How many of you work at a doctor's office?

[ShockerGirl]

I'm just curious because it seems like all we talk about in nursing school (im 1st sem) is the hospital or LTC. I've volunteered in a hospital for 4 years, and like it but i really think i'd like working in a dr. office better, but no one i've talked to does. i realized you dont make as much etc. but i like the atmosphere of a dr. office better. whats your input?

[hlfpnt, BSN, RN]

The atmosphere depends alot on the doc. you work for. Some are awsome and some are ! If you get in an office with a good doc. that appreciates the staff it's great. If not, you'll go to work in tears every day, but that can happen with anything you decide to do. Just like the hospital, a doc. office is very fast passed, demanding, frustrating, exhausting, and rewarding. Most nurses do alot of lab review, rx calls, phone triage and run patient flow if a coworker calls in sick (most doc. offices are staffed with just enough people to pull a schedule everyday). Most doc. offices are small with very little work space, so the work is almost elbow to elbow most of the time. There's not alot of "hands on" in the ambulatory setting. Working in a hospital for at least a year to get your skills down would probably be a good idea. If you go to a doc. office straight out of school with out getting those skills, you may find yourself very limited in the future. Hope this helps. :)