Knowledge as an LPN

How long have you been there?

A few weeks or so....

Been there with ya. Best thing you can try is to make friends with the PA, so he can better understand you and help you learn. Ask plenty of questions, smile a lot, always offer a helping hand. I bet you're doing a great job. Dont let them tarnish your confidence!

Thank you for the confidence and kind words, I am usually confident in what I do, and still am basically, but when continued questioned why I do things, it gets old. When a patient has no symptoms of flu, such as body aches, high fevers, and that just all over yucky feeling I do not run a flu screen, if the patient has no sore throat, nothing but a cough and chest congestion, I do not run a strep. I may be over seeing something but symptoms tell me to do certain tests, and this PA keeps saying I should have, or I should not have, etc......all the damn time....I really am being tested here if I stay or not.....

I would, respectfully, ask that PA what his/her expectations are of your position and what the protocols are.

"Would you like a strep/flu screen done on every ill patient?" Ok, no problem.

"Would you like your notes/documentation done a certain way?" Got it, thanks.

I used to be a MA in a office with several doctors and each of them wanted stuff done their way. I had to clarify what they liked and then just remember to do it their way. It saved me from having to hear the nagging later. Im sure it is super frustrating trying to learn this new job when the PA responds to you that way. I would just try to get that clarification, and give it time. If you continue to feel like its just not a good fit, then move on. At least you tried.

Our PA told me what she wants, but when I do that, its not good enough, she even put a 4 year old child thru the ringer. I did strep and flu on this child, she came behind me, knowing I had already done the tests and re did both of them, plus she then swabbed for an outside source for reading.....the child was not sooooo sick that this needed to be done, and I do my testing correctly, she is not happy with anything we do there....I can do it right, I still here flack....

Time to take it up the chain?

If nothing else it seems like an awful waste of supplies in the office to have the PA repeat every test behind you.