Working in a doctor's office?

IamRN · Jul 2, 2004

But doesn't it bother you as professionals to be involved in clerical duties? I went into nursing because I didn't want to sit in an office from 9-5 for the rest of my life.

One of the wonderful advantage about a nursing career is the broad spectrum of opportunities. While right now bedside nursing is my niche, I can see where an office job would be my goal once my kiddos are in school; doing the clerical part of it would just be one of the (bad things, which I don't consider it to be) I would be willing to accept.

Me, I love the hussle and bussle of a challenging ICU. My sister, loves the (mostly) predictability and schedule about working in day surg. Go figure :)

IamRN · Jul 2, 2004

But doesn't it bother you as professionals to be involved in clerical duties? I went into nursing because I didn't want to sit in an office from 9-5 for the rest of my life.

One of the wonderful advantage about a nursing career is the broad spectrum of opportunities. While right now bedside nursing is my niche, I can see where an office job would be my goal once my kiddos are in school; doing the clerical part of it would just be one of the (bad things, which I don't consider it to be) I would be willing to accept.

Me, I love the hussle and bussle of a challenging ICU. My sister, loves the (mostly) predictability and schedule about working in day surg. Go figure :)

julieK · Jul 2, 2004

I worked in a hospital for 2 years, changed to home care for 10 1/2 years now do Oncology in an office. Home care requires many things of a nurse. Yes clerical because you are the one responsible for all the orders, recertifications, scheduling, etc. In the oncology office it is also clerical as you are on the phone with someone & have to pull the chart to see what has been going on with them and chart your conversation as well as the MD's response to the questions.
I lost money when I went to home care but was able to earn it back plus more. I lost money again when I went to oncology but only $.50 an hour. I make as much as the hospital nurses. Work only M-Th 8-4:30, F 8-12. No weekends, All holidays paid. Some of the nurses take the pager for call & get paid $100 per night & $400 per weekend & holiday. I think that sounds pretty good.
In the office I give chemo, IV iron, immunoglobulins, antibodics. Teach, teach, teach. assist with bone marrow biopsies, draw blood, give injections & telephone triage. I also have time to get to know the clients on a personal basis. That ultimately helps with their healing & trust in the MD & staff. I love it. :)

It sounds as though your office is different from most. I guess I was picturing an office like my dad's (he's a pediatrician) where the nurses don't even give injections. The extent to which he uses his RN's is that they take a health history. That's it. Otherwise, they are not much above the medical assistants who take heights/weights and deal with the front office.

-Julie

julieK · Jul 2, 2004

I worked in a hospital for 2 years, changed to home care for 10 1/2 years now do Oncology in an office. Home care requires many things of a nurse. Yes clerical because you are the one responsible for all the orders, recertifications, scheduling, etc. In the oncology office it is also clerical as you are on the phone with someone & have to pull the chart to see what has been going on with them and chart your conversation as well as the MD's response to the questions.
I lost money when I went to home care but was able to earn it back plus more. I lost money again when I went to oncology but only $.50 an hour. I make as much as the hospital nurses. Work only M-Th 8-4:30, F 8-12. No weekends, All holidays paid. Some of the nurses take the pager for call & get paid $100 per night & $400 per weekend & holiday. I think that sounds pretty good.
In the office I give chemo, IV iron, immunoglobulins, antibodics. Teach, teach, teach. assist with bone marrow biopsies, draw blood, give injections & telephone triage. I also have time to get to know the clients on a personal basis. That ultimately helps with their healing & trust in the MD & staff. I love it. :)

It sounds as though your office is different from most. I guess I was picturing an office like my dad's (he's a pediatrician) where the nurses don't even give injections. The extent to which he uses his RN's is that they take a health history. That's it. Otherwise, they are not much above the medical assistants who take heights/weights and deal with the front office.

-Julie

NHLPN, LPN · Jul 2, 2004

I started out in a Nursing Home, then changed to a Family Practice office. I don't feel like I have missed out on anything, by not working in a hospital. In the acute care setting, I get to see healthy people along with ill people. I have a broad knowledge of different ailments for both young and old. I am IV certified. I do blood draws, EKG's, injections, triage, pt flow.

I like being part of a team. I work 8-5 M-F, with a day off in between. I have holidays off and I make a decent amt of money (paid by the hour).

I love being part of people's lives both when they are healthy, or when in time of need if sick.

Just my 2 cents.

NHLPN, LPN · Jul 2, 2004

I started out in a Nursing Home, then changed to a Family Practice office. I don't feel like I have missed out on anything, by not working in a hospital. In the acute care setting, I get to see healthy people along with ill people. I have a broad knowledge of different ailments for both young and old. I am IV certified. I do blood draws, EKG's, injections, triage, pt flow.

I like being part of a team. I work 8-5 M-F, with a day off in between. I have holidays off and I make a decent amt of money (paid by the hour).

I love being part of people's lives both when they are healthy, or when in time of need if sick.

Just my 2 cents.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jul 2, 2004

It sounds as though your office is different from most. I guess I was picturing an office like my dad's (he's a pediatrician) where the nurses don't even give injections. The extent to which he uses his RN's is that they take a health history. That's it. Otherwise, they are not much above the medical assistants who take heights/weights and deal with the front office.

Anyone can give an injection. The nurse part comes in knowing why you're giving it, when not to give it, what to educate the patient about regarding the medication, procedure, side effects.

I do a lot of prior authorization of meds. Anyone can call an insurance company. The nurse part comes in knowing what meds to patient has used before and why it isn't working and why he/she needs this med.

I do a lot of clerical things that require nursing knowledge - even just taking a health history . Anyone can ask questions. The nurse part comes in knowing where to probe and get more detail. Defintely I don't feel that my nursing knowledge is "wasted" in this setting :).

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jul 2, 2004

It sounds as though your office is different from most. I guess I was picturing an office like my dad's (he's a pediatrician) where the nurses don't even give injections. The extent to which he uses his RN's is that they take a health history. That's it. Otherwise, they are not much above the medical assistants who take heights/weights and deal with the front office.

Anyone can give an injection. The nurse part comes in knowing why you're giving it, when not to give it, what to educate the patient about regarding the medication, procedure, side effects.

I do a lot of prior authorization of meds. Anyone can call an insurance company. The nurse part comes in knowing what meds to patient has used before and why it isn't working and why he/she needs this med.

I do a lot of clerical things that require nursing knowledge - even just taking a health history . Anyone can ask questions. The nurse part comes in knowing where to probe and get more detail. Defintely I don't feel that my nursing knowledge is "wasted" in this setting :).

kids · Jul 2, 2004

I worked in a Peds office and it was by far my favorite job in 14 years.

My position was about 50/50 clerical (as Ratched discribes), phone advice/triage and hands on, mostly IVs, non-vax injections, caths, infant blood draws and a lot of patient/parent education.

The postion also paid .01 more than the management position I had been at just prior to the clinic.

kids · Jul 2, 2004

I worked in a Peds office and it was by far my favorite job in 14 years.

My position was about 50/50 clerical (as Ratched discribes), phone advice/triage and hands on, mostly IVs, non-vax injections, caths, infant blood draws and a lot of patient/parent education.

The postion also paid .01 more than the management position I had been at just prior to the clinic.

CCL"Babe", BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2004

I was hesitant to work in a doctors office after working my entire career in critical care, mainly ED. I miss many aspects of working in a hospital, but overall I am really enjoying the office setting.

The office has 7 very busy Family Practice physicians. We see more patients in a day than any of the EDs I worked in. At times it reminds me of the fast track part of the ED.

Yes there is paper work, but I don't do any clerical work at all. I spend a large portion of my time pre-certing medications. I do not feel that it is a "waste" of my nursing skills. I still do dressing changes, give plenty of injections, patient teaching, assessments. I deal with the drug reps and have learned more about current medications than I did in the ED. The pay is not the same, but neither are the hours. There is overtime, but no mandatory OT, no weekends, no holidays.

CCL"Babe", BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2004

I was hesitant to work in a doctors office after working my entire career in critical care, mainly ED. I miss many aspects of working in a hospital, but overall I am really enjoying the office setting.

The office has 7 very busy Family Practice physicians. We see more patients in a day than any of the EDs I worked in. At times it reminds me of the fast track part of the ED.

Yes there is paper work, but I don't do any clerical work at all. I spend a large portion of my time pre-certing medications. I do not feel that it is a "waste" of my nursing skills. I still do dressing changes, give plenty of injections, patient teaching, assessments. I deal with the drug reps and have learned more about current medications than I did in the ED. The pay is not the same, but neither are the hours. There is overtime, but no mandatory OT, no weekends, no holidays.