Pros and cons of RN clinic nursing?

Specialties CNS Nursing Q/A

Now that I am recovering from my PTSD I'm getting back into nursing. I already have a (very part-time) home infusion job, and I have an interview soon for a two-day a week Clinic RN position. In preparation for this interview I would like to know more about Clinic RN work. What questions should I ask in the question portion of the interview? 2 days a week is just the right amount for me.

Specializes in ER.
2 hours ago, klone said:

Do you want the job? Do you think you would enjoy it?

After talking to the ladies who interviewed me, I think it would be interesting. I enjoy learning new things. I really liked the vibes. They have a very stable staff there, I was told. I would have a lot of contact with patients, which is the part of nursing I enjoy. 

Hi,

I’ve worked in 2 speciality clinics. Promoted in one rather quickly. 
Pay attention to what’s being discussed or brought up even the demeanor of interviewers/staff/environment because things can be very different in the interview than the actual setting.

questions- ask about patient ratio/load, what typical day looks like, what is expected of me in my role(and is this written down/know your job description well), what is the environment like at this job, who are the supervisors(learn their qualifications big one-turn over rate! What are the primary skills you will be using, what is the schedule like, lunch breaks, who is actually hr. The more questions the better and definitely look at job reviews and company reviews. Hope this helps. By the way I would choose clinic over hospital work(worked in hospital 2 years and never looked back that direction). However, Now I’m a remote nurse and I love it! I couldn’t read all of your question but I saw ptsd so be careful being overloaded and taking too much responsibility and caring for yourself because even clinic can be hectic and busy. Hope it goes well

That was part of the problem. No clarity of roles and responsibilities. MAs in my state have a wide scope of practice (they can pretty much do any skill except IV push meds). They aren't technically supposed to triage, but there is a find line that is crossed. Some of them get resentful and express the attitude of "you're getting paid more so I'm not going to do that". They get away with it because there is a major shortage in my area. By state law, the provider is responsible for observing the MA and deeming her/him "competent". The nurses in my clinic were expected to do phone triage, medication and DME prior auths, refills, teaching, etc. while hanging out in the nurses station with the MAs. It was loud and we had constant interruptions and complaining. 

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Just now, 2BS Nurse said:

Very well written SmilingBluEyes. I forgot to add in lab specimen processing and cleaning/stocking/ordering supplies and medications. And yes, provider preferences. They get annoyed when we get behind, even if it's out of our control.

I don't know of may clinics that take an  hour lunch break anymore.

Well I was very lucky ours did. But often that was for the doctors not us. In their lunch hour they would often run next door to the hospital and round on their patients there, checking labor progress or discharging new moms. Or doing noontime csections. (at times). It was to allow them time to do all that and eat as well, except for the case of csections. They just usually took their break after the procedure was done. Anyhow I digress.

  For me it was a whole hour that I could often eat lunch anywhere I chose. But I was the ding-a-ling who sat at her desk going through voicemails and trying to catch up, more often than not, so I could get out on time, eating as I went Whew we were busy.

8 hours ago, 2BS Nurse said:

lunch break

What is this term you use? I'm not familiar with the concept.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
2BS Nurse said:

Um, yes we are. Rooming, vitals, EKGs, ear lavages, injections, PO meds, glucometer use, assisting with wet preps, all EPIC charting, I could go on and on. We are expected to assist the MAs with these tasks (and fill in for them) when necessary. Our performance reviews and pay increases suffer if we don't.

Sorry I was unclear - I was speaking for my experience at my facility; it wasn't meant to be a broad generalization of all inpatient clinics. Yes, the RNs know how to do the tasks, but they don't know the MA charting, they don't know collaborative documentation (starting the appointment notes for the clinician), they don't know the Medicare annual wellness visit workflow, or who needs ASQs or ACTs or PHQs, etc. Again, AT MY ORGANIZATION.

Specializes in school nurse.
2BS Nurse said:

The RNs CAN'T do the MA job, legally. It's that they don't know HOW to do the MA job. Because they are two different roles, the RNs are not trained to do what the MAs do.

You dropped VERY important words in your unofficial quote. The OP said it's not that the RN can't do the MA job. That's very different from "the RNs CAN'T do the MA job, legally."

16 hours ago, 2BS Nurse said:

Very well written SmilingBluEyes. I forgot to add in lab specimen processing and cleaning/stocking/ordering supplies and medications.

Yeah, on top of everything else you will also find me ordering and stocking everything from toilet paper to vaccines and everything in between. 

6 hours ago, klone said:

Sorry I was unclear - I was speaking for my experience at my facility; it wasn't meant to be a broad generalization of all inpatient clinics. Yes, the RNs know how to do the tasks, but they don't know the MA charting, they don't know collaborative documentation (starting the appointment notes for the clinician), they don't know the Medicare annual wellness visit workflow, or who needs ASQs or ACTs or PHQs, etc. Again, AT MY ORGANIZATION.

It's pretty funny when I do have to room. I technically "know" all of that, I just do it so rarely I'm super slow and rusty. Figuring out which note the doctor wants (they are all different), then the wellness visits and all those questions and hearing the patient's life story when I ask if they had a fall in the past year or whatever. It's generally easier for everyone if I help the MAs with everything else when they are short instead of having me room.

The day would never come when our clinicians would room though, they wouldn't know how to start their own note, document vitals or who needs PHQs etc. either. I honestly believe we'd close the clinic first. 

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25 minutes ago, NotFlo said:

Yeah, on top of everything else you will also find me ordering and stocking everything from toilet paper to vaccines and everything in between. 

Isn't therethere a clinic manager who is responsible for those duties?

Specializes in ER.

I think I'm going to get this job, they sent me a text wanting me to get references today. I have very good references including the CNO from my previous job.

"Isn't there a clinic manager who is responsible for those duties?"

The managers tend to "delegate" everything they can. 

Klone: It sounds like you work for a great organization. Sadly, where I worked the RNs had to know all of the above so they could conveniently slip into the MA role at a moment's notice. Again, it helps to have a union behind you.

 

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