Hospital NPs & Lounge Access

[wyld~heart]

Recently the Hospital Board decided to deny NPs and PAs access to the Providers Lounge. Their rationale was condescending to say the least. So MDs have their own space, as do the Residents and Med Students.

NPs and PAs, who are ALL revenue earners, do not.

I was curious what other hospitals are doing.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

There are oodles of psych NP needs in SC and in my area. None are available in my hospital but in the MH center behind us. You are welcome to come eat anytime!

[TicTok411]

A few years back I was working in an ED and was going to get a soda from the cafeteria when I had a half of a second to breath. The PA sitting next to me handed me her badge and said to just grab one from the provider's lounge. I knew it was there next to the ED but had never gone there. I never knew they got free stuff. Geez, I went in and it was hooked up with boxed lunches, free soda, water and the expensive starbucks drink. There were cookies, cakes and tons of other free snack bars. I was shocked!! The I was angry! They stopped providing an employee discount in the cafeteria and we would get reamed fro clocking in a minute early or a minute late but they gave all this free stuff away to the providers.

Now, I have access to the hospital where I work and it is not as lavish as the one next to where I had worked prior. I hardly ever go in and my providers are always encouraging me to go. One even dragged me there with him to check it out. I would be very offended if the facility denied access. It would be a slap in the face. Granted, it is a minor thing but is speaks volumes about what they actually think of the advanced practice providers.

[GigiF]

That's why they call it the "Doctor's Lounge". I have never heard it called the " Provider's Lounge" but good try. NP's and PA's aren't the only ones who generate revenue (actually, we all do). So do Speech Pathologists, Phyical therapists, Occupational therapists, etc. Get over it.

[MikeFNPC, MSN]

I agree with some of the other comments that refer to it not being a access to the lounge problem. I'd look for another job.

[Bluebolt]

That's why they call it the "Doctor's Lounge". I have never heard it called the " Provider's Lounge" but good try. NP's and PA's aren't the only ones who generate revenue (actually, we all do). So do Speech Pathologists, Phyical therapists, Occupational therapists, etc. Get over it.

We're talking about NPs specifically because they provide the same service for patients as MDs and work in a practice with MDs diagnosing and prescribing meds for patients. The other degrees you listed in healthcare are completely unrelated to NPs/MDs/PAs. It's apples and oranges.

I would leave a facility that has made a stance that PA's and NP's are second class citizens who can't go into the "doctors" lounge. You're saying unlicenced gum on the bottom of your shoe med students are allowed in there when practicing healthcare professionals, like NPs, aren't? It has nothing to do with the free food but simply the obvious stance the facility is taking that you won't be treated fairly or with respect.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

That's why they call it the "Doctor's Lounge". I have never heard it called the " Provider's Lounge" but good try. NP's and PA's aren't the only ones who generate revenue (actually, we all do). So do Speech Pathologists, Phyical therapists, Occupational therapists, etc. Get over it.

We all? No.

[TicTok411]

That's why they call it the "Doctor's Lounge". I have never heard it called the " Provider's Lounge" but good try. NP's and PA's aren't the only ones who generate revenue (actually, we all do). So do Speech Pathologists, Phyical therapists, Occupational therapists, etc. Get over it.

However, none of those can use their skills until we write the order.....

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

Forgive my ignorance (put it down to me being a foreigner) but what is this mythical doctor's lounge and what goes on there? I've heard of them in whispers and only after the sun is down. I've never seen one, and maybe one day when a double rainbow appears I might see the shimmer of one on the horizon.

I'm only half joking. Seriously, what is a doctor's lounge?

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

It's a breakroom/den if sorts with the goal to seclude and exclusively house those privileged to lounge in there. Institutions vary on what's offered. My old hospital had one with a couple of computers, a tv, a long table, a recliner, a fancy coffee machine, and simple snacks. Those who utilized it mostly did it for convenience of not getting interrupted when they would catch a break and eat.

My current one is fancier. Several recliners, a huge tv, catered lunch Monday thru Friday, fully stocked fridges with water, soda, fruit cups, various cold snacks and deserts, a fancier coffee machine, and several computers. One of my colleagues likes to chart in there to avoid distractions on the floor. The bank of computers is in A separate but accessible room within.

[Riburn3, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP]

This is a fascinating thread.

The hospital I'm at gives NP's and PA's full lounge access and their attitude towards us is fantastic. We also get anything in the regular cafeteria free of charge as well. TBH, when I first started working in the hospital again, the physician lounge (which is what it's called in our hospital) was the most ridiculous perk of the job to me. I find it funny that some of the wealthiest people in the hospital basically get whatever they want for free. They're currently refurbishing all 3 of our lounges to be even more obnoxious. Don't get me wrong, I love the perk (it saves me a small fortune), and I understand why facilities do it, but I think it's also silly.

The attitude the OP's facility has taken towards it's NP's and PA's is incredibly disrespectful and shows a much larger cultural problem at your facility when it comes to physician/advanced practice relations. The reason why most facilities grant APRN and PA access to these lounges is because we make them a lot of money and bill/code in the exact same way a physician would.

@GigiF, none of those other disciplines you mentioned are allowed to generate their revenue without OUR order, and most inpatient facilities don't contract to independent therapy providers. Your comparison is ignorant and honestly stupid.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

To be honest, I still feel like an interloper and new kid in the class. Almost like an underclassmen. But that's me. No one is making me feel like that.

[BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP]

It's all about respect (or the lack thereof). NPs and PAs are providers in our own rights. We should get to use the lounge.