Job in jeopardy?

[Miss Ivy]

I am a new LPN. I took my NCLEX in January and had a job waiting for me at my kids pediatricians office. There are 8 drs in the practice with a staff of about 25, including front office staff, billing, 5 RNs who do phone triage, a bunch of MAs and one other LPN. My kids pediatrician got me hired there just before I took my NCLEX and I started the week after I took/passed my exam. I was hired to work with her 3 days a week every other week and the alternate weeks, I "float". On the days I float, I typically am paired with a dr if someone has called off or else I go around and do support stuff - helping out if someone gets behind, stock up the nurses stations, etc...I work 3 days each week. WEll, now this past week, the MA who rotates with me working with my kids dr has separated from her husband and now wants to work every week with the dr, which, if this takes effect...leaves me to be the float. I am all torn up over this. They have worked together for most of the past 9 yrs and I can't compete with that history. The dr initially told me on Tuesday that she liked working with both of us and that the schedule would not change but then today she said to me "I hope I didn't speak too soon about the schedule not changing..." and then went on about how easier it was to work with the other girl because she knows the patients, can take her phone messages for her, knows who she does and does not want to talk to, etc...I just feel sick to my stomach. I did not go to nursing school to spend my day stocking vaccines in refrigerators all day or fill paper towel dispensers! This conversation was right before lunch and now I have to go back, with a smile on my face and act like everything is all right when I feel like I am going to get totally screwed here. I have LOVED this job. I've been there 9 weeks and am so comfortable with what I do. There is supposed to be a meeting with me, the MA, the dr, the nursing supervisor and the office manager at some point but I just feel like I'm going to get screwed from the way the dr was talking today. If anyone has any words of wisdom or advice, or any encouragement, I could sure use it right now.

Thanks.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

What is the job description of the LPN in that office? I ask this because somehow, it sounds as if it is not concrete. In my eye, the bottom line is that YOU are a nurse with more skills and competancy that the MA, and she should not be able to rule what happens here. It may be true that this person knows how to screen calls and knows the patients, however, can she do the things for the patients that you can do? Is she also giving shots, teaching and other things that an LPN does? If so, then, why bother hiring you?

I would attend the meeting and see what they actually say, before I jump ship. They may work it out where it can be to your advantage. I would also mention to them that you wish to work there to obtain nursing skills, not to stock...(I personally feel that stocking may be more of the function of the MA. Of course, you would help if necessary, but, that should not be your primary function). And, I sort of wonder if you should still bring your children there. Now that you have a better idea how they function, you may begin to think that this is not the family centered practice that you thought it was as a consumer.

[Miss Ivy]

There are mostly MAs in the office working w/drs. Only one other LPN. There are a few RNs but they all do nothing but phone triage. The MAs do the exact same thing that I (and the other LPN) do in terms of helping out the drs. They give shots, give breathing treatments, strep tests, etc...all the same stuff as me. The difference is...and they don't know this...is that I make more $$ then they do. I was pulled in to this practice because the dr was thrilled when I told her, during a routine visit with my son that I had graduated and would be testing soon. I was originally offered a relatively low hourly pay rate and the job was going to be FT. I countered back with the amount of $$ I felt I should get and said I wanted PT. They met my requests - both of them - with no problems. My husband pointed out that they are not going to want to pay someone my higher salary to go around stocking things. Which is true. And this MA has a reputation for wanting to increase her hrs in the past - which I just found out this afternoon from the nursing supervisor - and yet not being able to arrange for childcare for her 4 kids.

There must've been some kind of discussion going on this afternoon between the nursing supervisor - who is my boss - and the dr - who is HER boss - because when I came back from lunch, I was assured by both parties that things were just going to continue as they are now.

I reminded the dr how thrilled she was to hire me - which she agreed that she was and she reiterated how much she liked working with me - and I also had come right out and stated that I would not stay if I was relagated to stocking all the time, that it was NOT why I went to nursing school! I also pointed out that there are not many people in this world who are excited about their job but that, as I am a new grad, I LOVE my job. The dr was just tickled to hear that.

I don't know why they hired me here sometimes because they really could've brought in an MA for much less $$. I do know that there are several drs there who like me (and my family) and they thought I would be an asset to the practice.

We'll see how it goes. Thanks for your advice.

[RN BSN 2009]

Yes... you should get special consideration for your more qualified licensure!

[steelcityrn, RN]

I agree, wait and see what they have to say, maybe it will work out in your favor. And if it does not, just say that you will have to see if you can collect partial unemployment, that might make them think twice about being so ignorant to cut someones hours/pay due to someone getting a divorce.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I am trying to figure out the difference between the MA and LPN if they are doing the same things you are. I know MAs are trained to give injections and such, but the major difference I am aware of is that they practice under the doctor's license and you have your own. Either way, I think there should be some differences in your duties.