What to expect as a Primary Care RN?

Primary care RN

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Hi all,

I'm a new grad and I just took a position as a primary care RN at Neighborcare Health Clinic. I'm curious what my kind of patients I'd see in a typical day! Advices would be helpful as well! Thanks in advance.

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Welcome! I recently changed from bedside to clinic RN role. It may be different at your clinic but most of my day is spent on the phone triaging patients. This includes monitoring the patient portal for messages. There's occasionally a stat call which means it's a live triage. I don't have time to look them up beyond getting into their chart for documenting.

In addition to that there's refills, prior authorizations, referrals, home care orders, and other paperwork like FMLA that RNs work on. Nurses may be asked to give IV fluids, nebulizer treatments, blood pressure checks, vaccines and medication injections. 

The biggest learning curve has been all the different providers preferences. Overall, I really enjoy it. 

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@TippyTappyMeow Hi! Thank you so much! That’s so helpful. Regarding patient cases, what type of illnesses/diseases do primary care RN sees in the clinic? I’d like to prepare myself since I’ve been out of school for a while!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

With the exception of IV fluids, I second what the previous poster said. I left bedside nursing a little more than 18 months ago after 20+++ years in Acute care and couldn’t be happier....well, I could, but I’m getting there.? As far as the illnesses you’ll encounter, if it’s out there, you’ll see it in your office if it’s anything like my clinic. To that effect, I’m eternally grateful for my years as an acute care nurse to apply towards patient education. 

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On 10/28/2021 at 1:39 AM, KatRN2 said:

@TippyTappyMeow Hi! Thank you so much! That’s so helpful. Regarding patient cases, what type of illnesses/diseases do primary care RN sees in the clinic? I’d like to prepare myself since I’ve been out of school for a while!

We see everything from stage 4 cancer to hand foot and mouth in family care. Literally we take care of patients from cradle to grave.

As far as common complaints, Covid-19 or Covid-19 like symptoms, diabetes issues, mental health problems, substance abuse, dementia, CHF, COPD, vague complaints of abdominal pain... you name it I have probably dealt with it in the past month.

 

If your practice is primary care or internal medicine you may not see as many pediatric patients and have more geriatric cases.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.

I also did a lot of phone and in person triage, point of care testing (flu, strep, blood sugar, hemoglobin, UA dips, pregnancy, etc), some wound care, IV fluids, IM injections, vaccines, neb treatments, and a lot of listening! 

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On 10/28/2021 at 12:39 AM, KatRN2 said:

@TippyTappyMeow Hi! Thank you so much! That’s so helpful. Regarding patient cases, what type of illnesses/diseases do primary care RN sees in the clinic? I’d like to prepare myself since I’ve been out of school for a while!

Not much to add but I will say so far my common triages have been hypertension, and COVID related. I haven't worked pediatrics but based on my preceptors experience sometimes it's a lot of reassuring the parents. 

I hope you enjoy the clinic life!  

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