I want to work in a Doctor's office.

[cinder06]

Some background...I am going to school for my LPN. I wanted to do RN, but after becoming pregnant, and being in need of money sooner, I don't want to risk failing out of a RN program, when I could get my LPN sooner. I have to take one pre-req next semester and then my biology pre-req in the summer, and hopefully be accepted into the program for Fall '08.

I have however taken all but two pre reqs for RN program, but the RN program would be harder than LPN and also three or four more classes longer.

I do plan to go back for my RN down the road.

Okay to my main question. I don't want to work in a hospital, I want to work in a private practice, particularly for a gynecology or womens health. Am I more likely to be hired as an LPN to work in a private practice rather than a RN being hired into a private practice?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Am I more likely to be hired as an LPN to work in a private practice rather than a RN being hired into a private practice?

:welcome:

Welcome to this forum, and I wish you the very best of luck with your future aspirations in nursing.

Doctors' offices, clinics, and private practices can ve viewed as small businesses, with the physician(s) being the owner(s) of the proprietorship. The owner of a small business is always seeking methods to cut costs and expenses, and one of the ways doctors in the U.S. have saved money for their practices in recent years revolves around the hiring and utilization of medical assistants (MAs). The training of an MA is skills-based, and the doctor saves money by paying them less money than LPNs or RNs. In other words, you will face competition from MAs if you wish to work in a private practice.

The good news is that LPNs and RNs are hired to work in some doctors' offices in my area.

[LVN_LPN_2007]

In my area almost all the physician's offices hire LPNs since we are cheaper. But they usually want LPNs to have phlebotomy and office experience since they usually need someone to come in and start working and don't have the means to train you extensively. And they do hire MA's a lot too since they are even cheaper.

[midcom]

Be prepared, as a new graduate, to be passed over for someone with experience. A lot of experienced nurses are ready to leave hospital or LTC & are willing to work for the lower pay of an office or clinic and that doesn't give us new nurses much of a chance. Most want you to hit the floor running, not to have to train you. I am finding this to be my problem. I can't get hired because I have no experience, but how do I get experience?

I've had 3 interviews (out of scores of resumes sent) and all 3 went to someone with experience. I have received very nice letters from office managers telling me that they'd love to interview me but the doctor wants experience. I am finally at the point where I will take any clinic job within a decent driving distance just to get some experience. Next week I'm interviewing for Convenient Care. The hours are crappy ( noon to 8:00) and I'll be working weekends & holidays but will provide that much needed experience IF I GET THE JOB. Who knows?? Maybe I'll love it & won't mind the weekends & holidays.

Dixie

Dixie

[ggal2933]

Where I live a lot of doctors offices hire LPN's along with medical assistants. I graduated a year ago with my LPN and was hired right after I passed my NCLEX. Good luck!

[nananurse2]

I've worked in a general practice clinic for 6 years, first as a PCA (patient care assistant), and after I graduated as an LPN. PCA's and MA's are accountable for calling patients to the room, taking vitals and then nurse takes over to update meds, why they are being seen, etc. PCA's and MA's cannot give injections, call in medications or triage phone calls. While I am the doctor's legs, the PCA and MA are mine. At least that's the way it works in AR. Most doctors want their own nurse, and if they can afford it, a PCA.

Experience will be your weakness. However, most clinics don't mind hiring and training new grads...we're cheaper and they can train us their way!

We have a fast-track program for LPN to RN in our area. You could work for a year then fast-track to RN and be done in another year.

Whatever you decide, best wishes to you. It was the best thing I've ever done!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I am not sure about the private offices in my neighborhood here in New York, but it seems that they are looking more for medical assistants, unless the practice is rather large. But, there are quite a few hospital or satellite clinics that hire LPNs. I work in a hospital clinic, now. It is VERY BUSY because we deal with a poor, uneducated population who either do not have medical insurance, or are illegal and cannot afford medical care on their own. For the most part, I manage very well. I still learned alot, and continue to do so.

Only thing is this; I am not sure about your area, but most clinics are Monday thru Friday, many include Saturdays, we are off on all major holidays. This may be fine if you are satisfied with remaining an LPN, but to complete an RN program, most are held in the daytime, which would conflict with most office working nurses. This may work out fine, though, if you plan to do your RN through Excelsior, an on line program. Good luck to you in school and your career!!

[1979blazer]

I was hired at a local clinic right after I graduated, before I even passed my boards. They mostly hire LPNs and some MA. Good luck!

[JONlvn-np2b]

its highly possible to work in a md's office. i was offered a job to work in a retinologist office that consisted of 1 md, 2 pa's, and a bunch ma's. your real competition in getting a job in a md's office is the fact that most of them are private owned and they are always looking at ways to be cost effective. sooo they utilize ma's more than nurse because ma's are a lot cheaper than lvns or rns.

[jean333]

My sister got hired here in NY as a new grad in a doctors office filled with M/A s and I just got hired in a doctors office and have no experince. They do hire LPN'S and M/A's mostly. As far as I know M/A's are not suppose to start IV's or give shots so they need LPN's in the doctors office for that reason. Correct me if I am wrong. It may vary from state to state but thats what they told us in school.

Jean

[leelee6284]

here in ma they hire mostly ma's in doctors offices but do hire some lpns. in mass ma's are able to give shots in doctors offices i have worked as a ma for 3 years in a allergy and asthma specialist and also in a dialysis clinic, while in the allergy office there were only ma's and we all gave the allergy shots so i guess it depends on the state you work in. i'm in the 5th month of my lpn program that's 10 months long and just got accepcted to the bridge program for rn that's another 9 months they are starting to phase out lpn's in mass mostly only hired in ltc and the big hospitals only hire bsn

[PNCC2001]

In Wisconsin, LPN's are more often hired for LTC. There are some hired for hospitals and Doctor's offices. MA's here are able to give injections, do phlebotomy, X-rays, EKG's, Typanograms, Lab work; and many other things. I even saw one ad for LPN/MA that included starting IV's; I was shocked. It was one of our largest employers too. Most doctors offices require their MA's to have completed an Accredited program. I have experience as an MA; but have worked in social work for many years. I am planning to attend an Accredited Program to become Certified; and return to working as an MA. I am looking forward to learning the skills that MA's are now allowed to do that I didn't learn on the job. I have started an LPN and RN program, but for various reasons, couldn't continue. The amount of schooling for me to complete for LPN or MA are about the same; but because I don't want to work in a hospital, the MA program is the route I am choosing. Because I have experience, the starting salaries wouldn't be that different here. It sounds like the situation in other areas are quite a bit different than here; in the fact that MA's aren't allowed to do as much and LPN's are more preferred. Good luck to you.