Questions

[kitty catt]

Hi,I'm future nurse here.I have a few questions today. Is there any nurse who work at clinic?If there is, what do you do at clinic? Also I heard that nurses who work at small clinic or office have to make prescription sometimes...Is that true? Nurses can work at any department at hospital right? Meaning that sometimes work with physician,but sometimes surgeon or anesthetist,not one specific doctor forever right??like sometimes work at emergency etc... any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

[KellNY, RN]

Are you going to be an RN or LPN?

A nurse in a clinic or doctors office may be asked to write out a prescription that the doctor dictates to her and then signs. The nurse herself can never prescribe medications, unless she is an NP/CNM.

An RN can work in any department of a hospital, and usually will be on the same department each day unless she is a float nurse. An LPN will be limited in many hospitals (ie, many don't hire LPNs for L&D, ED, PACU, OR, etc) and some hospitals, like the one I work at, do not employ LPNs at all.

[kitty catt]

Thank you for your reply.RN can also work at ER?? A person who work at clinic and diagnose us like in free clinic should be a doctor?? Sorry,I just got into Nuring program,so I don't know much about words.What NP/CNM stands for?? Are there alot of male nurse there?? Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

[KellNY, RN]

Yes, an RN can work in the ER-many do.

Anyone who diagnoses someone with a medical condition must be a doctor or an NP (nurse practitioner-an RN with additional training) or CNM (certified nurse midwife) or a PA (Physicians Assistant). So that's who you would be treated by in a clinic. But RNs and LPNs also work in clinics.

Are there a lot of male nurses where?

[kitty catt]

Thank you for your reply. In CA. What do nurses in clinic do??Is there any difference between nurses who work at hospital and clinic?? To be a NP or CNM,they need to go back to school??even if they are RN? Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

[KellNY, RN]

An NP or CNM must first become an RN (BSN). They then have to go to further schooling--usually about 2 years for the advanced degree.

I have no idea how many male nurses there are in CA. I live in NY.

Pay in clinics is usually much less than in hospitals, and the duties are very different. People in clinics are usually stable, no IVs, no foley catheters, etc.

[KellNY, RN]

There are many males nurses in California. However, most have taken a leave of absence in order to support the "Free Paris" committee.

That is so wrong. On so many levels.

[kitty catt]

Thank you for your reply.:) NP/CNM usually have master's degree?? They can work at hospital too?? Nurses are also short-handed in NY? Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.