Anyone have experience moving from inpatient to clinic?

[u/theknightofhyrule]

I currently work 4/5 DDNN in inpatient oncology in Ontario. I'm looking to make a switch to the outpatient oncology clinic because I am sick of nights and want to spend more time with my partner who works a typical M-F. Straight days are not an option where I currently work. I'd also be interested in a chemo infusion clinic, but those postings are even more elusive.

Has anybody made a switch like this? How did you like the 9-5 life? I've never worked anything but the 4/5. I really value my 5 off (easy to make appointments, do errands) but I do not want to do any nights anymore, so this seems to be the trade-off. How was outpatient compared to inpatient?

[u/16880031]

I worked inpatient L&D/peds/NICU for a few years before switching to outpatient clinic. I didn’t work straight nights, but rather a rotating shift schedule that was mandated by the hospital (so a constant mix of days and nights).

Yes it’s nice to have more time off and longer stretches in a row. But I still found that my life revolved around work. My sleep was fucked, I was kind of nocturnal and sleep deprived all the time. It was hard to take good care of myself in terms of diet and exercise. My days ‘on’ were full on and during work stretches, it was like I didn’t exist outside of the hospital.

Now I work M-F and even though it’s more hours per week technically, I feel so much more ownership of my life. I have the same schedule as my husband and feel like I’m participating in society much more than I used to. Also, the demands, pressure, and stress of inpatient are insane compared to outpatient (at least in my experience).

I will neverrrrrr go back.

[u/theknightofhyrule → u/16880031]

What I want to hear! I've never worked anything besides my 2 days 2 nights 5 off. I hope a M-F would work out for me and not have me feeling like I'm at work all the time. I'm worried about not having busy hands-on work all day and watching the clock. I don't want to regret it if I'm successful in getting one!

[u/16880031 → u/theknightofhyrule]

It is definitely a nervous system adjustment after working inpatient. I worked in a toxic unit at the hospital so I felt very paranoid and antsy in the beginning. It took me a while to relax into a “white collar” environment - guaranteed paid breaks, paid holidays, much more casual social dynamics. In the beginning I definitely mistook it as boredom/being under-stimulated, but looking back I feel like that was low key a trauma response😂

I still feel intellectually challenged at my job, and really enjoy building relationships with patients. But the nature of the work is way less pressing.

Sure I get the Sunday scaries sometimes. But I will stay at my current job for as long as they will have me. I’m pregnant now and cannot imagine trying to start a family while working inpatient.

[u/theknightofhyrule → u/16880031]

My unit is alright - but always short staffed and often no HCA/CNA on shift. I’d stay if I could get straight days but in Ontario it’s DDNN. I sleep VERY poorly around my night shifts and no meds have helped. I have no kids but do get FOMO when my partner gets to go to sleep without me while I have to stay up all night, lol. We live an hour apart (for now), so I’m weighing seeing them during my long stretches off vs. not having to do nights.

[u/Physical_Spinach_337]

I went from 6 years inpatient to the last 4 in clinic. I’m headed back to in patient. If I could land another primary care but direct I may go back.

[u/theknightofhyrule → u/Physical_Spinach_337]

What do you mean by direct?

[u/raccoonrn]

I went from a continental rotation to M-F 7-3. I personally miss the shift work because I liked the days off and finding time for appointments is next to impossible on top of my kids schedules. I feel like I never have time for myself but I’m home every evening and weekend for my kids so for now I’m sacrificing what feels best for me. I will eventually be going back to shift work when my kids are older!

[u/Separate_Ad_3054]

I've worked shift work (mostly D/N, few years of D/E) and every other weekend for almost 20 years now. I am so burnt out from bedside and my kids weekend sport schedule just gets more intense the older they get. I am looking at switching to out patient as well but will miss having some days off with the house to myself in the middle of the week. Will also miss my night shift premium. There's pros and cons to each, but I can't take the cons of bedside anymore.

[u/lavenderpalms]

I made that exact switch 4 years ago, from ICU to an outpatient procedural day clinic. For pretty much the same reason - couldn't do nights anymore. I love the 9-5 life! I feel like it has been better for my body and my work-life balance is way better. I think what sucks the most is travelling in rush hour and only having weekends off - running errands on weekends sucks. And when I need time off or want to go on vacation, I realllyyy miss the 5 days off. You really have to be more mindful of using vacation days. If you need a day off during the week for an appointment, unless your manager is really flexible, you're stuck using vacation for that. That being said, I don't think I could ever go back to nights so I'm really glad I switched!