Internal medicine clinic - what do I need to know?

[guest464345]

I've been trying to get a outpatient job for a while, and have finally succeeded in getting hired in an internal medicine primary care clinic. The staff is just RNs, doctors, a receptionist, and a manager (no MAs or LPNs).

I know I'll be helping the docs with Epic inboxes, voice mails, setting up needed scripts for them to sign off, and similar administrative-type tasks I'll need to learn in training. I know I'll be rooming, going over histories, turning over rooms, giving vaccinations.

I would guess that a lot of patients in this particular clinic are older adults, and I would expect to see CHF and other heart disease, kidney or liver disease, hypertension, GI and respiratory complaints, the regular bread-and-butter stuff.

What else do you do in this type of setting? What will I need to know? Just trying to think of how to prepare.

[rn&run]

Congratulations on your new job! Common office procedures might include labs (phlebotomy, urinalysis, finger stick blood glucose and a1c), spirometry, vision screening, ekg, ear lavage, giving IM and PO meds. You might set up for and assist with minor procedures (skin biopsy, colposcopy, joint injections... really varies based on what your providers see). 

You’ll also probably do a lot of telephone triage— headache/dizzy/pain/sob etc. You’ll communicate with home health agencies, pharmacy, insurance— there’s quite a bit of back-and-forth of orders and paperwork. 

Again, good luck! Be kind, allow yourself to be new again.

[guest464345]

On 10/14/2021 at 8:02 AM, RN&run said:

Congratulations on your new job! Common office procedures might include labs (phlebotomy, urinalysis, finger stick blood glucose and a1c), spirometry, vision screening, ekg, ear lavage, giving IM and PO meds. You might set up for and assist with minor procedures (skin biopsy, colposcopy, joint injections... really varies based on what your providers see). 

You’ll also probably do a lot of telephone triage— headache/dizzy/pain/sob etc. You’ll communicate with home health agencies, pharmacy, insurance— there’s quite a bit of back-and-forth of orders and paperwork. 

Again, good luck! Be kind, allow yourself to be new again.

Thanks for this!