Firstly, the nurse who took our intake was very nice and for the most part helpful.
Secondly, I can't believe there isn't a DOCTOR (a real doctor) on the premise at all times.
I will preface my story by giving you a little insight on how I arrived to this location and hopefully no one will ever need to unless it's for a small cut or something that won't lead to something bigger.
We live In NJ and had a college tour trip planned for months In VA. My son started showing symptoms of not feeling good Thursday night, November 3rd. On Friday (the next day, we tested him for Covid (pcr test) and he was negative. On Saturday (out of precaution, we went to our pediatrician and tested him for covid again, the flu, and strep. All were ruled negative and the doctor felt he had a virus. Her suggestions were to have him rest and let the virus takes it's course. We kept him home for a couple of days but by Monday he showed signs of bouncing back. We had a college tour planned for Tuesday so proceeded to drive to Virginia to not lose the slot with the school and all the money and time already invested with the trip. However, on Monday night (and through the night) my son showed signs of worsening, almost like the virus turned Into a sinus Infection or Bronchitis. I Immediately called my pediatrician and we both felt I should take him to an urgent care. That's how we landed at velocity.
When NP Violet Wender walked in the room, that was it for pleasant experiences. NP Violet Wender has to be one of the worst NP out there. She entered the room without reading the chart because she basically asked all the same questions the nurse did and then suggested I take a flu test when the nurse had already done that. From the beginning she entered the room, she had a judgmental attitude and really wasn't listening to us as patients but rather seemed annoyed that my son was out with a virus when she felt he should be home. I'm not sure If It's something you learn In medical school before becoming a DOCTOR or not, but I'm pretty sure doctors our taught to be unbiased and not judgmental. She is obviously not a doctor so maybe that's why she hasn't learned that yet.
NP Violet Wender... From the beginning she did not think it was anything more than a virus, and even when she checked his breathing, she said I could always have an x-ray to double check but rolled her eyes while suggesting it as if that wasn't necessary. At the end of our visit she simply said he should be home and not out and just take a slew of over the counter drugs plus a prescription cough syrup to help. I have never given my kids cough syrup because to the best of my knowledge they are not good for you. It's just an unnecessary bandaid that could lead to many bad things (please read FDA). Knowing in my gut that this was something more, I immediately called my DOCTOR, not a NP. And of course, she also felt that this sounded like the virus turned into something more. She prescribed amoxicillin and within a day and half my son felt 100% better.
My opinion, I know covid has hindered many occupations, but I really think a Doctor should always be on staff at an urgent care. It's times like these that a second opinion from a Doctor could have helped. I also think that NP Violet Wender should focus more of her energy on assessing patients for their illness rather than their personal choices. Maybe she's not a working mom, or one of multiple children or one of multiple high school children, but it's not an easy choice to make to throw away money and scheduled time for a virus. A viral infection that must run its course and essentially you could be out if you're fever free for 24 hours. I've never heard of anyone, I mean ANYONE, taking 5 or 6 days at home for a viral infection when you're fever free for 24 hours or more. I mean covid is only requiring you to stay home for 5 days. So when a NP judges you for not being home after 4 days of illness, Instead of maybe thinking this could be something more, it's just careless and harmful. read more