front desk job at a medical office ?

Old.Timer · Nov 26, 2011

To me, this is different than working in that role while going to nursing school.

Not only do I not think it will benefit you, I'm inclined to believe it may actually unwittingly prejudice some hiring managers into mentally viewing you as a receptionist and not a RN.

If your financial situation has become such that it's time to get a job, any job, to continue paying the bills then obviously accept the position but don't have any illusions that it is preparing you for a RN position.

Agree with others that a job as unit secretary would be much more beneficial.

Good Luck to you....

Jingles39 · Nov 26, 2011

I am going to have to respectfully disagree with everyone who is telling you not to go for this position. I worked a front-desk position at a physicians office while in nursing school and several years prior. This gave me invaluable experience that helps me so much today as a floor nurse.
The physician I worked for loved to teach and often gave me tidbits here and there. Dealing with frustrated/difficult patients has really helped me manage them in the hospital. Knowledge of insurance carriers has been very helpful. Taking refill request from patients helped me become familiar with medications/generic names and classes. I also frequently helped out in the back when it was busy, taking vitals, doing patient health historys etc.
If this is a viable option for you at this point, ie. you could survive on the pay, I say go for it. And as far as no networking opportunities, HAHAHA! You will be meeting MANY pharmaceutical reps, home health managers, hospital officials and other MDs. This could be an awesome position for you to hear about other opportunities in your area!

100% agree with this.

Back in my MA days I worked with a front desk girl who was tight with hospital personnel because she spoke to a lot of them on a daily basis scheduling appts for tests and such....She got the inside scoop on all sorts of hospital insider info. Oh she networked alright.

I have a feeling a lot who have commented have never actually worked in a doc's office before.

Infermero · Nov 26, 2011

Dear Nurses,

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!!

NurseSnarky · Nov 26, 2011

You have to be highly organized and able to multitask in this role. Skills you need to work in a hospital. You would have a leg up as far as a non-nurse receptionist in that if an important piece of info comes in you will know to get that to one of the other medical personnel in the office asap. You're a new grad....have you passed boards yet? It's a good position if you are waiting to takes boards and maybe they'll hire you in the back after you've passed(?). Some offices like a nurse who can do all of the roles of the office in case someone calls in sick, vacation, or the place gets very busy (which Mondays & Fridays can get crazy and having an extra person up front who knows what he/she is doing is GREAT).

allnurses Guide · Nov 26, 2011

I have a feeling a lot who have commented have never actually worked in a doc's office before.

From the time I was 19 until I got into nursing school, so for 20 years. I did front office, back office, referrals coordinating, outpatient diagnostics scheduling, surgery scheduling and medical transcription.

There is no doubt there is a lot to learn that will benefit the skill level of a nurse, especially dealing with difficult patients, as one person mentioned. And if you are lucky enough to get a doctor who enjoys teaching and is good to his/her office, staff, that obviously can have benefits as well. If one has a business background moving into office management would be a sweet deal. But I have yet to see a front office person move into that role. And whether the doc bonds with his or her staff is highly individual. I have worked for MDs who barely knew the name of their staff and were horrible people. I have worked for others who are fantastic and would bend over backward for them. Unfortunately it is difficult in an interview situation to guage what you are going to get.

I took the OPs question to reference whether it would help get his or her foot in the door for an actual RN position. Yes, there are a lot of things that one can learn working in an MD office that would help with adjusting to the patient care issues on a psychosocial level and perhaps on a skills level if the MD is open to it. But pharm reps generally aren't mingling around at the hospitals. Home health generally are talking to the referral coordinators, not the front desk. Other physicians generally are contacted only through phone calls and it isn't as if one strikes up conversations with them on a regular basis and form the kind of relationship that would make it sensible to ask for a reference.