By Kelly Segura, Director of Nursing, Palos Surgicenter
I’ve been a nurse for 23 years, and like many nurses, I started my career in the hospital setting. I worked across multiple units, gained a wide range of clinical experience, and got used to the structure and pace. It was familiar and regimented, and for a long time, I thought it was exactly where I needed to be.
About 10 years in, two of my friends made the move to an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). For nearly two years, they told me how different—and how much better—it was. I resisted. Leaving the hospital felt like a risk.
Eventually, I agreed to try it, taking a PRN role at Palos Surgicenter while keeping my hospital job. But over time, I found myself asking, Why am I still going back to the hospital?
The answer to that question kicked off a career switch I wasn’t expecting.
Overcoming the Fear of Leaving the Hospital
Looking back, fear was the biggest thing holding me back.
Hospital nursing is structured. You know your shifts, schedule, and rhythm. At an ASC, it’s different. Some days you’re done early; other days you stay later depending on cases.
At first, that felt uncomfortable. But once I learned the flow and how to plan around it, I realized it wasn’t just manageable—it was better. What felt uncertain at first quickly became one of the biggest advantages. When people ask me about nursing at an ASC, there are a few main benefits that stand out in my mind.
1. Gaining New Skills
One of the biggest myths about ASCs is that you lose your skills. I used to worry about that, but now I know it’s simply not true.
If anything, your critical thinking sharpens. You’re more autonomous, making real-time decisions, and recognizing changes quickly.
You also gain exposure to things you might not see as closely in a hospital setting. You learn more about infection control, scheduling, and how the operating room (OR) really functions. You spend more time with physicians and anesthesiologists, and you actually get to ask questions and understand the “why” behind what you’re doing.
It makes you a stronger, more well-rounded nurse.
2. Feeling Empowered in a New Role
This was something I didn’t expect.
If something comes up, I can walk right into the OR and talk to someone. I don’t have to wait or go through layers to get an answer. I can solve problems in the moment.
Over time, you start to trust yourself more. You’re not second-guessing every decision. You know what you’re doing, and you act on it.
That confidence changes how you show up every day. You feel more capable, more involved, and more connected to the care you’re providing.
3. The Patient Connection Is Different
The patient connection in an ASC is different.
In the hospital, you’re often juggling multiple high-acuity patients, and your attention is divided. Here, care is more focused. You can really be present.
We connect with patients from the moment they arrive through recovery, and even after they go home. We follow up. We remember them. And often, we see them again.
That continuity builds trust.
I’ve had patients come back and remember me, and I remember them. Those relationships are meaningful, not just for the patient experience, but for why we do this work in the first place.
4. Working in a Team-Based Culture
One main difference between hospital and ASC nursing is the culture. At an ASC, the culture feels collaborative and team-based. I work with the same group of people every day, and we rely on each other to work as a team.
Due to the close-knit environment, it’s easier to feel heard. If you have an idea or something you want to improve, leadership listens—and actually considers it and often implements it.
You’re not just showing up and doing your job. You’re part of something bigger, and you can feel it.
5. Enjoying Work-Life Balance
I can’t talk about ASC life without talking about work-life balance, because it’s one of the biggest differences.
No weekends, no holidays, and most days I’m home for dinner. When my kids were younger, I could pick them up from school. Even now, I still have time to be present at home in a way that just wasn’t possible before.
You still work hard, especially in the mornings when things move quickly, but the day has a natural rhythm. By the afternoon, things slow down a bit, you can catch your breath, finish your work, and mentally close out your day.
You’re not carrying the same level of stress home with you, and that makes a big difference, especially as a parent.
Why Make the Switch
People sometimes think working in an ASC is easier or slower, and that’s not really the case.
The pace is just different. It’s busy, it’s active, and you’re always engaged, but it feels more balanced overall.
If you’re on the fence about moving to an ASC, I always say the same thing. Just try it.
It’s going to feel different, and that can be uncomfortable at first. But don’t let the idea that you’re going to lose your skills or fall behind stop you from exploring something that could be a better fit.
You’re still going to grow. You’re still going to be challenged. And you might find, like I did, that it’s exactly what you needed.