Warning: Stay away from...

[SDALPN]

I just recently got hired on with a company and couldn't run away fast enough. I won't name the company. But they are hiring nurses or anyone with a 4 year science degree of any kind. No patient or medical experience needed. (found that out later) They are placing them in "clinics" they open in Dr offices to do allergy testing.

I was sent for training for a week. I was taught a "modified aseptic" technique. (I thought it was either aseptic, clean, or dirty) They encouraged us to re-use needles for up to a week (or month with some things) with the extract vials. They taught how to push sales, even to pts who really didn't need treatment. Their "training" was horrible. I got a 96 on one of my tests with them and was told I did really bad (other trainees had worse scores and were told the same thing). A passing grade was 80, so I thought it wasn't bad at all. I also had homework and essays to write after being in training for 8-10 hours/day. The training was paid for, but not the homework/essays.

The next week I arrived at the office I would be working at and another person was there to set up the clinic. She was also there to check me off again on what I was checked off on the first week. It turns out that she was never college educated and was a licensed massage therapist at one time and was no longer even licensed with that. She said the cont. ed. was too much hassle. So this is my boss? Shes checking me off? There is an RN and Dr. available to oversee me. But this is who they want me to report to? Really? Well she has no clue how to train and it doesn't seem she knows the material herself. I was told during training that they would focus on the clinical end of things and the person who sets up the office would train on the administrative end.

Well the Dr's in the clinic were told one thing by the Dr from corporate that trains the Dr's and we were told something else. We understood the state law. But the corporate office never bothered to find out what the local laws were. So then the Dr's were upset because they weren't exactly told what their part would be. I was caught in the middle. I was being told by corporate to do one thing, the Dr's wanted another, and then theres the law. I'm went with what the law said. Basically the company put the cart before the horse on this one.

Back to the lady setting up the office and training me. She acted as if she had never trained anyone, ever. She couldn't explain complex procedures or give a step by step. (not surprised considering her background) But when she brought me a sticky note to call someone she made sure I knew the difference between the name and the number on the sticky note. (I know, difficult to figure out.) So that tells me she knew how to be detailed in explaining something. But that she didn't understand what she was supposed to be training me on. When I would ask her a question, she would always reply "what do you think?" When I would explain that I thought about something and couldn't figure it out. I'd also explain that it was the reason I asked. She would respond with "I'm trying to teach you. What do you think?"

I asked for another week of training (which I was told I could do). They had her stay to train for another week. I was thinking to myself that all that was going to happen was a repeat of the week before. I was hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. I spoke with her boss about the situation and he explained that he had a talk with her and that this was a continuous problem with her. I found that unprofessional. I don't think its appropriate for supervisors to talk about employees to other employees. She came in for the 2nd week and whined about how she missed out on spending time with her boyfriend and missed a game she had tickets to. Not my fault. I missed a milestone birthday for being out of town with this company for training. I never complained once about it. She knew that could/would happen when she took her job.

I was told by this company that I was to get a certain number of patients on immunotherapy per month. That was told to me on the first week of training. This week I was told that I just needed to get the patients to sign for immunotherapy because we could make the vials for the patient and bill for it. I was told to tell the patient to sign for us to make it, even if they didn't want it, so that it would be there if they changed their mind. Because as soon as the med is made they company can charge for it whether the patient uses it or not. At that point I was done with that company.

I had to keep track of inventory. No big deal I thought. I've done that with jobs in the past and its never been a big deal. I figured that its not big deal to know to order gloves when I'm down to a box left. Boy was I wrong! They required me to keep track of every glove used and every piece of gauze used. They needed a reason for the use of each item I used when I would adjust inventory. Gloves and gauze weren't tracked by the box/package. They were tracked by each one used!

I tried to give them a chance as a new company. I just figured they were working some things out. But they were doing some scary things! I didn't even name all the things I went through. This was really the short and sweet version. I thought I'd write this so that I could keep others from making the mistake with this place. But also for things to watch out for with crooked companies. I just hope they don't harm anyone. Thanks for reading!

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

You need to report this company.

[thdanh90]

If you don't want to name the company, that's fine. But your message serves no purpose when the readers have no idea what you are referring to and, thus, to stay away from. Certainly somewhere that hires a four year degree is too vague. Something like the state their company is in, the website where they advertise, etc would help us know more about what to watch out for. At any rate, thank you for sharing the story.

[SDALPN]

Thank you for the reply. I figured that was the next step. But not sure where to start with that.

[SDALPN]

If you don't want to name the company, that's fine. But your message serves no purpose when the readers have no idea what you are referring to and, thus, to stay away from. Certainly somewhere that hires a four year degree is too vague. Something like the state their company is in, the website where they advertise, etc would help us know more about what to watch out for. At any rate, thank you for sharing the story.

With the info I've given it should be enough. If anyone comes in contact with them, they will know with the description given. That wasn't the only part of the description. I do not want to be in any trouble for giving specifics on the company. I can add that they are opening clinics in Dr offices nationwide.

If anyone thinks they might be considering the company, they can PM me.

[AmericanRN]

Please report the company STAT. Re-using needles, having patients undergo unnecessary treatments are the two scariest things in the list of horrors you listed. You, the other nurses and the doctors need to be in keeping with federal and state laws. I could care less what this fake company "says" they won't be there to save you & the physicians from being possibly arrested for gross neglience, malpractice, criminal torts and investigated by each discipline's respective boards. Honestly this "allergy" clinic sounds like a front for something else like selling oxys out the back door.

[SDALPN]

Honestly this "allergy" clinic sounds like a front for something else like selling oxys out the back door.

I wondered about that. I've heard of it happening. I never thought I'd see something like that. I have no way to prove it. But I'm sure when they are reported that it will be found out if it is happening.

[itsmejuli]

I used to work in the health insurance industry.

This sounds like a set-up for fraudulent billing.

Report it. Google how to report health care fraud in your state.

[springRN]

You need to report this company.

I agree with this post. Patient safety is at risk, I am sure you can report this anonymously if you prefer or are afraid of retaliation.

[kesr]

Just curious - can you give us a clue where this is happening?

[fromtheseaRN, BSN, RN]

in addition to patient safety, you need to report this asap in order to avoid losing your license. you have an ethical obligation to do so.

[MsbossyRN]

There is no way someone would be able to encourage me to re-use a needle, or push needless procedures on unsuspecting patients. I would be out the door so fast, before training was even up, and I'd be reporting them any and everywhere! Good thing you got out when you did.