STNA

Almost forgot . . . I use "Telephone Triage Protocols for Nurses" by Lippincott. Great resource that I keep by my desk at all times.

I work in an office and I chart all my phone calls with patients. The only exception to that would be, for example, if someone is calling because they know their appointment is on Tuesday, but forgot what time they are supposed to be there. However, if I make a new appt. I would chart that. I absolutely write down patient care and advice that I give. I also try to write down what symptoms the pt. doesn't have, if it would save my butt in the future. For instance if the pt. is making an appt. for leg pain, I ask and then write down that this is not sudden, accompanied by no swelling, their feet aren't cold, etc. Basically it is proving that I didn't miss a blood clot. This has saved my job. The doctor I work for has tried to accuse me of a number of different things related to pt. phone calls, but I've always had documentation to back me up. Obviously, try to write things concisely and use appropriate abbreviations (more are allowed in a private practice than JCAHO lets you get away with in the hospital). Good luck and CYA!

ldt1010, I would love a list like that! Would you mind telling what you specifically include on that list? I've told her to watch out for a few things, but I'm worried that I might be missing something.

I work in a new physician's office and really enjoy it. The only other staff member is a receptionist. She's really good at what she does, but has no medical training. The other day she was scheduling a patient and I heard her say, "Okay, you have a blood clot? Would you like to come in next Tuesday?" I quickly asked for the phone and sent the pt. to the ED, but that experience made me think. Does anyone have a protocol for receptionists? Basically, she needs a cheat sheet so that if anyone says a buzz word she knows to get me and I can triage the pt. Do your offices use something like this? Do you know where I can find something to suggest for our office?

caliotter3, thanks for the advice. I've been at the job for about a month and a half and I really like it. Since I'm the only clinical person in the office, I have a surprising amount of nursing and administrative duties. It's a lot of fun and I really like the day shift hours.

I am an LPN and got a job at a doctor's office right away. It is a great job. I tried LTC for a few months but didn't want to stay in that environment. I got the job by applying for a Medical Assistant position at an upstart office. I know that title sounds bad, but I'm the only clinical staff. I do a lot of administrative stuff-like run our vaccine program, as well as the typical nursing jobs of educating patients, assisting with procedures, etc. If I had my RN and the same position, I would just be able to accomplish that much more. I absolutely love my job!! You couldn't pay me twice as much money to switch positions. I get to learn a lot from the doctor and I really enjoy speaking with the patients. I get to do things like diabetic education and connect people with resources that can prevent problems rather than just fix what's broken. We also mix in some excitement and have called the squad twice this week. (Which means two IV starts and a little ACLS action.) Anyway, good luck finding a job. I hope you find one you like!

I wouldn't be too hard on the tech . . . her job is not to assess the patient, just report abnormals. The best aides I've worked with just know that something is weird and come get me. Even if your tech. thinks that a decreased heart rate is a sign of bleeding, it doesn't matter as long as she gets you immediately. Just keep an eye on her and don't delegate to her unless you trust that she can complete that specific task. Oh, and be sure to teach her the difference between an IV and a foley.

Lol. That's how I got hired . . . : )

Dixie, I've been reading this thread and I've enjoyed hearing about your experiences. I am a new grad and I just got (finally) hired at an office. Do you have any advice for me as I start out? . . . Anything you wish you would have known when you got hired?

Did you take the MA job or decide to go back to school?

I am a new LPN who wants to work in a physician's office. Very few physician's offices advertise openings for nurses in my area. They all seem to like paying MAs to do similar jobs for less pay. So, I recently applied for a job as a medical assistant. I figured that I would be working as a nurse, but taking a slight pay cut. My interviewers have expressed delight at my nursing credentials and I like the job descriptions. However, I don't want to hurt my future options and have people say that I have no nursing experience. What do you think? Is it a good or bad idea for me to take a Medical Assistant job?

Use the opportunity to look up everything she has to say. If she gets you mad, you'll remember the real statistics long after the class is finished.

Thanks for all the advice. Well, the office manager called me the other day and said that they gave the job to someone else that morning - After they had officially offered the position to me! Rather than stating my lack of experience, she said that I was overqualified and was hiring a medical assistant. I thought my license was supposed to work for me not against me. Anyway, it I just got an offer from a hospital, so I can't be too upset. I'll probably be better off in a hospital environment: I am a definite people person and I'll have plenty of mentors around.

I am a brand new LPN and I just got offered a job in an OB GYN office. I'm really excited about it, but I know there's a lot I will need to learn. I will be the only nurse at the office, so I won't have a mentor. I was wondering if any of you could tell me what to expect and things I should know before I start?

It is a great program. Don't try to work or do anything else for the year. Tell your family members to start cooking meals and cleaning the house. Take out all the loans you need. Just focus on the school and you'll graduate smart. Good luck!