Urgent care clinics are ever emerging healthcare
and wellness specialty centers. These centers not only meet the
patient needs for convenience and healthcare services but also
reroute the care needs. With the long waits at the emergency room and
busy appointment schedules of primary care physicians, urgent care
has become one of the fastest growing segments in healthcare. Hence,
it has created more opportunities for nurses who’re looking for
alternatives to conventional clinical roles.
What do urgent care clinics offer?
When it comes to urgent care clinics, they offer
urgent medical care for a number of non-life-threatening, yet urgent
health conditions. These clinics consider every single detail; hence,
nurses who want to work there must possess excellent problem-solving
skills, strong assessment skills, adaptability, and IV start and
phlebotomy skills. And they should be able to develop a comfort level
with every patient regardless of the age.
Healthcare professionals that work in Urgent care
clinics
Usually, nurses work under the direct supervision
of a physician assistant or nurse practitioner in urgent care center.
This is because medical doctors handle other complex health
conditions. Yes, there are some similarities for nurses to work in a
hospital and urgent care clinic but with no interruptions from the
ancillary services.
Most urgent care clinics are equipped with an
in-house testing facility, and the nurse is required to obtain and
prepare specimen samples for testing. And some centers may even have
an on-site radiology suite. If urgent care clinics get more complex
cases, they are immediately referred to the emergency department or
to specialists.
Where can you find urgent care clinic?
Well, an urgent care clinic can either be
freestanding or can be found in an affiliated hospital. One of the
major advantages of working in an urgent care clinic is that the
working hours are more predictable as compared to emergency
department. And the likelihood of burnout is comparatively lower.