A Day in the Life of a Nurse Practitioner: Retail Health

Have you ever seen healthcare providers working at a clinic in a supermarket and wondered if you’d like to work in a setting like that? Then be sure to check out this video by Kaitlyn Durham, MSN, FNP-BC, FNP-C! It gives you a great look at what being a healthcare provider at a retail center is like:

Day in the Life of a Family Nurse Practitioner: Retail Health Edition

Kaitlyn starts off by noting one of the great things about retail health is that it’s a very convenient option for patients who need quick access to care. In fact, many patients will go to a retail center clinic if they need help sooner than their primary care clinician can provide it.

As for the patients you’ll see, Kaitlyn talks about how many of them will present with minor health problems, but you also have to be ready for those who need help managing chronic conditions.

Some of the things she treated in retail health include:
✅ Sore throats
✅ UTIs
✅ Minor injuries
✅ STIs
✅ Diabetes
✅ Hypertension

She also notes a VERY big part of retail health is preventative care. So expect to spend a lot of time promoting vaccines, doing sports physicals, and DOT physicals for truck drivers.

Who would you work with as a retail health NP?

Kaitlyn says one of the things that’s different about retail health is that the team you’ll be working with is VERY small. There’s usually one clinician and one assistant on duty at any given time.

In her view, the great thing about this is it forces you to develop your clinical skills and makes you a more autonomous NP. It’ll teach you to think on your feet and assess each patient as they come in the door. The more experience you gain in a setting like this, the more confident you’ll become as a provider.

What does a typical day look like?

If you’re going to work in a retail setting, be ready for scheduled appointments AND lots of walk-ins. They come with the territory.

Kaitlyn says some days will be a bit of a blur, with lots of back-to-back patients, and other days will be slower but steady. On the slower days, you’ll have time to read up on certain conditions you’re not totally sure about. Regardless, the variety of care you’ll administer will be amazing. You’ll treat so many different people and so many different conditions.

Two tips Kaitlyn has for working in a busy retail clinic include:

💡 No matter how busy you are, make sure the patient’s chart is as complete as possible before moving on to the next patient.

💡 Make sure all prescriptions have been sent before moving on to the next patient.

Kaitlyn says that for her, one of the best things about working in a retail clinic is the people she gets to help every day. Many of them are relieved when they can be treated quickly and competently by a healthcare professional. Another thing she loves about it is the work-life balance it affords. When you’re done for the day, you get to go home and not worry a patient will call you on your day off.

Can a new grad work in retail health?

Yes! Kaitlyn says this was her first job after she graduated. You get to treat a wide range of conditions and build your confidence as a provider. And while your team will be small, there will be people you can reach out to for help.

So, there’s a little glimpse of what life is like for an FNP working in retail health. But we’ve barely scratched the surface here. Be sure to watch the video and subscribe to the SMNP YouTube channel, where you’ll find lots of great tips on how to get through NP school, crush your boards, and kickstart your NP career!

And for more “day in the life” content, check out these other posts on the blog:

• A Day in the Life of a Nurse Practitioner: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care (AGPCNP)
• A Day in the Life of a Nurse Practitioner: Primary Care Pediatrics
• A Day in the Life of a Nurse Practitioner: Interventional Radiology

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