New grad- Is working at a Dr.'s office a good way to start?

bill4745, RN · Feb 7, 2010

It's probably not a good way to start. You will not be using (and therefore strengthening) all of your nursing skills they way you would in a hospital m/s position. And as you mentioned, you will be the only nurse there and would not have had experience dealing with emergencies (e.g. someone coding).

Mijourney · Feb 7, 2010

I agree with the previous poster regarding starting off in a doctors office. I recommend that you first think about taking care of patients on an acute care basis for a year or two as in a hospital and then go from there into other areas. If you do decide to take on the office job, I would join an organization or association of office nurses (if there is one) so that you won't feel completely by your self.

dekagirlsRN · Feb 7, 2010

It probably depends a lot on the Dr. Is he/she very understanding to the fact that you're a new grad and therefore will require some guidance at times? If so, I think you should go for it. Something is better than nothing. It's beats sitting at home not learning anything. In the meantime, while you're working there, keep looking for your ideal position. It could take many months before you find something, and I'm sure a day won't go by where you don't learn something new so it's worth it. Good luck to you! Just my opinion.

netglow, ASN, RN · Feb 7, 2010

Sure it's not the ideal. But when there are no other offers what is she supposed to do? I'd ask the doc a few more questions, and the nurse too. Be sure you don't have any questions about the protocol for adverse events. Why not ask if you can have a little more time with this nurse to learn, what could it hurt them, really since it's a doctor's office and all. Hey, maybe since it's just for maternity leave (or is she permanently leaving) you can interview elsewhere and mention that you needed to work and you were covering for a maternity leave at the moment in this job. :up:

allnurses Guide · Feb 7, 2010

Re: malpractice insurance, you always want to get your own. Even if the doc provides it, it will not cover you for anything that happens outside of his office nor will it cover you if someone decides to sue years down the line after you no longer work there.

David13, MSN, RN · Feb 7, 2010

In my opinion, IF there are no other jobs available, this might not be a bad place to get some experience to get your resume started. As others have posted, much would depend on the physician with whom you will be working and the level of support they are willing to provide to you. Unless you plan to work in this setting for the next 35 years, you can and and probably should continue to also search for an acute position that will assist you with strengthening your general nursing skills and that will better position you for additional opportunities in the future.

In terms of the malpractice insurance, it is always a good idea to be safe and get your own coverage that will protect you above and beyond any coverage available through your employer.

Good luck!

Music in My Heart · Feb 7, 2010

It is not a great option but it's much better than being unemployed or working at Starbucks. Be thankful that you'll at least be learning to interact with real patients and with MDs.

New grads aren't in a position of being choosy right now.

wintergurl060 · Feb 7, 2010

bb17

In this economy, please take the job....since it is p-t, take the job. I worked as a medical assistant for a long time, as a matter of fact,being a medical assistant helped me pass the NCLEX the first time, (75 Q x 1 hour) probably because I worked with an Endocrinologist and the patients were diabetics, and had heavy endocrine issues. I also learned a lot about drugs due to drug repres and establishing an excellent rapport with them....All this experience was great for me, made NCLEX a piece of cake.

I would learn as much as I can at the allergist office and I would not hesitate for one moment to mention I worked at an allergist office as a RN on my resume. Hiring managers want some sort of experience working as an RN. Asthma can lead to other respiratory problems (COPD, pneumonia, etc, these are the people who get admitted into hospital...one of class mates found a job on the pulmonary unit in the hospital), you will get the chance to do thorough assessment as for as breath/lung sounds, and see the changes in vitals when someone is leading up to exacerbation..... You will inject substance into patients that can potentially cause a life-threatening reaction, this is why when you give an allergy injection, the patient must remains in the office for 15-30 minutes. I worked with an allergist once. He had a lot going on. This doc even did iron transfusions in his office (RN can only do those procedures; this can lead to infusion and intravenous nursing, which looks excellent on a resume). Yes, there were a few patients who had reactions, but the docs were right there and they had their protocol in place.

Finally, continue to look for your dream job, but don't discount doctor's office as non-experience. When the time comes for you to accept an extended offer, the facility will not hesitate to train you! I have read posts on here when some graduates was not able to find employment until 6 months - 12 months, these posters took other jobs like LTC, nursing homes, etc. When the posters got new jobs, their facility put them in a RN residency program or a RN re-entry program.

Always get malpractice insurance for your piece of mind, even if you work in a hospital.

P.S. BIG ONE!!!!! YOU never know who will come in for an allergy injection, could be a hiring manager at a local hospital or they kid could come in for an allergy injection. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK while you are there, establish rapport with your patients, you'll be glad you did!

Ayvah, RN · Feb 7, 2010

So it will be just you and the doc there? Or will you have an MA there too? If it is just you two, who will be monitoring the allergy injection patients while you room patients who are seeing the doc?

bbie17 · Feb 7, 2010

So it will be just you and the doc there? Or will you have an MA there too? If it is just you two, who will be monitoring the allergy injection patients while you room patients who are seeing the doc?

Ayvah,

Yes, there will be just me and the MD. And that's a good question you asked about who will monitor the allergy injection patients while I'm with other patients. I'm assuming that will be my responsibility. They said the allergy shots are open to the public for a couple hrs a day, so I'm assuming they won't schedule Dr's appointment during those hours? I'll have to ask them for more details. And one day week, when the Dr is not in the office, I will run the clinic by myself for 5 hours giving allergy shots only.

bbie17 · Feb 7, 2010

Thank you all for replying, I really appreciate all the advice and comments!!!

I know I will learn alot working in this Dr's office, as I will be given many responsibilities and automony. I'm not worried about learning protocols or procedures, but what's really holding me back from taking this job is the fact that I'll be the only nurse there. I'm worried I won't know how to handle emergencies or recognize impending crisis since I'm fresh out of school. There's one day in the week where the MD will be out of the office, and I will have to run the clinic by myself for 5 hours, giving allergy shots and monitoring patients for reactions. This part worries me...