What is it like working in an urgent care clinic?

[Parakeet]

I was wondering what it is like working in an urgent care clinic. I take it is slower than the ER? Since I have graduation coming up this spring, I am looking into non-hospital jobs out there.

For those who are familiar with urgent care clinics, what do you do? What is a regular day like, it that may be asked? Could an LPN work in one?

Thanks for any input you can give!

[BiotoBSNtoFNP]

The urgent care i work for hires MAs, LPNs, and RNs all for the same position. The only difference is that the Rn can push IV meds and the others cant-which is no problem bc the provider will do it.

It is not as busy or stressful as the ER or other hospital setting.

It can get busy at times though-we have 7 rooms which can all be full plus a few patients waiting.

My duties include- rooming patients, taking their medical history, medications, symptoms and vital signs.

We also do point of care (POC) testing such as urine dip, strep swabs, mono spots etc). We see a lot of lacerations or I&Ds that you may assist with. We do IVs with antibiotics (med math is needed to calculate drip rate) or just fluids for dehydration.

Sometimes, patients are in denial about their symptoms and they come to the urgent care with chest pain or stroke symptoms. and surprise! We do an ekg and they have a STEMI and send them to the ED. I also have had patients in SVT or other arrhythmias so you can get some higher acuity patients.

There are administrative duties and physicals, drug screens, occ med which can get pretty boring. I love this setting though! If they call you for an interview, ask to shadow for a day to see if you like it!

[Parakeet]

Thank you! That does not sound too bad, actually! I am looking for a place that is somewhat slower than hospital, but where I can keep my skill up.