Receptionist working in Surgery Center.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello, All. I'm new to this site and I am here to get advice.

I recently started a new job at a doctor's office. I was hired to work as an administrative assistant. However, now that I started the job, I have also been told that my help is needed in their surgery center. I have been assisting their licensed nurses with patients pre and post-operation duties.

I have no education/certification, training or experience for this sort of work. They have essentially trained me on the job. During this time, I observed that they had "inspection" or whatever it is you'd call it when the medical board comes in and makes sure that all regulations are in place. When this happened twice, I was told that I would not be working in the surgery center. Days later, I was then informed by my manager that I needed to report to the surgery center for work.

I know nothing about surgery centers or being a medical professional, however it doesn't seem like I am legally supposed to be working in the surgery center, although my manager (a licensed nurse) says otherwise.

I've observed that they also allow other non-licensed admin staff assist in the actual OR.

I don't know what to do or how to move forward from here. Any advice, information, or insight you can provide is really helpful.

Thank you.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

What exactly are they asking you to do? Help a patient to a wheelchair and escort for discharge?

Or review discharge instructions and give IV meds?

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I also forgot to mention that I don't even work for their surgery center. I work with their office in the same building, which is under a different business name/NPI number. Only the nursing staff is technically employed by their surgery center.

While in the surgery center, they have instructed me to check the patients' vitals, document vitals on medical documentation, sign on medical documentation. We do eye surgeries, so I have also been instructed to administer the patients medications needed for surgery (eye drops). I also review discharge instructions with patients and their families and help escort patients to their cars once we're all done.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Ok you are likely practicing nursing without a license with regard to discharge instructions & medication administration. Vital signs not a big deal. Anyone can be trained as a medical assistant on the job in most states. If you are signing for vitals that you did as long as you don't list a license or certification you are ok. Discharge instructions provided by/reviewed by you is where you are going to get in trouble.

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Oh wow. This is a lot to take in.

I have heard horror stories of individuals working as a nurse without a license, but they knew they were doing that, ya know, intentionally.

As for me, this is NOT something that I want to do. I would have never ever done this, without having my direct manager (who is a RN) instruct me.

I personally don't want any trouble. What should I do? They must know this is wrong.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Get another job. They have you administering medications (no-no) and giving D/C instructions (another no-no). The fact that they take you out of the environment when inspectors are there, then put you back in when they're gone says they don't care abut doing what's right.

Get another job.

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That sounds like one of those horror story plastic surgery places where they inject caulking into people's butts.

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I am definitely going to apply for a job elsewhere.

However, should I report this to any organization?

I don't like that they have put me in this risky situation. I had no ide that I was at risk/being jeopardize by following my manager's instructions. What can I do about this legally?

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Should I report this matter? If so, where should I do this?

Should I seek out legal counsel? Based on your responses, you all are saying that I could be in trouble personally. I feel taken advantage of and exploited. Is there anything I can do, as far as suing?

This entire situation is bizarre and I don't know what to do.

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Talk to an attorney, might a big check in there for you. walking away just means you lose a job and the facility keeps doing wrong. Talk to attorney, become a whistle blower, the facility is fined and they do the right thing henceforth .

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Talk to an attorney, might a big check in there for you. walking away just means you lose a job and the facility keeps doing wrong. Talk to attorney, become a whistle blower, the facility is fined and they do the right thing henceforth .

It's not quite that simple. I was in a situation ten years ago where there was serious wrongdoing going on. I reported it to the appropriate authorities. One person lost his/her license, and the facility was closed.

I'm still waiting for the Prize Patrol to show up at my door with that big check.

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You should have done I said.

Step 1 talk to an attorney

Step 2 file a law suit claiming whatever your attorney deems best

Step 3 get paid.

It's not enough to report to authority, you need a law suit for wrong doings

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