I took a position in a doctors office a few months ago. While I don't have to get up early & the hours aren't bad, the distance isn't too far from my home, I realize this is not the type of nursing for me. What I was told during the interview the job would entail has turned out to be completely opposite.The doctor runs late all the time & for no real reason other than he is slow & on the phone w/friends & family. The job doesn't utilize any nursing skills (not even vital signs & again, this is different than when I interviewed). I have, politely, brought this to the attention of those I interviewed with..they dance around it. The doctor himself was friendly during the interview but has literally not spoke 100 words to me since I've been there nor does he acknowledge the others in the office unless needed. I am not saying he should stop & chit-chat w/any of us but when I say he doesn't acknowledge us - I mean at ALL unless we approach him first for something then it's short answers to the point his meaning isn't always clear. I am staying because I need the money & because, frankly, it's an easy job. But, it's boring, making me lazy as a nurse & I know I need to get back into a position that is better suited for me. I honestly do not understand why they hired an RN for the position because an unlicensed person could do this job easily. There is also an LPN who works there. She was hired a few months before me & basically is sent home early a lot because there is little for the both of us to do. She too is confused as to what she was told in the interview & what its turned out to be. The only other job offer for me is a 12 hr hospital shift which I'm not opposed to however it's at a hospital about an hour one way from where I live. I am torn as to just hanging in there w/this office job until something closer opens up or going ahead & taking this position an hour a way to at least keep my skills up. I do NOT mean to offend anyone who may work at a doctors office but at this particular office..there are other things too..it's not very clean though they claim to have a cleaning crew, the doctor doesn't wash his hands between patients & I notice he has them come back a lot when there doesn't seem to be a need & several complain, directly to him, about his care. The also keep expired items - nothing major but still. I know I just started so maybe I'm reacting too quickly? Thoughts??
the doctor doesn't wash his hands between patients & I notice he has them come back a lot when there doesn't seem to be a need & several complain, directly to him, about his care. The also keep expired items - nothing major but still. I know I just started so maybe I'm reacting too quickly? Thoughts??
This sounds a little sketchy to me... I don't want to say the "f" word here, but having pts come back when there is no need sounds a lot like something that rhymes with maude. Add to that the fact that you are apparently not performing any nursing tasks or actually involved in patient care and it makes one wonder, what is this doc doing for his patients? Does he see a disproportionate number of chronic pain patients and write a lot of narc scripts?
Does this sound weird to anyone else or am I just paranoid?
My advice is to be careful what you wish for. Hospital nursing isn't the dream job either.
However, if you are looking for a faster paced environment, and really want a job at this hospital and they are offering you a position, I say try it, and hour commute can be a great way to unwind on the way home!
update: I actually spoke to my boss yesterday..laid it all out..they basically didn't want to overwhelm me w/things so that's why it was going so slow..as of yesterday I am involved in a lot more "nursing" though it's still not like the hospital. I also voiced, politely, my hand washing concerns. I'm told he does use the antibacterial foam "all the time" in his office and does wash his hands in his bathroom..I'm not so sure about that but at least now they know someone HAS paid attentions. The expired stuff is also something they were not aware of - basically it sounds like they just didn't think about it..so today it's going to be getting rid of that. I have applied at a few other places closer to home. The hour+ drive to the other place just wouldn't be worth it to me and the pay at that hospital is about the same at this office so for now, I'm going to just make the best of it and wait. Thanks to all who replied..really did help me decide..
Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
Girl, you are sooooooooo lucky to have a boring job!!!!! Enjoy it while you can. Why drive an hour away to a 12 hour shift in a hospital--the politics, demented patients, and drug seekers are so aggravating that within one month you will drool for your old doctor's office job? Take it from this big mouth who worked in the big hospitals for 16 grit-your-teeth years. I finally have a boring job and am so grateful i can't stand it. Be glad that the doctor doesn't talk to you. Just make sure you wash your hands. You can't control the doctor's behavior. Enjoy the free paycheck!!!!!
Nursing encompasses SO many areas now ...hospital is NOT the only area anymore!! If you have RN behind your name, you are a nurse. I currently work on a med surg floor ...only been about a year but I can vouch for hospital nursing. I actually DO like my job, and kinda enjoy doing IV stuff ..hanging antibiotics, drawing up meds and drawing labs from central lines...I don't know, it's just satisfaction I get performing those tasks. While you do learn a lot, you also see a lot of the same stuff. Alot of hip/knee replacements, spinal post ops, COPD exacerbations, pneumonia, and cellulitis. My point is, someone may say doc office is monotonous, but really any area is to an extent. You DO deal with a lot of annoying family in hospital nursing, drama included. Luckily I only see part of it being on nightshift. We are also a tele floor and it makes you a little nervous passing a test then suddenly expected to care for these patients...and interpret strips..you're not a pro overnight! I will say though that on my floor there is wonderful support so you don't feel alone or clueless..but my point is there isn't tele motoring in a clinic. You do deal with ALOT of stress in hospital nursing but you also have your chill shifts. I know I went into nursing because I wanted to genuinely care for pts, but reality is, in hospital nursing, you find yourself being really annoyed with overly needy Pts who are looking for pain meds, think they can treat nursing staff like a hotel room service, or you're dealing with a lot of redirecting feisty dementia pts. You also deal with a lot of helping pts ambulate.... all things that go into hospital nursing which are totally ok, just saying Alot of physical and emotional stress goes into hospital nursing...and after your shifts you are drained, and all of your days off are not always spent as productive as you like because you are so tired. I do happen to LOVE my co workers and we have 4-5 patients each, sometimes less depending on census, so I feel lucky compared to the 6+ I hear about at some hospitals!! Med surg isn't my fave floor either, I want to do peds or NICU, so sometimes just working with your passion speciality can make all the difference.
I do sometimes think about applying to a doc office because while yes, you work 5x a week, you have your evenings free for ..well....life! I could easily meet friends for dinner and do a load of laundry and relax before bed. After a hospital shift, you literally have to choose between showering, eating, and sleeping sometimes unless you're willing to be a little extra tired at your next shift for the sake of getting more done at home! Also, stress would be less. And yes sometimes pay is less, but like here, if you apply to a doc office affiliated with a hospital, you get paid day shift hospital nurse pay. I work nights so get paid more, but I don't wanna work nights forever so one day when I get on days ill be taking the cut anyways.
So do whatever you like!! I do think it's a good idea,to work an acute care job for at least approx a year to see how you really feel about it...UNLESS you've always known hospital just wasn't for you. I also feel like if you switch from hospital to clinic, remaining prn at a hospital is a good idea, at least for a little while, until you're 100% sure you don't want to go back to hospital nursing.
It does seem like a dream sometimes to do clinic nursing! I'm so young and already feel the big stress of hospital nursing! It may be worth it though, only you can decide! Just don't ever feel like hospitals are the ONLY place you can work....so many options in nursing.
Oh and also!!! One more thing. You may have more days off at the hospital, but you still are always having to attend a staff meeting on your day off or stay late for it...or being required to go to some other mandatory training related to skills or computer program ....it's in no way a deal breaker, I'm just stating something else I thought of that's associated with hospitals.
HmarieD
280 Posts
This sounds a little sketchy to me... I don't want to say the "f" word here, but having pts come back when there is no need sounds a lot like something that rhymes with maude. Add to that the fact that you are apparently not performing any nursing tasks or actually involved in patient care and it makes one wonder, what is this doc doing for his patients? Does he see a disproportionate number of chronic pain patients and write a lot of narc scripts?
Does this sound weird to anyone else or am I just paranoid?