Anyone work in a Urgent Care Clinic?

[sweetredRN, BSN]

I'm interested to talk with RNs who have worked at an Urgent Care clinic? Just curious if you like it, if it's something I should apply for, etc. There's a job opening for 3 12 hr shifts and rotating weekends.

Right now I work on a orthopedic/neurosurgery/trauma unit at a hospital and work 3 days a week. I like it, but it's farther for me to drive and i'm not sure I like the huge hospital setting. I like clinic and office atmospheres. Just curious as to what a typical day looks like and if you recommend it? Thanks.

[OldDude]

It's according to what patient population you'll serve, size of city, location, and hours of operation. I work pool at a pedi Urgent Care in a city of about 300,000. We are open from 5 to 10 pm, Monday thru Friday, and 1 to 10 Saturday and Sunday. This time of year we're seeing 60 to 80 patients during the week and 120 plus on the weekends. It is mostly stuff that should be seen in the pcp office. Since 95% of the patients have Medicaid and there is no check or balance as to frequency or reasons for visits it is a cash cow for the facility. Similar to ERs getting to bill Medicaid for "cough x 2 weeks."

There are very few Urgent cases except for the few times patients end up there that should be in the back of an ambulance, so it's simpwly an after hours walk in clinic.