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?

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

My office nursing expereinces have always involved co-workers from medical receptionist to MA to LPN to RN tp PA to NP.

In larger medical offices here in MN anyway, many nurses are used in the OB-GYN dept (mostly RN's) to help with in-office procedures. Lpn's have been used in Cardiology and Internal Medicine practices.

I've always looked for large multi-specialized offices as they seem to have office policies that have included working with you to return to school.

I understand there are many different office settings. This is the type I look for. And when I have gone to interview I pay close attention to how the nurses treat each other in interaction. Alot can be said in a short amount of waiting time. If the majority of co-workers look completely frazzled, is it poor managment? If they are communicating well, too me it may appear that there is alot of peer support.

When I have worked in offices, for some reason I feel blessed that I have had the opportunity to work in a good, respectful office. But I definetly watch and listen while I am waiting for my interview and when I am being shown around the clinic.

Just my opinion.

[CAlvn77]

Im in Long Beach Ca and I work in a doctor's office. I love the Monday - Friday 9 to 5. There are 3 medical assistants and they do most of the shots and all of the vitals on the patients. They call upon me if someone's vitals are abnormal. I do all the refills for the patients and prior authorizations with the insurance companies. Some shots (in our office) has to be done by the nurse ex: Neupogen, Procrit, and Pegasys. I handle all of the labs too. Im called the back office supervisor. We do have a RN that handles calls from the patients that are sick and want advice. I think most offices do utilize mostly MA's but i think u do have to have a nurse in the office. Only bad thing is when you have to take care of business you have to take off work.

[PN143]

I just received a phone call from a doctor's office seeking an LPN. The lady I spoke with said that she had gotten my name from a list of recent graduates from the LPN program and wanted to know if I was interested. I am going to interview for it. I just graduated 3 weeks ago from LPN school and am scheduled to take the NCLEX on Jan. 25th. I wasn't really planning on working until after the exam, but I may if they want to hire me.

I hadn't decided where I wanted to work and was very surprised to get a call like that. So, I know in this area that doctor's offices look for LPNs.

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

I just received a phone call from a doctor's office seeking an LPN. The lady I spoke with said that she had gotten my name from a list of recent graduates from the LPN program and wanted to know if I was interested. I am going to interview for it. I just graduated 3 weeks ago from LPN school and am scheduled to take the NCLEX on Jan. 25th. I wasn't really planning on working until after the exam, but I may if they want to hire me.

I hadn't decided where I wanted to work and was very surprised to get a call like that. So, I know in this area that doctor's offices look for LPNs.

I've had this same situation happen to me during my career. It speaks highly of your work, your ethic and how your instructors see you as a successful nurse.

Good Job. Also good luck.:balloons:

[PN143]

I am a newly licensed LPN. I just graduated about 2 months ago. I was hired to work in a cardiologists office. I did not apply for the job, the office manager called me after getting a list of recent graduates from my school. In this particular office, they wanted to hire a new LPN to train specifically for this office. There is a lot to learn and sometimes I feel overwhelmed. This doctor also pays very well in comparison to what I was offered at the local hospitals. So, I guess it depends on the doctor and what they are looking for. Some want someone they don't have to train and others are looking for new nurses.

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

I am a newly licensed LPN. I just graduated about 2 months ago. I was hired to work in a cardiologists office. I did not apply for the job, the office manager called me after getting a list of recent graduates from my school. In this particular office, they wanted to hire a new LPN to train specifically for this office. There is a lot to learn and sometimes I feel overwhelmed. This doctor also pays very well in comparison to what I was offered at the local hospitals. So, I guess it depends on the doctor and what they are looking for. Some want someone they don't have to train and others are looking for new nurses.

It is overwhelming with alot of different non-invasive treatements being done now in the clinics. Do you like Cardiology? It does take time to get into the swing of things, but it sounds like they are willing to work with you. Money is not a problem for cardiologists and I found them to be very supportive by sending me to seminars and great bonuses at Christmas. It doesn't surprise me that the wage is higher than your local hospitals.

If you find it interesting keep at it, it is a neat field to work in.

[PedsRN-07]

there are a lot of clinics that hire LPN's. I work at a pediatric clinic and they only hire LPN's and RN's, and no MA's cause here MA's cannot give shots to kids (from where I live).. I know in the OB-GYN clinic they only have LPN's and RN do the triage calls.... but it really depends on where you live.... good luck

[Big Smurf2007]

hi--- i am what i would call a new nurse. i got my LPn 10-2006. i worked for almost 10 months on a ortho/neuro/med-surg junk floor and left there to go to LTC. i go to interview at a cardiology office next week... i am actually scard b/c i have no office exp. i am iv cert, have had ojt for lab draws, 2005 basic ekg class.... what do the nurses their actually do?

[midcom]

I work in a large clinic with mostly family practice docs and a couple of specialists. We have NO medical assistants, just RNs & LPNs. Each doc has his or her own nurse; some are RNs & some LPNs. They all do the same things. We also have float nurses (I'm one & describe my job as similar to being a substitute teacher except I am a substitute nurse. I work for any doc when needed). We also have resource nurses whose duties are to help any of the nurses with anything they need done. We do have triage nurses & because of the extra responsibilities, they are all RNs. However, we also have a urgent care clinic on weekends. Usually an RN & an LPN work with one of the doctors. We have no triage nurses working during those hours so either of the nurses take the triage calls.

I had no office experience when I was hired & found it difficult to find a job. Most want some experience. My supervisor, at my interview, told me that previously she would only hire nurses who had worked med/surg.

As far as how to find the jobs, I sent resumes to every office I was interested in working at. I didn't get one interview and only a few responses, telling me they had no openings or that I wasn't experienced enough to work for them. I found this job through the website for one of the local hospitals. They also have clinics & their HR department was the first step toward getting hired. If they liked you, they'd send your application on to the supervisor of the clinic. I interviewed & was passed over by 3 other clinic jobs( not enough experience) through their system before I got hired for this one. Thank God, I didn't get the others as I really love where I'm at.

Good luck.

Dixie

[PN143]

Tomorrow is my last day to work in a cardiologist's office. I had a very bad experience and this was my first job as a LPN. I am so afraid to go to work somewhere else now because of the experience that I had here. The other nurse in the office was manipulative and was unwilling to train me in the things that I needed to know. She even did things to keep me from getting the information that I needed. I am never able to get off work at the time I am supposed to. Hours are supposed to be 8:30 - 5:00 and getting off at 5 is your early day. Most days I am there until 6:30 and get no pay for overtime. I have 3 choices as to where to go next, but don't know which one to take because of how bad this experience was. It looks as if I won't miss a paycheck if I can make a decision on what to do, as one wants me to start Monday (my last day is Friday). Ugh.... what to do..... my choices are med-surg (two hospitals and don't know which to choose) or an endocrinologist's office (they actually get to leave at 5 everyday and have nurse willing to train me) I just don't know what to do. :thnkg:

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Tomorrow is my last day to work in a cardiologist's office. I had a very bad experience and this was my first job as a LPN. I am so afraid to go to work somewhere else now because of the experience that I had here. The other nurse in the office was manipulative and was unwilling to train me in the things that I needed to know. She even did things to keep me from getting the information that I needed. I am never able to get off work at the time I am supposed to. Hours are supposed to be 8:30 - 5:00 and getting off at 5 is your early day. Most days I am there until 6:30 and get no pay for overtime. I have 3 choices as to where to go next, but don't know which one to take because of how bad this experience was. It looks as if I won't miss a paycheck if I can make a decision on what to do, as one wants me to start Monday (my last day is Friday). Ugh.... what to do..... my choices are med-surg (two hospitals and don't know which to choose) or an endocrinologist's office (they actually get to leave at 5 everyday and have nurse willing to train me) I just don't know what to do. :thnkg:

Endocrine is not a bad choice to me, diabetes is prevailent in the country and if you are positive that there is a nurse that is willing to train you, then, maybe you should try there. It is really a shame that people destroy themselves...meaning that obviously, this office needed help and when you come, the nurse tries to undermine you. It seems that this nurse is intimidated to have another person take the spotlight. She wants to be the only one that is needed and depended on. She probably felt threatened by having another person who could possibly outdo her. It is a shame, because she'll be overworked again. What experiences did you have? It may help to talk about it. But, also, we learn from even the bad...it makes you more aware when you work in a new place, because archtypes do not change. Best wishes in your next position.

[PN143]

You describe exactly what the nurse's problem is and everyone in the office knows it including the doctor. That is how she keeps her job, by not helping anyone else learn her position. I guess she knows she will get fired if they learn how to do her job. I was a new graduate and was hired so that I could be trained just for the office. I was learning and catching on really fast, at least what was being taught to me, but you can only take so much and it was just too frustrating to get the information that I needed. Each day became more frustrating until I couldn't take any more. I made lots of friends and got along well with everyone else in the office and am really sad to go, but I just can't stay.