For the Clinic/office Nurses

rkitty198, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2011

I don't work in a clinic but my friend just recently started working in one.

She loves it! Her hours are 8-5 and she is the queen bee there. She oversees the MA's and takes a lot of calls from clinic patients. She is respected by the staff and really feels like she has some autonomy.

She gets paid $17.00/hr. Which is about $7.00 less than the hospitals for the area. She says it is worth it because she rarely stays late, gets a lunch, gets respect (for the most part), and has the hours that "normal people get."

I am a little jealous myself.

Juwon · Apr 18, 2011

thats great, congrats to your friend.

Juwon · Apr 18, 2011

I don't work in a clinic but my friend just recently started working in one.
She loves it! Her hours are 8-5 and she is the queen bee there. She oversees the MA's and takes a lot of calls from clinic patients. She is respected by the staff and really feels like she has some autonomy.
She gets paid $17.00/hr. Which is about $7.00 less than the hospitals for the area. She says it is worth it because she rarely stays late, gets a lunch, gets respect (for the most part), and has the hours that "normal people get."
I am a little jealous myself.

Can you tell me what type of clinic your friend works for? Like pediatric, cardiac, community based, etc.

April13RN · Apr 18, 2011

I am currently employed as a school nurse at a school for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. I love it, the hours are M-F 8-4 and the pay is about 26/hr. It is very rewarding to work with these kids and teach them to tolerate simple things such as applying a blood pressure cuff. At this position I am offered full benefits and 3 weeks vacation

I just gave my two week notice to trade for a position at a pediatric practice about 5 min. from my house. I will be taking a three dollar pay cut and my vacation time will go down to 10 days, but I will still have full benefits. The new hours are 9-5 four days a week, 9-7 once a week and every other Saturday 9-12. I am looking to broaden my skill set by working in this practice.

I wish your cousin good luck! Office nursing is generally very stable and rewarding.

Juwon · Apr 18, 2011

thats pretty cool. Glad to see you are advancing your career as it is best to have as much skills under your belt as possible. The clinic where you are going to work sounds great and the pay is on par, as i have read on here today that clinic nurses compromise on pay for benefits, better hours, and less of a headache per say. As for my cousin, this has been the only interview that my cousin can find at the moment. She is in a rural area of illinois, and i believe she should come to the city to find other employment opportunities. Good luck to you once you start your new job.

LDRNMOMMY, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2011

I work in a wound care clinic that is part of a hospital. Hours are 8-5 M-F, but if all patients are seen and work is done I can leave earlier. We are not supposed to have overtime if we can help it so I had to leave early on Friday. I was so disappointed about that. Pay is not that great, but I am paid at the same rate as the hospital RNs, just no differentials. I happen to live in a state where the pay sucks :lol2:

rkitty198, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2011

My friend works in a gyn office. Pay where she lives hospital nursing is 22-24 an hour. This is in west Texas. So office work seems comparible.

Oh I bet wound care would be so interesting!

Black Jade, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2011

What type of Clinic do you work for? How is the pay/benefits? Are you satisfied and find your nursing career fulfilling? What are your primary duties? I have a cousin thats a new grad RN, and she have an interiew for a healthcare center next Monday. Thanks

I used to work at a healthcare center in California as a New Grad and the pay was almost the same as the hospital. I got paid $30/hr. If you are biliingual they pay you a bonus after passing the test. My 40 hours varied from 8a-5p or 1130a-8p Mon-Fri. My duties were overseeing the MAs, triage, handling emergencies, wound care, patient education, starting IVs, assisting with procedures, etc... I was always busy and constant on the go. Mind you, each clinic is different and some nurses all they do is phone triage and med refills. I was lucky to have this as my first nursing job. I did a lot and I learned a lot. One of the things I would recommend is that she most likely will administer the same meds. Have her make a list like they used to do in nursing. ie. write side effects, how it is administered, contraindications, etc... Good luck to your cousin.

BJ

Juwon · Apr 18, 2011

Thanks you all, the clinic she is interviewing for have patients from peds to geriatrics. Its like community health nursing I'm guessing.

linguine · Apr 18, 2011

In a community clinic, nurses are responsible many times for triaging and be comfortable with sometimes sending people home sometimes based on your assessments and nursing interventions because not all providers will be able to see the patient that day due to scheduling (nor do they have do see a provider for everything). RNs have the opportunity there to be good at initial physical assessments and history taking... a headache here could really be related to anything, minor or the beginning or a serious acute or chronic illness.

Continuinity of care becomes crucial here as many diagnosis are missed the first time until the patient starts coming in a few times with similaer or worsening symptoms and things are starting to look suspsicious.

Another challenge is the sheer volume of patients and personalities you will need to accomodate and serve every day and often. Triage nurses can experience an increase of acutely ill patients on Monday or Friday afternoons (or anyday of the week).

If you are comfortable with those aspects of clinic nursing (which I think are the hardest), then it is a good opportunity. You do learn a lot about medicine and what is going on in the community.