Advice for an FNP transitioning from retail...

danceluver · Aug 16, 2011

Hi

Sorry to interrupt your post, but I would be interested if you could message me about your experiences at a minute clinic. I am a future NP and I am looking into working at a minute clinic for several reasons, and I would like to read your opinion about your experiences, lifestyle, medical experience, etc. Were you a new grad when you accepted this position? Thanks!

Nelly, FNP · Aug 17, 2011

Yes as soon as I can figure out how to do that (its been years since Ive been on this site)

Nelly, FNP · Aug 17, 2011

Hey Dancingnurse

I have searched hi and low on this website on how to message u--still trying to figure it out. If you know how to message me, go ahead and I'll respond-sorry. But to answer a few of your questions now: Yes I basically started as a new grad. Your experience in the retail setting is going to be based upon how the orientation process works at the company you choose. Mine was fairly brief-I only had a few weeks to work alongside another NP. Afterwords I was expected to hit the ground running and call the oversight MD for questions.

Clearly as a new grad this can still be intimidating because you may need someone to assess the patient with you. Also, depending on what season you begin in it can be pretty hectic. During the flu seasons we would see 30-40 patients per day, some clinics were seeing more than that. So if you only have two exam rooms occupied, a waiting room full of people and a front desk- where o where are you going to really be able to have a private conversation with the oversight MD. Now I will say that I did have a very patient and approachable oversight MD so that helped some but it varies.

I think retail clinics are hiring more and more new grads obviously because of the pay differential. No MD or experienced NP/PA is going to work under those conditions. In these settings you will at times have to operate the front desk, open/close/clean the clinic, process insurance payments, answer phone and participate in other administrative tasks. Marketing was also a huge expection for the corporation I worked for. When the volume was low they expected you to be walking the aisles passing out flyers/advertising the clinic.

The hours are generally twelve hour shifts during the week, 7-8 hours on Sat/Sun. You may have to work before or after a holiday. If you like 12 hour shifts, this setting may work for you because you end up having several days off per week.

You know, I don't want to discourage you from starting at a retail clinic. I think its a great concept that has lost its way somewhere down the line. Patients love the convenience of it but I think work needs to be down to improve the system. If you have a clinical manager that can offer you in-clinic assistance with your assessment skills or if the company you decide to work with offers a much longer orientation period where you are working alongside another NP, it might not be so bad for you. I know that currently retail clinics are trying to expand the scope of services provided beyond just the basics!!!

Hope that helped some. What else can I answer for you??

Trauma Columnist · Aug 17, 2011

In order to use the private messaging system at AN, you have to have 15 posts.

However, its appreciated that you posted your input about retail clinics out in the open. This may be a question someone else wanted answered.

Thanks for sharing.

txcardiorn · Aug 17, 2011

Hi Nelly,

I was in the same boat you are last year. I took a job at Minute Clinic right after graduation and worked there for a year. I really wanted to work in family practice but was having a hard time finding a job after graduating. I never really liked the MC much and continued looking for a FP job while I was there. I applied to lots of positions, you might look at ones that specifically say will train or new grads welcome. In my interviews, I was always honest about my lack of experience in chronic care and basically said I am a fast learner/hard worker and would need a little extra support in the beginning, but felt confident I could do the job well.

I did end up finding a FP job and definately took a pay cut to do so, but I pretty much knew that I would. I make sure to keep my desk stocked with my resources (Residents Guide to Ambulatory Care, Uphold and Graham, 5 min consult) and basically spend a lot of time looking stuff up. Once you get started, you will pick up a lot quickly.

Do you mind if I ask where in TX you are? I am in Austin, where the job market for NPs is not great. Dallas and Houston always seem to be advertising and I see alot of ads welcoming new grads which I would think means they are more willing to train/provide more support.

Good luck with your search!

Nelly, FNP · Aug 17, 2011

Thanx Txcardiorn

Im coming to grips more and more with the pay cut expectation as well but I do have a bottom line figure in mind. Im in Houston by the way. Thanx for your response. I will definetly keep that in mind!

danceluver · Aug 17, 2011

@nelly---thanks so much for the reply. I think because you don't have 15 posts you can't send a message. i'll check on that in a bit since i have to go to work now. But i do have some more questions so i'll post shortly :) Thanks a bunch!

Nelly, FNP · Aug 17, 2011

TraumaRUs

Thanks for the info!

danceluver · Aug 17, 2011

@nelly, did you the message i sent? If not, if you post 15 i think that will do it (you have 2 more) Thanks for the input!

danceluver · Aug 17, 2011

never mind saw the post above from Trauma, will post here :)

danceluver · Aug 17, 2011

Hi Nelly

Ok, so i was wondering:

do you have to be an FNP only to work at an MC? I would be doing this in addition to a what ever office work i can find since my main interest is in women's health, but i think this might be a good way to stay updated on every day illnesses and stuff. Am i going about this the right way.

What is the average rate/hr or is it salary? A good way to keep up not only your certification but make extra money?

How often is the clinic slow in terms of patient load? Did you find it hard to swallow doing "marketing/advertising" when that obviously wasn't your field of expertise? Did you have to call insurance companies to get insurances approved?

Do they normally only have one pa or np during a shift or was that just your experience and what your store utilized?

Did you find yourself getting very comfortable very soon with all the ailments you saw day after day to the point maybe where you got bored?

Would you say that a MC closely resembles an urgent care (i've never been to a MC so i am not sure) in terms of what you see and can do as an NP?

good luck on your search, wishing you all the best!

Thanks!