Hate my FNP job

Specialties NP

Published

Recently I took a position working in a retail clinic. Prior to the clinic opening I was placed in a doctors office (this Is a large company). So I am a brand new nurse practitioner. In the office I was not allowed to have my own nurse because "I would not have one in the clinic" I was told prior to starting that I would only be seeing same day sick patients. However, I was seeing everything and was not allowed to start my own patient panel but they kept making me see new patients and also patients who were not mine and managing their chronic illnesses. There was one time when the MD's nurse had gone on vacation and I was required to be his nurse, my own nurse, and a nurse practitioner.

Fast forward to now....I'm in the retail clinic. Where I was required to put together office chairs, vital signs machines etc. All the things I need are not in place yet. My height chart hasn't been mounted so I had to purchase a tape measure to perform a school physical. Then I was told when I'm not seeing patients I must log on to a Skype type platform and see patients via the Internet. I have told the administrator several times I'm not comfortable as a nurse practitioner seeing patients in the office (I have been seeing patients about 3-4 months which have been the bear minimum patients because the doctors in the office would double or triple book themselves so I wouldn't see their patients) so I know I'm not going to be comfortable seeing patients on this platform. So basically today after not responding to my email for about a week and a half, she told me well we keep your time at a minimum. But we need you to fill in occasionally.

I'm not sure what to do, what rights I have, I can't perform safe patient care if I'm not comfortable. When I took this position I was told things like I would only work every third weekend. I have worked every weekend since I have been in the clinic. Typically 5 days in a row. (8-12 hour shifts). I'm not sure how to approach this... Anyone have any advice?

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I'm not an NP but this job sounds like a nightmare and like I wouldn't like the fact that no one listens to you there. I wouldn't put my license on the line for that.

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This sounds like a big self-advocacy issue. You're a healthcare provider making large amounts of money for this company, demand respect and if they won't give it, move on. A simple frame of mind to be in is "would they ask a doctor to do this?" If the answer is no, then don't do it.

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

Are you in a contract? If not, find a new job, put in some notice and walk. Seriously, get out of there. You've got a crappy job. No wonder you hate it. You're doing maintenance and custodial work. I'm not sure why you're not comfortable seeing the patients. I don't follow that part of your narrative at all, but you sound to have a disrespectful employment situation.

FWIW, I double (sometimes triple) book appointments and am set up to see patients via telehealth. Presently, I'm assigned to 1,987 patients so the size of the panel is irrelevant. It just needs to be big enough to pay your bills.

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I'm a new nurse practitioner so I'm trying to get a routine down and get comfortable. So they took me out of the office once I was starting to get comfortable. Then put me in this retail clinic (which I was hired for) then they sprung this seeing patients online, similar to Skype. So I'm still trying to adjust to a new role so that's why I'm not comfortable seeing patients online.

I have not signed a contract and my offer letter doesn't have much in it.

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.
I'm a new nurse practitioner so I'm trying to get a routine down and get comfortable. So they took me out of the office once I was starting to get comfortable. Then put me in this retail clinic (which I was hired for) then they sprung this seeing patients online, similar to Skype. So I'm still trying to adjust to a new role so that's why I'm not comfortable seeing patients online.

I have not signed a contract and my offer letter doesn't have much in it.

Online is the wave of the future. I can understand it being more difficult since you're supposed to auscultate, palpate, etc. Beyond that, treat them as if they're in a chair in front of you. Unfortantely, doing it is the only way to develop a routine. Use your support staff - nurses, admin, clerks. If streamlined correctly, you shouldn't be doing anything that doesn't involve your licensed, clinical judgment.

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You are a provider, you are not there to organize furniture and put equipment together. When you say that you are not comfortable seeing patients are you saying that you need some type of orientation or are you referring specifically to the Skype thing? Also, you're the gofer nurse for the doctors, and you're also working every weekend...

It seems to me that you already know that these people are taking advantage of you. This is the future of the NP profession on the whole as long as we continue to allow them to get away with things like these. And they do get away with it in many situations because it isn't easy for brand new NPs to get jobs, and the relatively few places that will take them often offer them low pay and abuse them horribly.

My advice is that you revisit your long term and short term goals and pull on whatever resources you have. This plan should include searching for a new 'first' job. Since you don't have a binding contract then once you get another job, give them a 2-week notice and just leave. You won't have to tell them why you're leaving because they will already know.

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Psych guy. I'm in a retail clinic alone so I do t have anyone to rely on as resource for seeing patients online. My collaborative isn't participating in the online program so that's what makes it really iffy for me.

Goldenfox I'm not comfortable seeing patients online. I'm still trying to develop my routine as a provider but that's getting better and better by the day. They moved me from an office to a retail clinic so I've made several adjustments while starting my new role.

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The whole point of having a collaborating is so that you have a backup resource if something presents (including your telemedicine cases) and you need help with determining what to do. What would you do in a situation like that? If something happens with one of your patients and there is a complaint against you your board of nursing will not accept your explanation that your collaborating wasn't participating in your online diagnosing and treatment plans. The physician will not be blamed. It is you who they will accuse of not following through on the rules about scope of practice and physician supervision. If you decide to stay at this job you need to address this. Think on your license.

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I actually got my offer letter for another job! I'm leaving! Thank goodness!!!

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Specializes in FNP.

Good for you, sounds like a nightmare job.

I actually got my offer letter for another job! I'm leaving! Thank goodness!!!
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Congratulations on the new job. As a student NP I am reminded by my professors that we will hate being a NP for the first year and not like it the second year. They encourage us to hang in there untill year three when you feel confident, and love what you do. Best to you on the new job. Keep posting as a student it is great to learn from a new grad as well as from those who are great, experienced NPs.

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