New Nurse to Family Practice Needs Advice!

[HelloNurseLisa]

I just graduated from school in July and finally landed my first job at a family practice that also does home care, urgent care, laserlipo, botox etc. I'm very nervous because the doctors have never hired an RN before, usually only MA's, and I don't think they really understand my scope of practice and lack of experience. I am most nervous about answering the phones and giving patients medical advice. Can anyone give me reliable sources on where I can look up things that I am unsure of?! I do plan on clearing things with the doctors and following their policies and procedures of course. I think I'm just nervous about doing something wrong or looking stupid! I know I'm smart (valedictorian) but I always underestimate myself. I start monday!

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

i will check with the doctor and get back to you, be sure to follow up, keep a small notepad etc....

[RetRN77]

Hopefully, your doctors have an efficient practice, know exactly how they want you to deal with phone calls, and will train you to do what they want. The physician I worked for had very specific things he wanted us to tell patients. He always considered his receptionist to be irreplaceable because he had spent years training her to handle calls exactly as he wanted to. He figured the nurses came with the skills he needed and wouldn't need much training. But he found when his long-time secretary retired that nurses were no slouch, either, on the phone.

You might not be required to answer the phone. We usually only answered it when the secretary was on break or for some other reason absent from her desk. There were specific cases in which calls were routed to us for medical advice, but, again, the physician taught us what he wanted us to say, and if there was any question, we would put the patient on hold and ask him. It really was not too difficult. You'll find most things that go on in a physician's office are very similar and routine from day to day.

I think you will enjoy your new job! You are fortunate to have gotten such a job at this point in your career. Office jobs are hard to come by and usually go to nurses that know the physician from the hospital or other professional contact.

[Rathyen]

Please don't be afraid to tell a patient that you don't know, but you can find out for them. Tell them you want to double check with the doctor, or review things with the doctor before you give an answer. You'll pick things up quickly. I've trained several new grads into ambulatory care. However, use your gut, if someone calls in with symptoms you feel are urgent, send them to the emergency room.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Excellent advice, Rathyen

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

It is helpful to have protocols. We use the Briggs telephone triage book. It is a wonderful resource, and per policy, the reference used by all nurses in our office. When something does not fit the standard, we check with a physician, unless it is a clear-cut ER visit.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Remember the cardinal signs of infection :Swelling Redness Heat and Pain and elevated Temp...that will answer many questions!

Validate the parents concern re their children. It is ok not to know, reassure them you will do your very best to get them an answer. Read the VIS sheets for vaccinations so you know the expected side affects.

Ask the docs what are common telephone calls?

What do they want to know ASAP?

You will figure it out!

[PegO'MyHeart]

Hopefully you are settling in to your new job. I have been a family practice nurse for 25 years and I love it! I take messages and triage patient symptoms. I call patients with test results and do patient teaching. Sometimes patients just want reassurance. If you don't know something, always say I will find out for you. This has been so rewarding for me. If you have any needs, let me know. Good luck!

[JerseyGirl2010]

I'm in the same exact situation!! Except we don't do lipo or botox. BUT my doctor is old school and has been using PAPER charts for more than 25 years. He does house calls as well! He's OCD/neurotic lol And He wants me to be his scribe for eMR until he gets Dragon (voice recognition typing thing) I have to be 10 steps ahead of him when it comes to this eMR but this is my first time using it as well! HELP! I'm getting anxious because the doctor is getting/making the entire office anxious lol

[miconnect]

Hi I'm searching info too! I'm a Lpn in Michigan and have worked Ltc for 3 years and a little stent of Homecare at the start, but needed the Ltc experience so I moved to that job quickly! I'm ready for a change and had a interview with a nice office a few weeks and was called back to meet with the Dr's next week as a second before a decision is made. They say there is one other candidate. I have 7 years of call center customer service in banking which is different... But the personnel rep was impressed by that! They don't have protocols but I will make that as a suggestion to help improve response and better patient outcomes! And protect me! Is there anything else that I can do to prepare? Thanks in advance!

[miconnect]

Hi I'm searching info too! I'm a Lpn in Michigan and have worked Ltc for 3 years and a little stent of Homecare at the start, but needed the Ltc experience so I moved to that job quickly! I'm ready for a change and had a interview with a nice office a few weeks and was called back to meet with the Dr's next week as a second before a decision is made. They say there is one other candidate. I have 7 years of call center customer service in banking which is different... But the personnel rep was impressed by that! They don't have protocols but I will make that as a suggestion to help improve response and better patient outcomes! And protect me! Is there anything else that I can do to prepare? Thanks in advance! :)

[pfchang]

What kind of practice is it?