transition to urgent care

Specialties Ambulatory

Published

Hi I am new to an urgent care after many years in a very stressful hospital setting. Listening to someone and trying to capture their "chief complaint" quickly, briefly and precisely is a new skill for me to learn. Are there any resources for nurses in this setting - ie: what specifically to look for, what questions to ask? This is a new way of thinking in that I am seeing these pts before the provider and therefore do not have a diagnosis yet to guide the thought process. Any suggestions?

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Your assessment is meant to decide if immediate medical attention is required as well as simply to provide a springboard for the physician/provider to focus on. Chief complaint...onset...clarification - for example, vomiting, onset last night, emesis X 5 today, yadda yadda.

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What is bothering them enough to make them call? Has it worsened/improved/stayed the same? How long ago was the onset? Intermittent or not? What tx options have they already tried? Are they taking their rx as directed? Always verify the pharmacy and pharmacy phone number and a good number to return the pt's call.

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I work urgent care in a clinic setting, and the most helpful thing I've found is to preface all of my questions with, "Hello, my name is such & such...I'm so and so's nurse and am going to get your VS & ask you a few questions before he/she comes in to see you." It seems like an obvious thing, but prefacing your rooming questions with this statement focuses the patient so that they don't snowball you with a million and one complaints. If they know you are the nurse & not the one they will be seeing, they will typically give you a more condensed/direct version of their complaint. If you go in & say "what brings you in today," they sometimes assume you are the person they need to tell their entire medical history to. Not so. You need short/direct/concise information so you can triage appropriately. Hope this helps!

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I had to develop skills to help redirect the patient back to their chief complaint when they run off course. It takes time and practice! You'll learn what works for you.

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