, now I work in a Pediatric Infusion Center and have such a great life/work balance. My headspace is so much healthier, and I have really encouraging coworkers. I'm planning to go back to NP school fall '24 and am proud of myself for deconstructing the awful RN myths they tell you in school/inpatient world!

[@samantharieli]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading this!!! I have taken a break from KZbin this year, as I’ve had a lot going on (new job, new and first home, planning a wedding) and I just wanted to give myself time to adjust and appreciate this stage in life without being so busy. But I come on here every once in a while to check in and this was an amazing comment to see. Newer nurses have a different mindset than older nurses, and it’s a GOOD thing!! I’m so happy you made a change & feel better with your life. We can’t be a good nurse to our patients if we aren’t taking care of ourselves.

[@cristinagutierrez2298]

This is exactly how I feel and I feel I also need to be evaluated for ADHD although my daughter has it and I’m very familiar with its symptoms. I am getting an offer for an outpatient job days and I want it so bad but my mind keeps telling me I’m a quitter! I also started picu/peds as a new grad and that’s where I’m currently at

[@beverlyramsahai7083]

I’m happy that you were brave to make the step from staying in a place where you emotionally drained and unhappy. A lot of us just become trapped in a system where we’re unhappy but try to function in that state of mind. Nursing is a profession that takes from you and leaves you trying to find ways to cope there is the good part where it’s fulfilling. We should find that place where we can strive and be happy to go to work not the opposite. I’m happy for your good decision good luck

[@alexandragaviria6069]

I am a pediatric night shift nurse &’ even though I love where I work, the night shift is getting to me &’ I’m mentally drained ! I also started applying to outpatient .. I need my life back !

[@moallday]

I’m a new grad and just received an offer for post-op/ PACU in an out patient surgery clinic and I feel so blessed! I worked on MS/onc unit as an extern and knew that I was over bedside nursing already, and I was so nervous that I was going to be burnt out as soon as I started. It’s nice to hear stories like yours b/c I don’t feel so bad about not doing bedside. Good luck on the rest of your journey!

[@bellacormie]

How is outpatient after a year?

[@RoxyinLV]

Well said! Been an RN in the hospital for 6 years. You are lucky to realize all this so soon in your career. I thought hospital work was all I could do or that if I didn’t do it I would be a failure. Thank you for your insight & im gonna start looking away from bedside. Loves!

[@larosenoirek2197]

3 years on and kudos to you for moving on early on and doing what’s best for you. Most of us don’t have the courage and looking at it as failure. Looking back I should have and that’s what I am doing now. I have a job offer inpatient not really taxing and an outpatient offer as well. Work life balance is so important and now it’s becoming a deciding factor on my next journey. I love working inpatient in my specialty. I work 4x10 no weekends no holidays no calls. The outpatient environment will be more laid back and less stressful. No matter what I choose I think I will be happy. My current job as inpatient is so taxing and those 2 job shadowing were a breath of fresh air.

[@samantharieli]

I can’t believe the difference outpatient made on my life!!

[@mcqueenXO]

I'm glad to hear that you found a position that you enjoy. I lost my job in November due to hospital closure, and have never been happier. I have no desire to go back to the bedside.

[@samantharieli]

I’m still finding my way and what my nursing passion is, but I’m happy I got out when I could! It needs to be talked about more

[@lexpark5169]

Amc?

[@kyqwyd]

1 year in on nights Med/Tele unit and I’m feeling exactly how you felt

[@vanessamyers4250]

I love this! Currently making the switch from Long-term Care to a private outpatient clinic and I am so nervous, but excited!!

[@Kaya6067g]

Thank you so much, I really needed to hear that ❤ I have been so scared to recognize that bed side nursing is not for me. I believe that new nurses are being pressured to work in-patient and being forced to adjust to that horrible toxic work environment. One time I told my preceptor that inpatient was not something I wanted to do and always dreamed to work in urgent care or infusion clinic. She then replied that I might as well drop out of nursing school because outpatient nurses are not real nurses. I felt so guilty and defeated. But after listening to your story, I now realize that I only owe to myself to be happy with my job and stay true to myself. ❤

[@samantharieli]

I HATE when ppl say this!! I always tell ppl that I 100% have learned more at my outpatient job than inpatient. I feel I work safer and developed better skills here.

[@Emily-mats]

This was so encouraging! I started out as a new grad on a cardiac step down floor on nights. Now I’m on dayshift which is better for my body but even more overwhelming mentally! I am so bad at multitasking and remembering everything I need to do for all my patients… and I’m soooo slow it’s truly embarrassing. I get focused on one patient and then all of a sudden realize I have 3 meds late. I hate having to constantly multitask and split my attention because I feel like I can never give anyone the care I want to! I love the idea of being able to truly focus on what you’re doing. Seems like a lot of infusion clinics require past experience in chemo or biotherapy… I’m afraid I won’t be able to find a job but this just sounds absolutely incredible. Any advice for finding infusion clinic jobs with only less than a year of experience inpatient?

[@nalaamour]

Kudos to you for following your feelings and stepping out there anyway! So many stay stuck and miserable for way too long. Well wishes to you and everything will fall into place like it's supposed to. ☺️

[@Arytay]

Wow I’m so happy you went for what you wanted! I’m literally in the same boat just graduated in May and hated beside as a tech and I just took a job on oncology/MS floor🥴 I applied to so many outpatient infusion RN positions but they said I needed experience first. I’m so anxious b/c I know beside isn’t for me but congratulations!!!☺️💕

[@samantharieli]

To be bluntly honest, it will most likely be rough at first. I loved ppl I worked with, but everything else was miserable for me and I lost so much passion for nursing within that time. BUT, as soon as u gain about 6 months of experience start applying outpatient! I only had 6 months and had at least 3 places accept me for interviews/jobs :)

[@111coolone]

@@samantharieli I love to hear this Bc Iv been on my telemetry unit for almost 6 months and I already know I wanna leave 😂 I was gonna give it a good year or so before I started applying to outpt jobs…but I’m so happy to hear you’ve had offers with only 6 months experience!!

[@starxrandom]

Thank you for this video. It was really informative. I worked in LTC for one year and have been inpatient on a medicine unit for a little over a year now. I know inpatient and the schedule is not what I want to do for the long term-I watched your other video about inpatient nursing and agreed with everything you said. I am excited to leave the bedside (inpatient) and see what other opportunities are out there!

[@Dave-ew4jb]

This video has helped me out so much! I've been a nurse inpatient for 2 years... Looking for something new. I feel like I just need a better schedule...

[@Faye.Louise22]

LOVED this video! I'm forever telling people to take a nursing job where YOU want to, don't pressured into thinking you HAVE to go into ward work straight away or at all even! I'm set on prison nursing and nothing has changed my mind in over 10 years (yet 🤭). This video was really nice it was as though you were talking to your friends 🥰

[@samantharieli]

Thank you!! I will always tell people to do exactly what they want and don’t worry about what others think or suggest. I’m so much happier now than before simply because it works better with my lifestyle & mental health 😊

[@Faye.Louise22]

@@samantharieli Exactly that Sam!! It's not worth our mental state being people pleasers, always do what makes you happy 🥰❤

[@giavannabarbiero5418]

Great video! Just watched this and your other video about switching to outpatient. I just graduated in May. Started a nurse residency program in august… so barely 3 months in and I hate it lol. I see myself becoming miserable in this position and I’m on day shift so I can’t even imagine working night shift. I actually applied to a well known outpatient group in my area and they offered me a interview. So I’m gonna go with it, see how it goes. If I have to break my contract then so be it. I really wanted to stick out this job for a year, but I don’t think I can and for what? Is it worth it? Bedside experience isn’t everything I’m learning. Totally agree with everything you said. Thank you for speaking out about this, definitely was helpful for me.

[@samantharieli]

Yes! You need to do what will make you happy, or at least happier. A job is not worth being miserable for in my opinion. Break the contract, take the risk, do something out of the ordinary! I was so happy when I finally did this and stopped trying to force myself to continue just because people said to or I “should”. All I can hope for for this video is that it reaches people like you & makes a difference in your lives ❤️

[@alejandravergara928]

hi, may I ask you how hard it was to find an outpatient job to hire you? did they question how long you did bedside ? what do you think helped you get hired as a new grad? thanks :)

[@ooooo000ooooo]

Thank you for this video. I relate so hard to so many things you talked about. I still have a year left in my contract and for other reasons I can't leave right away. I feel so depressed because of the job, horrible ratios, night shift, etc. I really get you when you said nursing is not your dream job and I believe it's the same for me. I'm just hanging on for now Did they make you pay back the remainder of your new grad contract?

[@jennyhan1374]

Thank you so much for this video! I’m a new grad night shift ICU nurse and have been struggling hard 😢 I’m considering moving to outpatient but I don’t know if I should look into surgery centers, urgent care, or nursing homes as I still want to maintain my nursing skills. Any advice for me?

[@samantharieli]

I personally went the route of infusion outpatient clinic because I had background in giving chemotherapy & infusions and I wanted something similar so I wasn’t completely overwhelmed. I have heard people love surgery centers as you still use a ton of skills like IVs, meds, etc, whereas urgent cares and offices or clinics is more administrative work!

[@Ellie-jl3vk]

Have you considered becoming an NP? I feel like you would really enjoy having your own personal patients that you can spend however much time you want with.

[@samantharieli]

I have! The only thing holding me back right now is a specialty. I’m not 100% sure what area I want to be in for long term

[@Nurse_JahairaDamary]

Thanking for sharing ! I have been a LPN for two years started in acute rehab and hated it. Now I am I. Memory care/skilled and. Love it ! About to grad from LPN to BSN and was contemplating inpatient vs outpatient

[@nataliaf8517]

Can you absolutely avoid bedside as a new grad? Im about to start nursing school but the idea of bedside is making me doubt

[@camrynjj6814]

me feeling the same way rn with this video 👁️👄👁️ Anyway I applied for an ambulatory outpatient position focus in cardiology…. I did the interview but idk if I’ll get it or not. They said they’re still interviewing and have more positions open so fingers crossed Coming from a tele/medicine RN who’s already over it 1 year and 4 months in 😭

[@angelazhang5857]

Thanks for the informative video, how does pay compare outpatient vs inpatient tho?

[@maryalb7155]

Any advice on how to transition from inpt to outpt? In terms of where to apply?

[@DariTrinidad]

I’m currently going through this I come home and have no energy for anything else. I feel like I have no life at all :/ How did you get into infusion as a new grad? Do you feel you had enough iv skills to do this?

[@samantharieli]

Not at all, and I honestly told them that! I said how I did plenty of ports and PICC lines, but lacked with IVs, but I also made sure to say I really wanted to get better at them! They told me that this was the perfect place to learn. I think working in oncology and doing so many different kinds of infusions (chemo, immunotherapy, blood/platelets, antibiotics, IVIG) helped me get in with little experience. Also, be honest if u get an interview! Explain why you are burnt out and want to leave, but still express what you love about nursing and how you think that place will help increase your passion. I’m still finding my place in nursing, but I’m glad I at least made 1 step in the right direction!

[@iamnursechelsea]

I’m new to your channel, I’m a nurse too, graduated with my associates in 2018! I’m from Detroit Michigan! I’ve done cardiac -med spa- ER and now infusion nursing! I make content all about it as well. 🥰 I subscribed, I definitely want to keep up with your journey. I think it’s so important to create a healthy community for nurses to come to to feel safe and able to uplift each other. 💕 Now as an I infusion nurse, I thank God everyday because it truly saved me from being depressed working in the hospital. 🫶🏽

[@samantharieli]

Hi and thank you for subscribing!! I’ve definitely got busy over the last year and haven’t had time to keep up with KZbin with buying a house, moving, planning a wedding, and vacations but I’m so happy my videos are still helping ppl! I make tons of short form videos on my tik tok for nursing as well!

[@lyndaK7]

Hi Samantha this is a little late but happen to see your post. So was there a new grad program offered in Outpatient setting? Definitely would be more interested in that :)

[@samantharieli]

So sorry im just now seeing this! I’ve been so busy the last year I haven’t been able to keep up and have only been posting short form on tik tok! I didn’t have a new grad program, however my team was incredible about helping me learn things I never did before!

[@vanessaa6881]

Hey! How many nurses are in your office and how many providers are in your office? Thanks!

[@samantharieli]

We have about 10 nurses (only about 6 of us work per day though). Our providers have a weird situation. Their clinic and our outpatient infusion center are considered “separate” even thought we are the same building, & each day they designate 1 Dr and 1 APP (NP or PA) to work with us. In total I would guess there’s 3 APP’s and 5 Drs over there thought

[@vanessaa6881]

Oh nice. I was offered a job at a primary care office, 12 providers and they expected me to be the only nurse in the office. I turned it down bc it seemed like a lot. Thank you for your reply.

[@alyssalopez6318]

Hi I'm also in the same circumstance right now. I just made 1 year inpatient but I want to look else where... I was wondering what happened when you broke your contract? Do you owe them money back or what were the repercussions if any? Thanks!

[@samantharieli]

Hi! I did have a bonus for that job, but luckily wasn’t required to pay it back. I know some ppl who broke their contract that said they were required to repay their sign on bonus, but they never did & nothing ever happened which I hear a lot of… sometimes they also say you’re not allowed to work at that company again for “x” amount of years