How do I find primary care RN position?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in RN.

Hi ? everyone, I’m in LTC but I’ve been looking for primary care nurse job for awhile with no luck. On job searches I’m just getting a lot of Home health, hospitals, dialysis, LTC.. but I barely see any primary care jobs if I do they are really far away and not many. I live in Delaware I know it’s a small state but there are plenty of primary care offices. I don’t understand why I can’t find them. If you are in primary care how did you find your job? Any tips on how to look for one? Thank you!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

It seems like most of the positions found in primary care are LPNs and CMAs. RNs typically function in a management role; in my organization they are RN Practice Managers.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

What exactly do you mean at "primary care RN"? If you want "primary care office" RN "rooming" job, it can be difficult to locate because, as Rose_Queen said, MAs and LPNs are cheaper to hire and perfectly qualified for performing these (quite basic) functions.

You need to figure out what exactly appeals to you in "primary care" and go from there. If you just want to have one patient at a time and do some hands-on things but not total bedside, you'll have plenty of options, from home care to going into SNF specialty service like would care or nutrition support.

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Specializes in Registered Nurse.

Hello,

As stated above, most primary care jobs, are filled by Medical assistants and LPN's. There were a few triage positions in larger institutions or University settings. However, at this time, due to current health crisis, you will be challenged to find a job in a clinic. There has been a trend towards Telemedicine, with many nurses in the area on lay off or transitioned to other areas. This includes RN's, LPN's and RN's working in primary care clinic areas.

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I just did a search on Google for "primary care RN jobs Delaware," and my search shows multiple jobs in pediatric and adult primary care jobs, part time and full time options, and telephone triage. Try searching with those terms!

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Specializes in RN.

I would like a non-bedside job, that is what it appeals to me. Like public health or drs office. Thanks Faculty RN , those are most likely offices that branch off Christians care hospital and Nemours pediatric hospital with strict requirements. I’ve tried. Looks like I’d just have to move.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.
35 minutes ago, Mich888 said:

I would like a non-bedside job, that is what it appeals to me. Like public health or drs office. Thanks Faculty RN , those are most likely offices that branch off Christians care hospital and Nemours pediatric hospital with strict requirements. I’ve tried. Looks like I’d just have to move.

Public health departments are still there and hiring.

Many private physician offices do not advertise on mass job boards to save $. Google each clinic separately and look if they have something, or call.

State Boards (yeah... they hire RNs as well from time to time. I had a few buddies who worked there for a while. Not everybody's cup of tea but non-bedside for sure and state worker's gigs!)

VAMC (they have community clinics)

You might want to consider enhancing your education. Not necessary to next level if you are not ready to this, but wound care certificate, for one example, is a good thing to keep in your pocket.

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Specializes in RN.

Thank you so much KatieMI ! This really helps.

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Specializes in Supervisor.

Under normal circumstance, pre-covid, you have to change the language in which you search. Try "ambulatory nurse jobs" rather than "primary care nurse jobs" then narrow your search down and find primary care clinics that are posting. You be hard pressed to find a PC job now because clinics have shut down most normal operations, flexing down, and/or laying people off. Give it a few months and you'll get that job soon enough.

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I have the same interest area. But I have an added dilemma, I havent worked as anurse for about 3 years now. Should I take a refresher course or classes make me a more appealing applicant? With all that said I would not be totally opposed to hospital, out patient surgery. Any advice would be great. I'm going to get my ACLS and PALS. Any schools or instutions in the Houston or Salt Lake area that you can recommend? I can travel for a class if needed to amy area. Thanks on advance!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.

I used to work for a large network of community health centers as an RN. I did phone and in-person triage, hands-on skills during MD visits like wound care, vaccines, blood draws, IV fluids (no meds though, just hydration), I'm injections, flu/strep swabs, assist w/ procedures, etc. I would also assess pts who walked into the urgent care section without appts since our appts were always all full. I would work them up, let MD know of my assessment and let them swoop in to finish the visit (unless pt was super sick/complicated, then quick consult w/ MD to see if OK to see or best to send to ER/call 911).

The clinics served low income populations and I've found that these larger clinics have more tasks for RN, especially since demand for care is high and a lot of triage necessary. Also a lot of health education. I loved this job but had to move on due to low pay in a high cost of living area. I hope you can find something like this! Search for community clinics and for ambulatory care RN jobs.

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Thanks Libranurse27, I'm a Libra too! :-). Would you mind throwing out the names of a couple of those big healthcare networks that you are referring to? I get overwhelmed sometimes when I go to look. Thanks again.

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