First day as office nurse

[canna42]

Yesterday was my first day working in an office. Geeeeeez lots of paperwork to learn. Soooo many phone calls. The nurse training me had to stop approx every 5 minutes for phone calls and usually there were more than one at a time. Stacks of charts to go over to schedule egd's c-scopes labs to check ect. Originally we were going to use Mondays when doctor is off to catch up on paperwork but we were informed yesterday that now on Mondays we have to help the other doctor cause he sees 80-100 pts a day but they won't hire him another nurse . No additional overtime so I am not sure when we will get paperwork done. I liked it though. The day went very quickly. Will take some time though before I feel comfortable. Very different from hospital nursing I have been doing for so long.

[Adrena]

Hey,

glad to hear that you're liking your new job so far! Thanks for sharing - I like hearing what other nurses do on a day to day basis.

Take Care.

[darla80]

Hi!

I was hoping you would post!!

Office work can be so rewarding.

Just remember the focus really is the patient and they will learn to appreciate you for your unique skills and the personality you bring into thier lives at the office!

Keep smiling through the paperwork.. it gets so much easier once you learn it!

Keep communicating!!!!

I am wishing you LUCK!!

Joy and Smiles *DARLA**

[Vailgang]

My first day as an office nurse was a year ago. The doctor and I have got so much better. With time you will find ways you can do things much faster which will give you time for that paperwork. I love working in the office. There are lots of phone calls and sometimes the patients want to talk for 20 minutes that you don't have. I can understand. We are thinking about getting voice mail to help me be able to answer my phone calls when I have a few minutes. I don't get overtime because I am also the office manager but I do work more than 40 hours. Good luck with your new job and welcome to the world of office nursing!!

[darla80]

Hi Vailgang

What specialty are are you working in?

What are your experiences with Voicemail in the office?

My doctor is adamantly opposed.

We are Internal med and our patients have so much trouble hearing and listening to prompts... leaving messages seems out of their realm

My own mother and my mother in law hate to leave messages on my home answering system ahhh

I have to admit..I schedule and refer many patients to offices that utilize voicmail. ...I dislike it.

I feel as though I am leaving messages in a void and then I have to keep things pending until I get call back

It seems in the larger practices voicemail is the standard..

What do you think are the pros and cons?

I read this quote on another post site and thought ..how true

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." Aristotle

An open mind is so important

PS: You are so right about things going more smooth once you get to know your doc and develop an efficient working style

Office nursing is wonderful!!!!

[Vailgang]

Darla,

I haven't had much experience with voice mail except that many offices that are in the hospital use it alot, only not in the physican's offices. I work for 2 neurosurgeons. I am the Nurse/Office Manger. It is one of the busiest speciality practices in the hospital. I mainly want voice mail for presciption refills(which are mainly pain medication, NSAID's,) questions, sales reps and to help me when I am in a room with a patient. Some of the patients ask for me and know that they have to hold a long time and I think that they would welcome it. I haven't asked the doctors yet but they are pretty modernized and I think that they will go for it. It won't be a major purchase because it will be through the hospital. I admit there are a few offices that use a computer to answer their phone and I hate it. Our phone will be answered by the two girls who work in the front office but then directed to my line if they want to. Guess we will see how it goes.

I am glad that you like the office.