[tddowney]

Originally Posted by Sekar

Wow, is your friend out in left field! I have 21 years experience in just about every aspect of nursing and use darn near all of it the office I work at right now. I have found that I have experience that expands what my doc can offer his patients and I offer the patients the education they need and can't get from him because he doesn't have the time. Oh yeah, Office Nursing very much is a valid nursing speciality and it takes a special kind of nurse to do it, just like every other kind of nursing specialty.

Sounds like you work with a smart doctor. I would think that as the doc becomes more familiar and trusting of what you can do, your duties and opportunities increase (within scope of practice of course).

I'll be (hopefully) graduating next summer with a BSN, at 54. I plan on working at least a couple years in hospital, probably Med-Surg (I signed up for the indentured servant/tuition forgiveness option). That seems like a good way to be exposed to lots of different pt conditions, and learn to use what I've studied.

At some point, I wouldn't at all mind working in an office in a small town again, and volunteering for pre-hospital EMS.

[tddowney]

Originally Posted by Rapheal

I caution anyone who feels the need to work med/surg to get experience to really be careful where you work. Some med/surg units work chronically understaffed and this can be a real danger to your license (and your confidence) for a new graduate. Some people have really great experiences in med/surg but IMHO it should not be considered the rule to work med/surg for a year before pursuing other areas in nursing.

Thanks for the caution. I've read some of the posts in here about working conditions re staffing in some hospitals. A little recon of the place before taking a position is always a good idea.

[tddowney]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ratched

Office nursing may not be adrenaline-y like the ER or have all sorts of tubes and wires sticking out of ppl like in ICU, and I certainly haven't had to wrestle anyone to the ground in the course of my clinic work (can't say that about psych!) BUT a good office nurse does his/her best to keep the patient out of the hospital. Someone's gotta do the daily grind of keeping people in refills and encouraging healthy behaviors that hopefully minimize the need for ER and inpatient visits. It is most certainly a worthy and worthwhile task .

Just curious about how much of your job is pt education?

I've found out I'm pretty good at teaching thru volunteering as an ESL instructor and running EMT-B classes in the small town I lived in.

[CarmsOU25]

Everyone's messages have really settled my nerves about where I believe I want to practice nursing. I got my BS in Biology in 2002 and then went on to work at a Health Dept as an Immunization Clinic Organizer, which really did not require a science background, although it helped greatly! I absolutely LOVED my job in Public Health and loved the office setting, which I know I would be good at after I get my RN license. I don't mind multi-tasking, paperwork, etc. I'm currently half way through OU's Accelerated BSN program and I'd say 90% of my fellow students are on track to becoming ER, ICU, Med/Surg nurses and from my clinical experiences that just is not for me. I find it very interesting and love working with the patients, but the fast-paced, hospital environment is oh not for me.
I'm hoping that I can find the right job for me after I graduate, but I'm becoming nervous that most of the jobs available for new RNs are in Med/Surg. Much respect for all those Med/Surg nurses out there... you deserve a medal for all of your hard work
Are there any physician office or public health RN's that could offer me a little advice? I'm sure that I'll be discovering more options as the Spring semester gets going, but right now I'm feeling slightly flustered.
Thanks!

[nurse4theplanet]

Originally Posted by ana115

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?

Does it require a nursing license? Then it's real nursing. End of story.

Do not let another's bias/preferences or 'snobby view' color your opinions or make you doubt your decisions. I wouldn't even amuse this person with an argument to contradict such a narrow minded statement.

[nursewannabee]

I too want to work in an office setting. I currently work as an aide on a cardiac floor and I can see the stress the nurses are under. It seems crazy at times. Is it hard to get office jobs right out of school? I graduate in May '08. I really enjoy talkinh with people and feel this would be a good fit for my personality. Thanks for all the information from this thread. I feel a lot better about my desire to work in an office setting.

[aquarius11]

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!

[RNLisa]

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.

[dream'n]

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.

[pogo]

"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.[/quote]

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.