Nurses who DON'T work in a hospital, what do you do?

*Debra ACRN* · Jul 27, 2007, 03:49 PM

Re: Nurses who DON'T work in a hospital, what do you do?

I run a "nurse run" HIV outpatient clinic. We manage all patients based on protocols (I wrote) and contract with an ID doc for 15 hours a week. I started the clinic as a volunteer clinic in 1989 and we were federally funded in 1993 and became the full time administrator. I see patients when the other Public Health Nurses aren't available, do a lot of paperwork, write curricula (I teach other health care professionals about HIV), go to a lot of meetings, and teach. I HATE hospitals, never could stand to work in them (kuddos to you that do). Nursing isn't all about inpatient, there is so much more out there. Debra

*Bluehair* · Jul 27, 2007, 04:14 PM

Re: Nurses who DON'T work in a hospital, what do you do?

Originally Posted by mamalle

I work outpatient pacu. my background is ER. I have acls, pals and cpr. Its pretty much low stress but not as much money as the hospital. I have a flexible manager and it has been a great job for me. I also dictate discharge summeries for doctors and that is a pretty awesome job too. Flexible, good pay and independent work enviroment. I still do 2 shifts a month in the ER just to keep my position and skills up- god forbid I would ever need to go back fulltime I would be able to.

You dictate MD discharge summaries? Is that legal? I have never heard of that before, just curious.

woody62 · Jul 27, 2007, 04:39 PM

Re: Nurses who DON'T work in a hospital, what do you do?

The last nurse I knew, who had dictated physician summaries, suffered a six month suspension of her license. No state BON ever allows a nurse to write or dictate any physician summaries or prescriptions.

Woody

radiationnurse · Jul 27, 2007, 04:52 PM

Re: Nurses who DON'T work in a hospital, what do you do?

I work in a radiation oncology out patient clinic it is connected with the hospital but is outpatient based -we treat about 250 patients a day mon- fri with radiation, I assess, triage patients everyday, some need iv's for hydration, assist MD's with various procedures, conscious sedation -i was medical tech initially and was offered a job when I finished school. -90% of these patients have cancer but there are other uses for radiation than just for cancer treatment, the hospital I work at is all about research, clinical trials, not just in oncology but campus wide. Its a large hospital, maybe if you looked into a large hospital you may find something you'd like -good luck

*zenman* · Jul 27, 2007, 06:35 PM

Re: Nurses who DON'T work in a hospital, what do you do?

I work in a health unit, along with a physician, at an American International School in Dhaka, Bangladesh, taking care of kids and faculty. In my off time I have a Zen Shiatsu and shamanism practice.

*luvschoolnursing* · Jul 27, 2007, 08:58 PM

Re: Nurses who DON'T work in a hospital, what do you do?

I am a school nurse. In Pennsylvania, you need a BSN plus a school nurse certificate which requires some extra classes. Our salary is based on the teacher's pay scale. I love what I do. It can be stressful at times but is sooo much less stressful and more pleasant than the 18 years of med surg I did before this.

Miss_Chybil · Jul 27, 2007, 09:50 PM

Re: Nurses who DON'T work in a hospital, what do you do?

I just want to bookmark this thread and thank Sonoran for such a wonderful question and all the other posters for such wonderful answers! This has been one of the most enlightening topics I've read on this board.

carol72 · Jul 27, 2007, 10:23 PM

Re: Nurses who DON'T work in a hospital, what do you do?

[
I worked as an LVN in outpatient ophthalmology for many years.

I worked on a few clinical research studies which I found very rewarding. Now that I am back in school (should be done 12-07) for an RN program I have all intentions of working in clinical research.

Hellllllo Nurse · Jul 28, 2007, 03:30 AM

Re: Nurses who DON'T work in a hospital, what do you do?

Originally Posted by luvschoolnursing

I am a school nurse. In Pennsylvania, you need a BSN plus a school nurse certificate which requires some extra classes. Our salary is based on the teacher's pay scale. I love what I do. It can be stressful at times but is sooo much less stressful and more pleasant than the 18 years of med surg I did before this.

Wow. In Texas, my good friend's mother is a school nurse and she's an LPN.

BTW- I's a traveling outpt hemodialysis nurse.

mamalle · Jul 30, 2007, 10:22 PM

Re: Nurses who DON'T work in a hospital, what do you do?

Is it permissible for a registered nurse to pull together information from the medical record in order to dictate a discharge summary that will later be reviewed and validated by the attending physician?

Yes, this is permissible for the registered nurse to do as she/he is performing a secretarial function for the physician.

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Nurses who DON'T work in a hospital, what do you do?

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