CVS Minute Clinic

Specialties Advanced

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Hi!

I am a new FNP and I will be working full time CVS Minute clinic starting in a few weeks. I will be working 3-4 days a week with rotating weekends.

I have a few questions for you.

1. Would you recommend getting a supplemental job in addition to my full time job? (I am also open to volunteering...)

2. If yes, what other opportunities are out for their for APRN's looking for supplemental jobs?

Thank you

Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

I would not recommend this for a brand new FNP. You will be working alone as the solo provider? Urgent care/walk in can be fast paced. And it is not all sore throats & UTIs. People come in to urgent care with all types of problems. Since you want to get supplemental job, try getting one in urgent care where there are other providers to guide you. Usually there is a 2 year learning curve for new NPs/RNs.

Agree completely with Sailornurse. You will have limited opportunities to learn at CVS. It is a great job for an experienced NP who does not want a lot of challenge and wants regular hours. It is not a good job for a new FNP at all.

Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

Are you comfortable seeing infants & toddlers all by yourself? I remember when I started writing pediatric antibiotics, I would calculated 3 times I was so scared of overdosing a kiddo.

And yes you will be limiting yourself to opportunities to fine tune everything you just learned. After a couple years in primary care, then the minute clinic/urgent care jobs are fine.

Specializes in Surgery.

I will disagree with the others, my good friend has been at a minute clinic for a few years now and started as a new grad. They can see patients 24 months + so no infants as PP mentioned.

She's been happy, well-paid and has grown to become confident in treating these types of patients.

I would definitely keep it to just the MC job at least for the first year though.

CSWGIRL what is the virtual tryout?

Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

Honestly, I think working at a Minute Clinic would be boring. They have very strict protocols you have to follow and there's not a lot of room for critical thinking. The flip side of that is that you have guidance and it's a little harder to get into trouble. That being said, it's tough to get a job as a new grad. You have to take an opportunity that you feel works for you. I would not recommend getting a another job until you feel comfortable with your new role. If you find you like urgent care, then look for a position at a center where you will not be the only provider and where they treat a wide range of conditions. I work per diem at the Urgent Care department of a large ambulatory health center. There are always at least 4 providers (MD, NP, PA) on, and we see pretty much everything short of traumas. It's interesting, fun, and we have each other to bounce things off of.

Just my opinion. Best of luck to you.

Specializes in Hospice.

I am a clinical instructor on the side....

I agree- completely. thank u

Specializes in Emergency.

I am going to be starting my ARNP program this fall and had goals to work in the minute clinic as well. Ive been an ER nurse for 8 years. I have not entered the role of mid level yet but I think I CVS would be a good place to start if you had previous experience with a myriad of ailments and age groups.

If not, I could see where it would be daunting as a first job. Urgent care might be a better place for a new grad who had very little multigenerational care prior.

Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

I'm a former ER nurse and it's quite different being the only provider in urgent care/minute clinic type settings. Completely different ballgame being an ER RN vs FNP. One urgent care we do everything from X-rays/casting/ sutures etcetc just me and a MA. It's not as simple as it sounds. Almost anything walks in from kids with rashes, abd pain, mva, etcetc, but well I've only been a nurse for almost 40 years& only an NP for 15 so what do I know. Lanscottrn you say you've been Er nurse for 8 years and just starting your NP studies so have not yet started clinicals? Curious what you are basing your opinions on.

Specializes in Emergency.

I think you should re-read my post. I said, "I think" it might be a good place or it could be "daunting." I based my opinion on what the FNPs I work with have told me, if that differs from your experience, that is totally fine. There was no need to get snippy.

You said you work in Urgent Care. That's infinitely busier with sicker people than a CVS minute clinic. I imagine the learning curve would be a lot easier in a minute clinic setting.

You being a nurse for 39 years means you have a lot more experience than myself. That being said, eight years in a very busy ER in a city isn't anything to write off as easily as you did. I respect your experience and definitely your opinion so thank you.

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