Is Phys. Office nursing "Really Nursing"?

Specialties Ambulatory

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I am going through school with a friend, (we are taking our pre-req's together), and I happened to mention that I was interested in working in a Physicians office. To which she said, " I don't really consider that nursing". I was slightly taken aback, and thought that was a pretty snobby view to take...I mean, it's not floral arranging. It's nursing. Nursing is nursing, right? I know there are many different fields and specialties, and I happen to think Physician's office nursing sounds like a good fit for me. Regular hours, weekends and holidays off. I like the idea. And, I like the feeling of being in a smaller place than a hospital.

Frankly, I think if you're good, it doesn't matter where you work.

Do other people have this view of office nursing?

Specializes in medical-surgical.

Right out of school, almost a year ago, I started on a med-surg floor because I didn't know what area of nursing I wanted to go into. As someone mentioned before, this floor was often under-staffed or if we had enough staff they would pull our nurses to another floor. Although I learned a lot I was stressed all of the time. I recently quit and will be working in an office. I think that working in a hospital will give new nurses an edge in the job market, but I would recommend leaving all options open and interview anywhere you have an interest. If you decide you have to gain hospital experience definantly ask how often nurses are floated of the unit, to what areas, and if training will be provided!

I graduated last June, am currently working in a hospital 2 to 3 days per week (12 hour shifts). I do not know if I really want to do bedside nursing forever. The long hours are a killer. Working weekends aren't too awful, since I only work every 3rd weekend and the "bosses" aren't there, much more laid back. But, I had an interview with a young doctor today and although it will be a paycut, I do like the no weekends, no holidays, 8 to 9 hour days. I just don't know what to do. I am in my late 30's and my kids are still fairly young. I feel like I need to make a change for better hours, but the pay is the big thing right now. I also feel like I will loose my skills. I planned to stay on at my current hospital as contingent if they'd let me. I guess I am afraid of making a change that I won't like; or that won't be what I wanted. I just don't know what to do.

Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

Well after reading the post a couple of pages back from a nurse that stated that anyone off the street could do her office job, I got a little miffed. That poster either under-values her own skills, or her employer isn't utilizing her to her potential. I am a proud office nurse, and work my tail off. I am an LPN and make in the low 20's/hour. (I personally don't know of any self-respecting LPN that would work for 7/hour, as a previous post states.) And yes I am a real nurse. I have saved lives in the office. Not as dramatically as in the ER, but I have none the less. Example: patient calls in to schedule an office visit for 'loss of vision' in one eye. Receptionist schedules appointment, and drops the ball. Guess what, I happened upon the schedule (a week away from the appointment date) and got concerned. I called the fellow and sent him to the ER. Diagnosis: Detached retina. I got a nice card from the patient thanking me for saving the sight in his eye. Example: New patient on Coumadin. Slipped by the Dr., but I found it. Checked an INR. Off the charts. Patient hospitalized with good outcome. I've had car accidents, and heart attacks walk into the office. I've seen meningitis, broken bones, and severe respiratory distress. So, yes, I am definitely a real nurse.

"But, I had an interview with a young doctor today and although it will be a paycut, I do like the no weekends, no holidays, 8 to 9 hour days. I just don't know what to do. I am in my late 30's and my kids are still fairly young. I feel like I need to make a change for better hours, but the pay is the big thing right now. I also feel like I will loose my skills. I planned to stay on at my current hospital as contingent if they'd let me. I guess I am afraid of making a change that I won't like; or that won't be what I wanted. I just don't know what to do.

one of my classmates was in your predicament and decided to go straight on to the OR. have you considered procedure areas in your hospital, like endoscopy, same day surgery, interventional radiology...? the pay in these areas seem comparable to traditional units with better hours.

Specializes in L&D, peds NN, and recently outpatient..

well, maybe if she knew that one day you are going along doing a "routine" exam on a patient and in walks a 72 year old that has been out picking blackberries and got into a nest a yellowjackets. Forgot his Epi pen and he is the color of this background that I am typing on. He proceeds to code and.....hey that's when you have to change gears and put those "not really nursing" skills to use. BTW, he made it, thankfully but in an office, you never know who will walk in. You always have to have your skills honed......best to you.

I am a new graduate who has a job offer at an adult outpatient pulmonary clinic at a very prestigious medical institution that focuses on ambulatory care and sees patients from all over the country. I also have an offer to do a new graduate program at a step-down unit in a hospital working nights. I plan on going to graduate school to become an FNP next fall. Since in the long run I plan on being an FNP in an office anyways, would the clinic be so bad (no nights, holidays or weekends)? I am worried about working at this hospital because I know they have to use a lot of traveling nurses so does this mean they have a high turnover with employees? This clinic on the other hand sounds like a great place to work. What should I do??? I know I will lose skills like IV, catheter placement, treatments, etc. but as an FNP I don't think I will use those skills anyway. Any advice would be great!

Specializes in L&D, peds NN, and recently outpatient..

Hi, I too want to get my FNP. But for now I am still getting my ADN. (have been an LPN for 23 years.) Look, bottom line, there is no rule that says all new grads have to work nights. Also I will tell you IF the docs. at the office are worth a hoot, you will learn a lot. I say take the office job-if the pay/bennies are acceptable. Let me know. Email me!

Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Office nusing allowed mE to really distinguish between pt's and really sick patients. GREAT EXPERIENCE!

Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

I ended up at $17.00

Office nusing allowed mE to really distinguish between pt's and really sick patients. GREAT EXPERIENCE!

I have been an adult medicine nurse in a community health center for 3 weeks now. I must say so far it has been really great. True you don't do trach care, tube feeds, IV meds, monitor gpegs drains, foleys...all inpatient stuff, that I did in school and assisted as a tech for 2 years. Do I miss it....sometimes but realize nursing is not only about that. and there's quite a bit that I do not miss....eg the smells, lifting pts, bedpans, enemas, bladder irrigations, pt on go-lytely......:uhoh3:

remember the prioritizing questions on Nclex RN......I have to employ this everyday...who patient do we see first?...which phone call do I return first....?

alot of autonomy.

we do lots of shots....immunizations, shots for std's, TB plants, Nurse visits...for employment shots and screens, TB reads, and people who have to have injections who can't do it themselves, ear irrigations which is yeuky....oh well. Lots of med refills, teaching for newly diagnosed problems.....I also have to do Peds on the one evening I do. not fond of this.....I love kids too much and hate when they cry as they are given shots...

I love that there are no nights and weekends, 11 paid holidays and 3wks vac.........my hours are 9-5 and 12-8 on my evening. my start pay is $26 per hour but I am salaried. So I get the same check bi-weekly. no overtime.

I may later on get a per diem in a sub-acute setting just like maybe one weekend a month to maintain inpatient skills.

Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

I agree ,there are skills lost in office nursing. I think it depends on where you work, which department subugates you to different skill types. When I've worked for a surgeon, I did pull drains, When I worked peds sometimes I had to cath the pt, etc.etc. The day is long and at times pretty much the regular physical type of day. I worked hard and long and enjoyed my weekends off. I thank the poster who disagreed about it's ok to hire people off the streets to do this job. We all work hard and families should come first , I say this because I put my career first and had a latch-key kid who called mom QD at 3:30. Now I regret staying there at the office until 6:30 instead of being home with him. But that's just me. I am working towards the LPN-RN bridge program, and I'm taking my time. What's meant to be, will be.

Specializes in MICU, ER, SICU, Home Health, Corrections.

I vote for "nursing is nursing"...

And to answer your question, I'd say it depends on what office you work in. If you work for a GP, then you may not get that excitement you're craving, but there is still a boatload of specialty tasks and other things you will be doing and learning.

Now, around these parts, I don't think I've ever seen an RN in a GP's office. It's usually LPN's, EMT's or MA's.

Most RN's here work for specialists... cardiologist, pulmonologist, neurologist, etc.

Pay is about the same as new grad in the hospital.

The difference is, working for specialist here, you'll be expected to hit the hospitals first thing in the AM, pre-round for the docs/pa-c's and pretty much be the right hand person... write up the verbal orders/vent weanings, etc, standard/sop orders you've been taught to do for certain patient types and such. Most docs train/allow minor procedures like arterial line insertion and what not, and you're fully expected to be available to assist/suture/wrap up any central line insertions or similar tasks.

Office time is usually only about 2 days per week when the docs do office hours.

Basically your job is to pick up the slack, get the day's ball rolling and keep the flow going so the docs don't have to start at zero when they come in to round on their patients. You have 8 hours a day to get it done and usually there is not much expected in the way of overtime or working ones self to death.

It's a great job to work while pursuing your practitioner degree as it's darn near that kind of job. That's what most RN's do here and they end up NP's still working for the same doc and paid accordingly.

I'm really considering it myself... hours, days, holidays, no weekends... sounds right nice!

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