Hired as a PNP, forced to work as an RN

Specialties NP

Published

So I was hired as a PNP at a pediatric urgent care. Then COVID happened. I have never been trained to work as an RN at an Urgent Care clinic... but they are forcing me to work as an RN. Are they allowed to do that? I have spoken up about not being OK with this... all that has bought me is a meeting with the director about meeting their standards of behavior. When I talked to my manager, the response was "at this time we need RNs more than we need providers." Let it also be known that 2 new doctors were hired in December. They start this month meanwhile our doctors and myself are not getting our hours as providers. What do you think?

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Are they looking for a nurse so you can go back to your proper role?

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2 left one is leaving. They're looking for 1 fulltime and 1 casual.

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48 minutes ago, HelloNurse80 said:

2 left one is leaving. They're looking for 1 fulltime and 1 casual.

Three nurses leave, and 1.5 replacements.. sounds legit! ?

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1 hour ago, HelloNurse80 said:

2 left one is leaving. They're looking for 1 fulltime and 1 casual.

Sounds like they plan on continuing to use you as a nurse and are solidly taking advantage of you. It's disrespectful.

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Specializes in Home Health, Geriatrics, Women's Health, Addiction.
On 8/11/2020 at 7:57 PM, HelloNurse80 said:

Totally brought that up at my meeting today.... somehow the conversation just kept circling back to me not having the establishment's values.... the clinic comes first ?

WOW!! Super manipulative. Hope you find something soon.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

I am at a slow burn after getting to this point. One poster said it best: Do the Physicians take turns working as MA's? They're certainly capable enough, I would hope.

FIRST – what I would do would be to secure written documentation that you are being “forced” (or similar language) to perform RN functions in the clinic. Not only that, but the documentation should state that you often work as an RN and as an NP at the same time. There should not be an issue with this if everything is above board. This will come in handy sometime in the future. Especially if there is any funny business when you go on to a new employer. How many times do we nurses hear “If it ain’t documented…..it didn’t happen”. Be prepared to have the clinic deny they are doing this if there's nothing documented.

SECOND – you need to go onto your company’s website and write down their Core Values, their Mission Statement, and their Vision Statement. Then you’re going to try and marry those to their need to either let you work as an NP, or start having MD’s filling in for shots and checking b/p’s. You’re not a cost burden on the clinic anymore as an RN would be - - -you are an NP, and therefore, you make the clinic money. Your NP license puts actual dollars in their pocket. Not so with the RN – as the RN is just the cost of having to do business.

THIRD - - Do you have ? If so, you can call the malpractice insurance number and ask what your liability is working in such a blended role. You may find yourself being enlightened with that phone call. You are no longer an RN. You are a Nurse Practitioner, who, I might add, is fully privileged at your facility. Whether you prescribe a med or administer that medication to a patient, you WILL be standing in front of a panel of your peers (Nurse Practitioner) and answering to any issues that come up once your name is on that chart.

FOURTH - - Can you do telemedicine in your area?

Blessings on your day - - (I wish you well, because I think I am P.O.’d enough for the both of us).

RN.

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

You said Central Florida. Is this Nemours?

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Basically it comes down to quit, or work as an RN because you will be fired if you don't.

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On 8/12/2020 at 7:23 PM, HelloNurse80 said:

Oh and when it gets busy they'd also like me to be logged into 2 computers. One as an RN and one as an NP so I can triage, assess, examine, treat and discharge as an RN on one computer and an NP on the other computer.

These people sound scary stupid first and foremost.

This ^ doesn't even make any sense, legal or practical or any which way.

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Well, I don't have a contract!! I just have a noncompete... I looked up the values before my meeting and tried to rebut using them, but they rebutted my right back, they're trained professionals. I was warned about how my meeting was going to be, and it went EXACTLY as it has gone for other: providers, UCs, MAs, RTs... they have excuses for their self serving nature down.

I have been sending my resume to every pediatrician whether they have an open position or not.. There's a few positions that were actually looking for a PNP, one was 1hr 20 mins away from 16 shifts a month with no call (but I may be able to talk them in to a couple less shifts if I do nights because day shift is 10 hrs long and night shift is 14 hrs long (we'll see), one is 30 mins away and 13 shifts a month... we'll see if any of those pan out. I don't even know what kind of salary to expect, because this place pays NOTHING... but, then again, I was talking to a fellow NP I worked with a few years back and she actually made a few thousand less than me, so I guess I shouldn't complain. The main hospital hires at a VERY decent rate for the area, so I guess I'm just used to their $$$.

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm really happy that you are not taking it from them and are actively looking for another job. Good for you for standing up for yourself- this also has a side benefit of standing up for our profession. Best of luck to you in finding a new job.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.
15 hours ago, HelloNurse80 said:

Well, I don't have a contract!! I just have a noncompete... I looked up the values before my meeting and tried to rebut using them, but they rebutted my right back, they're trained professionals........

[So are you!! You may go forth armed with the knowledge as to how to prevent this from ever occurring again.]

I was warned about how my meeting was going to be, and it went EXACTLY as it has gone for other: providers, UCs, MAs, RTs... they have excuses for their self serving nature down.

I have been sending my resume to every pediatrician whether they have an open position or not.. There's a few positions that were actually looking for a PNP, one was 1hr 20 mins away from 16 shifts a month with no call (but I may be able to talk them in to a couple less shifts if I do nights because day shift is 10 hrs long and night shift is 14 hrs long (we'll see), one is 30 mins away and 13 shifts a month... we'll see if any of those pan out. ........

What is the radius for your non-compete? Usually there is an "x" amount of miles away from the clinic where you cannot work for "x" amount of time.

I don't even know what kind of salary to expect, because this place pays NOTHING... but, then again, I was talking to a fellow NP I worked with a few years back and she actually made a few thousand less than me, so I guess I shouldn't complain.

Yes. Yes, you should complain. NP's are paid HORRIBLY for the amount of knowledge, responsibility, and accountability. Stop settling for the standard that makes everyone else abide by those same low wages! Demand your worth.

The main hospital hires at a VERY decent rate for the area, so I guess I'm just used to their $$$.

You need to give yourself permission to make the kind of money that you deserve. Perhaps you may even work two jobs since you need the money, and one of the jobs may not be nursing related. Where there is a will, there is a way.

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