Inappropriate duties?

[erinlanc]

I work in an outpatient mental health clinic 5 days a week. We have two psychiatrists, one that sees children and adults and one that sees only adults. I work with the psychiatrist that sees adults, and we see an average of 20 patients a day. There is another RN at the clinic for the other psychiatrist and an LPN that fills in and does injections and lab work as needed.

Recently, our director was laid off due to a loss of productivity. She was laid off by the supervisors of the large clinic in Nashville. Our clinic is a satellite. Since that time, supervisors from the Nashville clinic have been rotating at our satellite and making changes that haven't been very welcome. At this point, they are wanting the three nurses to learn the duties of the front desk/reception, including answering the calls and running the front desk, scheduling appointments, etc. They are saying that this will only be for "emergencies" when the receptionist is not here. The current receptionist is a temp. She is taking the place of the full-time receptionist that retired.

This is very concerning to me, because I know that they are trying to cut costs, and I've seen this happen in another clinic before. It seems that these "emergencies" may actually turn into a regular rotation in which I'm having to do front desk duties, rather than my nursing duties. I wonder if this is a conflict of interest, and I'm wondering the best way to handle it. Any advice?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I'm not certain how your situation could be termed a "conflict of interest"?

At any rate, I believe that most clinic nurses experience some type of "other duties as required" tasks in their office hours. We all chip in to retrieve the patient from the lobby, room them, answer the phone etc., when the receptionist or MA is busy. Even the providers pitch in at times. So, performing those tasks is not out of the question.

My guess is that if what you expect does happen, it will be up to you to decide whether or not you care to continue in that position.

[erinlanc]

I didn't mean any legal or specific "conflict of interest"- only that if a patient wants to see me or needs me for a nursing situation, it might be difficult if I'm having to be the receptionist that day.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

If you are the receptionist that day you would have to refer that patient to whomever is doing the nursing duties that day I guess?

I would not be excited about this change either. However, they can get a front desk receptionist for $10/hr or so and that might need to be pointed out in comparison to your salary.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Prepare to add receptionist to your list of duties. Is it a conflict of interest.. no. It is the intere$t of the corporation to save the 25 K that the receptionist would make, by forcing nursing to absorb those duties.

These "unwelcome changes" are an attempt to keep the satellite open. I would be job hunting .

[erinlanc]

That's what I suspect- this is a pretty desperate move to keep the clinic open. Unfortunately, the patients will know that when they come in and see their nurses at the reception desk.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

I think I'd be OK with it for the time being, but if they asked me to start mopping and scrubbing toilets, peace out!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

That's what I suspect- this is a pretty desperate move to keep the clinic open. Unfortunately, the patients will know that when they come in and see their nurses at the reception desk.

It does not matter what the patients see. They will receive their care wherever the powers that be decide. This is now what the powers decide about YOU and YOUR job. Happy hunting. It can be a good move for you.

Let us know how it's going.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

You will be a very well paid receptionist.