Frustrated

Specialties Advanced

Published

As much as I love my job I'm frustrated with the things that are put in as urgent visits in my already over booked schedule . Today I was triple booked for a 8 month old who was tripping over her feet , but missed her last 2 well baby appointments , a two year old who woke up with a runny nose and a mom who thought the child's wart on her hand that had been there for months was a emergency . Of course no one showed up on time . I finally told staff that the asthmatic was going to be seen before the late ones. The late ones got upset because they had to wait . Supposedly the nurses in triage are triaging , the office manager goes and ahead and ok'd walk ins with out triage and doesn't bother to see how backed up I am. Why because we are a fqhc and the more patients we see the more grants we get. Every patient seen for a acute appointment has to have a follow up appointment . Rant over .

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
This sounds like my current job. I tried limiting the amount of patients but my requests are not respected. They do not even triage calls or ask why the child needs to be seen. I have been doubled, tripled, and sometimes quadrupled booked with non urgent chief complaints like coughing X1 day, fevers of 98.9, etc. the office staff decides how many are to be booked. I've seen as many as 48 by myself in an 8 hr day. And Saturdays we are open from 9-12 and I've seen 33 on a Saturday by myself. And I sometimes have to stay 2 hours later to see everyone. I wish I had more control and I have spoken to the partners of the practice and they see nothing wrong with it. ������ oh I forgot to add most our "MA's" are not certified so I do all the vaccines, neb treatments, UAs, lab collections, etc.

Needless to say I'm looking for a new job.

Yep this sounds ridiculous, show your displeasure with your feet.

Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.
This sounds like my current job. I tried limiting the amount of patients but my requests are not respected. They do not even triage calls or ask why the child needs to be seen. I have been doubled, tripled, and sometimes quadrupled booked with non urgent chief complaints like coughing X1 day, fevers of 98.9, etc. the office staff decides how many are to be booked. I've seen as many as 48 by myself in an 8 hr day. And Saturdays we are open from 9-12 and I've seen 33 on a Saturday by myself. And I sometimes have to stay 2 hours later to see everyone. I wish I had more control and I have spoken to the partners of the practice and they see nothing wrong with it. ������ oh I forgot to add most our "MA's" are not certified so I do all the vaccines, neb treatments, UAs, lab collections, etc.

Needless to say I'm looking for a new job.

I didn't know a MA had to have a certification. Must be a state thing. I also can't see any reason a certified person is needed to collect a cup of urine or for that matter do the other three things you mention. Just teach them how to do it, document their proficiency, and move on. If you're worried about them drawing up the right meds but the single dose units. Or can a MA and hire a LPN.

Specializes in Peds Med/Surg; Peds Skilled Nursing.

At my job they call all ancillary staff MAs. Some went to school and did not get certified and others have no training at all. I was just giving examples of other tasks I do in addition to the ridiculous patient load I have. I am not saying you must be certified to collect a cup a urine. however these are the rules of the practice I work at. Not mine. The majority of the staff are not certified and therefore can only take back patients, take temps, and vision screens.

I hope you got a new job??? Regardless of how much you are paid at this job, remember: quality of life is important. Been there, done it, don't ever want to go back!

Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

Good lord. I already loved my job, but I am having newfound appreciation of my schedule and my support staff. I have very minimal say in my overall schedule (the majority of appts are scheduled by the call center which services all the clinics in my affiliate), we see walk ins whenever possible, and have a ~25% no show rate so my "schedule" at 8am usually bears little resemblance to my actual day.

However, I get a 30 minute lunch pretty much every day, and when I am scheduled to work 8-4 99% of the time I am walking out the door right on time, occasionally even early. The last appointment is scheduled an hour before closing, and I have admin time (not a lot, and not every day, but still) built in to my schedule. And most importantly our clinic assistants are extensively trained and very competent. We work as a team, and no way could I see the number of patients I do without them. I can't IMAGINE trying to see 4-5 patients an hour and running your own UAs, drawing labs, etc.

Specializes in Peds Med/Surg; Peds Skilled Nursing.

oh I have been looking, I have a couple of interviews lined up over the next few weeks. Yes my quality of life and sanity are very important to me.

I put in my notice and left my job. I was the 4th provider to leave in a six month period. You would think this would give them some impetus to change but apparently this clinic has been a revolving door for providers and CMO almost as long as it has existed.

I'm going to do locums work now, travel the country, possibly do locums to permanent eventually.

I got a lot of primary care experience from this job from Hell, but more importantly I know what to look for in my next permanent job. And I'm going to be picky ;)

Oh, dear HEAVENS. I hope you have found a new job! Seeing 48 patients in an 8-hour day is a recipe for making a mistake. :( There is an FQHC in our area that CONSTANTLY advertises for NPs "who can work in a fast-paced environment". A friend of mine from school worked in one of these revolving doors and clued me in. As soon as I see who is advertising, I close the ad window! Good luck finding a better -- and safer -- job.

Specializes in Peds Med/Surg; Peds Skilled Nursing.
Oh, dear HEAVENS. I hope you have found a new job! Seeing 48 patients in an 8-hour day is a recipe for making a mistake. :( There is an FQHC in our area that CONSTANTLY advertises for NPs "who can work in a fast-paced environment". A friend of mine from school worked in one of these revolving doors and clued me in. As soon as I see who is advertising, I close the ad window! Good luck finding a better -- and safer -- job.

Update: I accepted a new position, gave my notice and will start my new job next month in a specialty area at a children's hospital near me.

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