Doctor's office

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Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.

I have been taking my kids to the same doc for 13 years, I have been a nurse for 22 years. I always have been able to come in to see the RN and have a throat culture done without an appt with MD or NP. Suddenly today, I call to make an appt to get DDs throat swabbed and the nurse would not let me!!!! She says I have to pay $230 for an office visit with the NP or MD. Come on!!!! I do not need an MD or NP for this!!!

I'm so angry about this. I may switch doctors or something. I refused to get an appt. Makes me so mad.

Ok vent over. Do you allow nurses to swab a kid with strep throat in your office?

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Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.

Ended up seeing the NP. And DD did not have strep, so it was a wasted $230. Next time I am ordering the strep test kits at home. The NP said that they don't "like" to do that anymore (having and RN swab the patient and then sending in the culture for strep). They don't "like" to do it so that I can pay for the doctors' $3 million homes. Sheeesh! My cousin married a doc at this clinic, and whines about having to work every 4th or 5th weekend. I get so angry with her and him when I rarely get a weekend off. I'd be happy just to work every other weekend. And I've been doing it for 22 years.

My blood pressure is SOOOOO high over this!!!! GRRRRRRR

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

Not sure this will help, but I work in several outpatient clinics as a per diem, and in none of them are we allowed to do throat swabs without the patient seeing a provider (heck, the provider usually does the swab themselves). Might be different elsewhere of course, but it's not uncommon to require a visit.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

How often do you feel the need to have your kids' throats swabbed? Every time they have a sore throat? :er:

I seriously doubt your primary doc has a 3 million dollar home, lulz. Maybe the head of plastic surgery at the hospital or whatever.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care/Community Health.

I'm the only RN at the clinic/health center I work at, and if you are a pt. with acute pharyngitis symptoms, you will be seen by ME, not a Dr. or NP. I will assess, swab and do a rapid strep, and send out a culture. I can't believe they would make you be seen by a MD- that's crazy! I do the same for dysuria symptoms- assess, do a urine dip, send out for c&s.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Too easy to over treat a simple URI. Plus way too easy to miss something. Sorry but I agree: NP or MD.

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I agree. I also triage patients but they are always seen by either an MD, NP or PAC. They are the ones who order any necessary tests and procedures (scope of practice remember?!?).

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele/Onc.
I'm the only RN at the clinic/health center I work at, and if you are a pt. with acute pharyngitis symptoms, you will be seen by ME, not a Dr. or NP. I will assess, swab and do a rapid strep, and send out a culture. I can't believe they would make you be seen by a MD- that's crazy! I do the same for dysuria symptoms- assess, do a urine dip, send out for c&s.

Does your practice bill for this? That maybe the issue. You can't bill insurance for nursing services. How does the practice recoup the expense of your time if they can't bill for this?

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care/Community Health.

We do bill for this! We use 99211 for all nursing visits. All nursing services are billed. We do simple visits like possible strep, possible UTI, BP checks, coumadin clinic, vaccinations/immunizations, etc.

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