"I never saw a nurse do all that!"

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

Young lady in my office end of day with acute onset of new sx, worriesome family hx, requiring a procedure; we hoped to schedule versus going via ER (appointment being better than waiting for hours) but would send through ER if had to as provider felt strongly needed to be done that day or next.

Procedure was one that typically has to be precerted before they'll even think about looking at her, and had to have scheduling lady at the other facility simultaneously sweet talk technicians into sticking around as well on an already-overbooked day. No doubt appearing much the whirling dervish, I was juggling a couple of different phone lines, filling out order form, cajoling insurance lady and explaining to patient as we go. It all worked out, packed pt off with her order and instructions. As she was walking out the door, she looked at my badge and in genuine amazement said, "I never saw a nurse do all that!"

I post this in part to respond to the "Is office nursing really nursing" thread. Was fortunate to be able to unintentionally educate a young person that there are countless facets to nursing. She commented that a family member had recently graduated from nursing school, and I believe her view until that moment was that it's all catheters and IV's and pushing pills (not that there's anything wrong with that! :))

It was a good day :).

[Little Panda RN, ASN, RN]

There have been 77 views of this thread, without one reply! All I can say is "wow". I do have to admit I was one of those viewing.

I would like to say is I do not think that some people realize just how much a clinical nurse does on a daily basis. We are the forfront and the background of any office. I am so glad that a patient took the time to notice the time and effort you took "nurse ratched" to get her scheduled for the surgery. It is time consuming and sometimes a difficult task to coordinate care between the departments and this is while other patients need you, the phone is ringing and the doctor needs your attention. "Hats off to all the office nurses out there, for a job well done:yelclap: ".

"Oh yes, I can do fifty things at once"

[J Lynn]

Thank you for that post. I go in the office everyday...take a deep breath...and get ready for my 20+ patients demanding my attention. I have to say that I love it!!! My day is very fullfilling.

Thanks again.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Thanks for the different view.

[MQ Edna]

Hi, new to this forum. I did "office nursing" for 18 years, in a hospital based faculty practice. It was a job combined with many, many other duties. I recently moved and am now looking for a job, am not sure if I'll look for the same or other.

But I do agree that many think office nursing is a cakewalk, when in fact, it's wearing many hats screening calls, triaging patients, working out difficult admits like you describe in the midst of insurance blockades, all the home care issues, pharmacy calls, patient calls; serving as a liason between the referrinig MDs and those you work with, and the families and your physicians.

On top of that it often involves (as I did and likely many others do also) managing other office staff and other various QA duties. It was a 9-5 job that sometimes started earlier for conferences, and often ended later.

Gerry

(not so bad for my first post here.) :)

[giginurse]

Hello

This is my first posting and I have never had the opportunity to share how overwhelming a nurses job is in an office setting..We become "Super Nurse"! We listen to 30-40+ patient needs from 9-5, shedule appointments trying to fit them asap, Fill rx request, get all of the incoming faxes from home care wanting this and pharmacies needing that, get ready for all of the patients you are about see, make sure charts are up to date, no paper work is missing. Between patients, you are still rec. phone calls, getting paged over-head for emergent request...eat lunch!!!!, help others when they are backed up, sometimes you have to cover for another nurse....(my office there are 11 doctors and each has their own nurse and group of patients, we do not share patients). So, when 1 nurse is out they have to cover all of her phone calls and if patients are on the schedule, you need to work with that doctor, plus make sure your doctor is happy!!! It sounds like I am venting...well you are right. We just got a raise:( ...3%, that is .44cents!!!! Is this fair.....What should an office nurse get paid?

It does not even meet cost of living...

giginurse

[Little Panda RN, ASN, RN]

Hello

This is my first posting and I have never had the opportunity to share how overwhelming a nurses job is in an office setting..We become "Super Nurse"! We listen to 30-40+ patient needs from 9-5, shedule appointments trying to fit them asap, Fill rx request, get all of the incoming faxes from home care wanting this and pharmacies needing that, get ready for all of the patients you are about see, make sure charts are up to date, no paper work is missing. Between patients, you are still rec. phone calls, getting paged over-head for emergent request...eat lunch!!!!, help others when they are backed up, sometimes you have to cover for another nurse....(my office there are 11 doctors and each has their own nurse and group of patients, we do not share patients). So, when 1 nurse is out they have to cover all of her phone calls and if patients are on the schedule, you need to work with that doctor, plus make sure your doctor is happy!!! It sounds like I am venting...well you are right. We just got a raise:( ...3%, that is .44cents!!!! Is this fair.....What should an office nurse get paid?

It does not even meet cost of living...

giginurse

I agree with you giginurse, that office nurses do not get paid nearly enough for all that they do. It is frustrating to say the least.

By the way welcome to allnurses and feel free to vent anytime:)