Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Office Nurse

🎯 Role Definition

The Office Nurse is a licensed clinical professional responsible for delivering high-quality patient care in an ambulatory or corporate clinic setting. This role combines clinical assessment, treatment, documentation in electronic health records (EHR), occupational health screening, and patient education. The ideal Office Nurse provides efficient triage and first-response care, supports wellness and prevention programs, coordinates care with providers and external vendors, and ensures regulatory and infection-control compliance. This position requires strong clinical judgment, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple clinic operations simultaneously.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Registered Nurse (RN) in acute care transitioning to ambulatory or occupational health
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) with ambulatory experience (for LPN/LVN roles)
Medical Assistant or Clinic Technician seeking RN career path

Advancement To:

Senior Office Nurse / Lead Clinic Nurse
Occupational Health Nurse Specialist / Case Manager
Nurse Manager or Clinic Manager
Nurse Educator or Infection Prevention Specialist
Ambulatory Care Clinical Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

School Nurse or Community Health Nurse
Travel Nurse assignments in ambulatory settings
Employee Health Program Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct triage and clinical assessments for walk‑in and scheduled patients using evidence‑based clinical protocols, accurately document findings in the electronic health record (EHR), and escalate urgent concerns to the supervising physician or advanced practice provider.
Administer medications, injections, vaccines, and topical treatments following established standing orders and current best practices; document medication administration, monitor for adverse reactions, and implement emergency protocols when necessary.
Provide wound care including cleansing, dressing changes, suture removal, and application of topical therapies; assess wound healing progress, provide patient education on home care, and arrange follow‑up when appropriate.
Perform basic diagnostic testing such as point‑of‑care glucose testing, urinalysis, rapid strep/flu tests, EKG tracing and interpretation, and vision/hearing screening, ensuring test quality control and proper documentation.
Conduct OSHA‑required occupational health services such as pre‑employment physicals, drug and alcohol screening coordination, hearing and vision screenings, TB risk assessments and testing, respirator fit testing, and recordkeeping for workplace exposures.
Manage employee health programs including immunization clinics (influenza, Tdap, hepatitis B), preventive screening programs, and maintenance of immunization and occupational health records in accordance with HIPAA and employer policies.
Respond to medical emergencies in the office setting (syncope, anaphylaxis, chest pain, severe allergic reactions), initiate BLS/CPR/AED protocols, stabilize patients, and coordinate transfer to higher level care when required.
Coordinate workers’ compensation care by receiving injury reports, providing immediate care, completing required documentation and forms, communicating with case managers and insurance carriers, and facilitating follow‑up referrals.
Educate patients and employees on chronic disease management, medication adherence, lifestyle modification, workplace safety, infection prevention, and self‑care instructions using plain language and tailored teaching tools.
Maintain accurate, timely, and legible clinical documentation in the EHR including vitals, chief complaint, assessment, plan, medication administration, referrals, and follow‑up instructions; ensure documentation meets compliance and billing requirements.
Facilitate scheduling and clinic flow by triaging appointment requests, coordinating same‑day visits, managing provider schedules, and ensuring efficient use of clinic resources to minimize patient wait times.
Coordinate referrals to community health resources, specialty providers, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory services; communicate referral status to patients and providers and follow up on results and completed actions.
Oversee inventory control for medical supplies, vaccines, medications, and PPE: perform regular stock audits, manage expiration monitoring, place orders, and ensure proper storage and cold‑chain procedures for vaccines.
Implement infection control practices including proper PPE use, hand hygiene monitoring, environmental cleaning protocols, and post‑exposure follow‑up to reduce healthcare‑associated infections and protect staff and patients.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives by tracking clinical outcomes, collecting and analyzing metrics (e.g., vaccination rates, follow‑up compliance), recommending process improvements, and participating in root cause analysis of adverse events.
Provide telephone triage and nurse advice using approved algorithms; document advice given, arrange for escalation or urgent care referrals as necessary, and verify follow‑up completion.
Support immunization compliance by tracking contraindications, contraindication counseling, and maintaining vaccine administration logs and state immunization registry reporting where required.
Conduct patient intake and vital signs (temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, height and weight), perform body mass index calculations, and document baseline and serial assessments for treatment decisions.
Ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and internal policies including HIPAA privacy and security, state nursing scope of practice, reporting of communicable diseases, and mandatory employee training documentation.
Train and mentor allied health staff, medical assistants, and new nursing hires on clinic policies, clinical workflows, EHR documentation standards, and emergency procedures to maintain consistent care delivery.
Prepare and maintain medical equipment, ensure calibration and functional checks (e.g., AEDs, glucometers, EKG machines), and coordinate preventative maintenance or repairs with vendors.
Manage patient flow during seasonal surges (e.g., flu season) by organizing immunization clinics, triage protocols, surge staffing plans, and clear patient communication to maintain quality and safety.
Perform periodic health screenings, biometric assessments, and wellness coaching as part of employer health promotion programs; compile results and provide aggregated reports to leadership for program evaluation.
Handle controlled substance inventory and documentation within scope of practice and facility policy, adhering to regulatory and audit requirements and reporting discrepancies immediately.
Engage in interdisciplinary care coordination with social workers, case managers, pharmacists, and mental health providers to address barriers to care, arrange community resources, and support complex patient needs.
Participate in continuing education, maintain required clinical certifications (BLS/CPR, immunization certification), and stay current on nursing best practices, state regulations, and workplace-specific protocols.
Serve as the primary point of contact for onsite clinical queries from staff and management, advising on immediate health concerns, return‑to‑work clearances, and accommodations for employees with medical limitations.

Secondary Functions

Support clinic administration with data collection for operational metrics such as appointment no‑shows, immunization throughput, and triage volumes; provide input to leadership for staffing and workflow adjustments.
Assist in developing or updating clinical protocols, standing orders, and patient education materials to reflect current evidence and regulatory guidance.
Participate in occupational health program marketing, scheduling large employer vaccination or screening events, and coordinating logistics with external vendors for on‑site services.
Serve on safety and infection control committees to review incidents, recommend corrective actions, and help implement staff training initiatives.
Provide back‑up coverage for front‑desk duties during high volume periods or staffing shortages, including check‑in/out and insurance verification as within scope of practice and employer policy.
Prepare periodic reports for leadership summarizing clinical activity, vaccination rates, workplace exposures, and trends that impact employee health and clinic resource allocation.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

RN license in good standing (state‑specific), with demonstrated ambulatory or occupational health nursing experience.
Proficient use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems (examples: Epic, Cerner, Athenahealth, eClinicalWorks) for documentation, ordering, and results management.
Medication administration and injection technique, including intramuscular and subcutaneous vaccination administration and cold‑chain vaccine handling.
Phlebotomy and point‑of‑care testing (POCT) competency for rapid diagnostic tests, blood glucose, urinalysis, and rapid infectious disease assays.
Basic EKG acquisition and preliminary interpretation for triage and urgent assessment.
Wound care skills including dressing selection, sterile technique, suture removal, and follow‑up planning.
Occupational health competencies: pre‑placement exams, DOT physicals coordination, TB screening, respirator fit testing, and workers’ compensation documentation.
BLS/CPR certification and experience in emergency response and stabilization of patients prior to transfer.
Strong understanding of HIPAA, OSHA, and state public health reporting requirements; ability to complete reportable disease notifications and maintain regulatory logs.
Clinical triage and telephone triage protocols, with demonstrated use of triage algorithms and escalation pathways.
Inventory management for medical supplies, vaccines, and controlled substances, including expiration monitoring and vendor ordering systems.
Infection prevention and control practices, including PPE protocols and post‑exposure management.

Soft Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication skills for clear patient education, interprofessional collaboration, and documentation.
Strong clinical judgment and decision‑making under pressure with the ability to prioritize multiple simultaneous patient needs.
Empathy and patient‑centered care orientation; delivers culturally competent and respectful care to diverse populations.
Organizational skills and attention to detail to maintain accurate records, follow regulatory checklists, and manage clinic logistics.
Teamwork and leadership: ability to mentor staff, coordinate across departments, and lead small teams during surges or incidents.
Adaptability and flexibility to handle dynamic clinical workflows, schedule variability, and changing public health guidance.
Confidentiality and professional integrity when handling sensitive employee or patient health information.
Time management and multi‑tasking, maintaining high‑quality care while balancing administrative responsibilities.
Problem‑solving orientation to contribute to quality improvement and operational efficiency initiatives.
Customer service orientation to ensure positive patient and employee interactions and promote clinic reputation.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or equivalent and active RN license (state dependent).

Preferred Education:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
Certification in Occupational Health Nursing (COHN/COHN‑S) or additional ambulatory care certification a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Nursing
Public Health
Occupational Health
Emergency Medical Services

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years of clinical nursing experience; 2+ years preferred in ambulatory, occupational health, urgent care, or primary care settings.

Preferred:

Prior experience managing employee health programs, workers’ compensation workflows, immunization clinics, and EHR‑based documentation.
Demonstrated history of clinical triage, vaccination administration, phlebotomy, and basic EKG/POCT use.
Evidence of participation in quality improvement, infection control, or occupational safety initiatives.

If you would like, I can tailor this to a specific employer type (corporate onsite clinic, primary care office, school health, or urgent care) or produce a version optimized for inclusion in a job posting or ATS (applicant tracking system) with bullet points ready for a careers page.