What does an LPN do in a physician's office?

NurseJNB · Jan 28, 2015

Usually besides vitals, you will get a basic history, maybe put in orders for labs, give shots, EKG's and sometimes draw labs. It all depends on what kind of office it is, and also what kind of staff they have. A smaller office would probably have you doing all of that, but a larger one you may just do the vitals and history if they have their own lab tech, and secretary (office staff) may put in orders. Like I said... it depends on the office.

BlackBettyRN,OCN · Jan 28, 2015

I work as an LPN in an urgent care clinic, so my experience may be slightly different from a "traditional" doctor's office. I put the patients into the room, get a brief history of what they are here for, what symptoms they have, their current medications, health problems, allergies, vital signs, etc. Then, I'll tell the provider about the patient, and I chart on them while the provider see them.

From there, it really depends on what is wrong with the patient. If the provider suspects flu or strep, I'll swap them and run the test. If symptoms lean toward a UTI, I'll collect a urine specimen and run a UA. If the patient needs is dehydrated and needs IV fluids, I'll start and IV and give them fluids. I may have to splint a broken bone, draw blood, set up appointments with specialists, call drugs into the pharmacy, etc.

You, as the nurse, will do much more than taking vitals.

Lmomma · Jan 28, 2015

I work as an LPN in an urgent care clinic, so my experience may be slightly different from a "traditional" doctor's office. I put the patients into the room, get a brief history of what they are here for, what symptoms they have, their current medications, health problems, allergies, vital signs, etc. Then, I'll tell the provider about the patient, and I chart on them while the provider see them.
From there, it really depends on what is wrong with the patient. If the provider suspects flu or strep, I'll swap them and run the test. If symptoms lean toward a UTI, I'll collect a urine specimen and run a UA. If the patient needs is dehydrated and needs IV fluids, I'll start and IV and give them fluids. I may have to splint a broken bone, draw blood, set up appointments with specialists, call drugs into the pharmacy, etc.
You, as the nurse, will do much more than taking vitals.

Thank you! I would hope I get to do more than vitals, I am getting quite a bit of education and training to waste it doing nothing but vitals lol

T-Bird78 · Jan 28, 2015

Try a specialist office versus PCP because specialists tend to do more procedures needing LPNs. I did ENT who also did minor in-office surgical procedures and that was great.

mamax3 · Feb 1, 2015

As others have said, it depends on the office. At the clinic I work for now, the nurses also double as the scribe for the physician. We are in the room with the docs during every patient encounter and are basically transcribing the progress note on the patient during that encounter. We are of course responsible for the usual: vital signs, history, injections, EKGs, etc. This is the first place I've ever been that does the transcription thing tho. I've learned a lot about disease processes and treatments doing this.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 1, 2015

Try a specialist office versus PCP because specialists tend to do more procedures needing LPNs. I did ENT who also did minor in-office surgical procedures and that was great.

^THIS.

I worked at an Pedi Orthopedic Surgeon Group that was affiliated with a Pediatric Hospital; I did casting and was trained on placing casts, removing casts; taught pts how to walk with crutches, taught how to properly care for splints, order x-rays, pre autos for MRIs and CT scans with sedations; post operative pin removals, etc.

I learned a lot and enjoyed the work. :yes:

Deidre1017, LPN · Mar 21, 2015

I'm an LPN that works urgent care, I do all that blackbettylpn said plus X-rays, casting, splinting, and assisting with minor procedures ( such as i&ds, cyst removals, sutures.. Etc..) I enjoy it a lot since its a variety of experience.

Oedgar · Mar 21, 2015

At my allergy clinic job (solo practice) I mixed antigens, gave injections (allergy shots, steroids, xolair. Never needed to do an epi in the six years I was there.) Gave breathing treatments, and did PFT's... patient teaching. Rooming/vitals. At my current job... a small Ob/gyn office I do all MA type work rooming/vitals/history, injections, dip urine, prepare other specimens for lab (biopsies of cervix/endometrium, sti testing, etc). Our office rarely draws blood. We send them to the lab. I set up for procedure's such as IUD insertions, sterilize instruments, track and follow up on lab work, phone calls. I think in a smaller office you will do a lot of MA work, which I am fine with. A lot of employment ads here for physician office advertise for LVN/MA.