Small office....I hate it

Specialties Ambulatory

Published

I left a very large organization for a VERY small practice. By small I mean two internal medicince doctors, myself (the only nurse), a medical assistant, a medical front desk secretary and the practice manager. I HATE IT. I can honestly say the grass has not been greener on the other side. I'm bored and not challenged at all by what I'm doing. The downfalls of such a small practice are everyone is ALWAYS in your business. Example: I may have come in two hours later than my normal schedule (approved by my practice manager) because I had an appointment. You walk in to everyone asking "where were you, did you go to an appt, what was it for". I remain professional and tell them it was a personal matter and the badgering still continues "was it medical, are you going to be ok". My practice manager can't hold anyone's private business to herself. I think it is very unprofessional that she discusses other employees personal matters. I have even pulled her aside and asked her to please not discuss any of the other staff members personal information with me. That it is none of my business and most importantly I DON'T want to know. It still continues. I keep my cellphone in my desk drawer on vibrate. If I hear it vibrate and open my desk drawer to check it to make sure it's nothing with my child my co-workers will actually walk around to my side of the desk while I'm peeking at my phone, look over my shoulder and ask "who's that". The level of noseyness is extreme in this office. I don't discuss my personal life and don't feel I need to. I got a call today from my MD regarding some biopsy results and will need surgery as soon as possible. I am to the point of thinking of resigning from my job because although I don't have to tell my boss why I'm having surgery HR states I do have to have my MD write a letter that just says I'm having a medically necessary surgery. She is going to google until she finds out what area of medicine my MD practices to try and figure out what is wrong with me (I've seen her do it regarding another staff member). Then once she at least finds out the area of medicine start gossiping in the office about what it "might be". I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!! I know some may say speak to her boss...........it's her friend and her bosses friend.........her friend. They all helped each other get into their respective positions. I feel like I'm in a losing battle. The other issue is taking time off. I am the only nurse so if I have to make an appointment (which usually consists of me either missing the first two hours of work or the last two.....never a full day) it's always an issue. Me taking vacation is an issue. I was recently told "you may end up losing your vacation and sick every year because if you're not here there is no one to do the injections (My MDs refuse to do anything but see the patients). This is a nightmare. I'm just nervous about going agency because I know the work isn't always steady and I need a decent income coming in. Torn as to what to do.

If things are that bad and getting time away is so hard, I would leave. That job and the people there are causing you a great deal of stress. Life is too short for that. It sounds awful and I would be looking if it were me. God luck.

Specializes in retired LTC.

Such are the joys of a small office! My hunch is that the unit has always been that way of being extremely 'nosey' long before you got there, so some old habits are hard to change.

You seem to be doing what you need to - just continue to downplay things. If it continues to be THAT MUCH distressing to you, you may have to move on.

One thing though - I would make plans for taking my earned PTO. NO WAY would I lose it. And if that become real thorny, maybe the Dept of Labor can become involved.

Specializes in ER.

It sounds like a bad fit, plain and simple. It's a setting that values closeness and sharing. You prefer privacy.

No right or wrong here, just different.

My advice is to graciously move on.

1 Votes

Do you want to give up MON-FRI Days? Probably slower pace than hospital? All the other reasons you took the job in the first place?

Just tell nosy people that you don't really feel good about telling your secrets at work. Or make something up. "I'm having a wart revision".

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