New NP Time Management Solutions
Now, where were we? Last month, I ended my post with the intention to discuss my time management concerns with practice shareholders. (Read Time Management for New NPs.) A meeting has been requested, but shareholders have not met since my last post. However, I have been able to voice my concerns to one of the group's physicians. The physician I spoke with agreed that these were legitimate concerns and encouraged me to pursue a placement on the agenda for the next shareholder's meeting.
In the meantime, I have voiced my concerns to the office manager. I went in with notes, specific dates and times. I explained which procedures I have not gained board approval to perform. I also offered suggestions as to a few simple patient screening questions for phone triage nurses, which hopefully will save the patients (and me) a little aggravation. Majority of my time is spent on public relations. If patient satisfaction is addressed at the first patient encounter, a lot of this could be avoided. Not only that, but one only has one chance to make a first impression. That first encounter sets the tone for the entire office visit.
After my discussion with the office manger, things did get much better. Maybe part of that was because three providers who were on vacation returned the week after my discussion or the office manager relayed my concerns to the phone triage nurses.
Here is an example of how much better things got. I had a patient come back in to hug my neck, thanked me for seeing her, and gave me a beautiful, spiritual card. In that instance, I forgot how slammed I was when three providers were on vacation. Suddenly, I remembered why I chose nursing in the first place.