Outpatient nurse salaries

amother

Thu, Jul 15 2021, 9:23 pm

Are there any areas of outpatient nursing that make as much/similar to an inpatient nurse's salary?
Thanks

amother

Fri, Jul 16 2021, 9:41 am

bump

greenteaorange

Fri, Jul 16 2021, 10:25 am

Possibly through an agency there’s a lot of high paying RN jobs now. Home care is also comparable but might not have as good retirement plans

mha3484

Fri, Jul 16 2021, 10:28 am

I am a recruiter for nurses in the Midwest. I work with lots of home health and hospice agencies. They all pay a salary with benefits unless you specifically want PRN work. Average salary is around $75k

greenteaorange

Fri, Jul 16 2021, 10:49 am

Agree it’s untrue that inpatient is the most high paying there is comparable Rn jobs. Doctors office type though usually don’t pay as well because they can’t afford Rn salady

amother

Seablue

Fri, Jul 16 2021, 10:58 am

Compensation for nurses varies widely by geographical area.

When I started working at a hospital in Baltimore at my first nursing job, inpatient was paid lower than most outpatient fields. It seems like everyone wanted to work in the hospital so I guess they didn't feel they need to pay much... This was a couple years ago so I don't know how it is now.

amother

Green

Fri, Jul 16 2021, 11:11 am

It depends on location and shortages . I make $95k as an inpatient nurse (five years experience), but there is also the virtually unlimited option for overtime. (Time and a half plus $50/ hour incentive these past few months, can be $125/ per overtime hour.)
If you want the ability to make a lot of money, inpatient is best. If you like flexibility and more downtime, outpatient, especially home care, is best

amother

IndianRed

Fri, Jul 16 2021, 11:30 am

greenteaorange wrote:

Possibly through an agency there’s a lot of high paying RN jobs now. Home care is also comparable but might not have as good retirement plans

I'm curious what you mean regarding retirement plans. Are there really still nurses who have pensions or the like? Everywhere I have worked have at most some matching with a 401K/403b. My current employer has a pension that employees who have been there over 25 years had been grandfathered into, but nothing more.

Also, when you mention high paying RN jobs, I think it's important to be clear what that means. What do you consider high pay? What educational background? What experience?

OP, I have worked inpatient and outpatient. At this point I am in management, and I will be making a lateral transfer to an outpatient department within my hospital with the same pay and benefits, and I will no longer have as much after hours/weekend responsibility. However, I have my MSN in leadership, four unique board certifications (two nursing specific, one specialty specific, and another one industry), have published peer-reviewed research, and am an established specialist in my field.

If I had found a similar position in another setting that is not hospital affiliated, the pay would be significantly lower. Also, in comparison ty credentials, I really don't think that pay will ever be considered "high".

Anonymous because I am unique in my field.