Healthcare Background-Looking To Work From Home

[Disney Doll]

Hello all!!! I am an RN with 22 years experience, mostly ina hospital as a med/surg nurse. I have a bit of case management/utilization review experience and also a bit of homecare experience. In the past few years I have developed an interest in computers, computer medical documentation...medical informatics, if you will.

I am looking to work from home, or work partially from home, or do something different besides being a hospital staff nurse. It is just time for a change...I feel like I am in a rut, or a grind.

I'd be interested in hearing thoughts, suggestions, others' experiences as to what may be available for someone who is getting burnt out with the physical aspects of nursing, but loves case review, chart review, documentation. I do have a BSN, but no graduate degrees, and would consider some further education, if i could find something that would make it worthwhile. I am looking to make a reasonable salary...don't have the expectation that I can make $2million/year hanging out at home, reviewing charts, designing charts forms, designing documentation screens.

Thanks!

 

[golfgal]

My mom worked for an insurance company doing pretty much what you described, case review mainly to see what type of care would be the best for the patient (in-home care vs long term care facility for example). She worked from home after working at their office for a couple years. A lot of companies have people work out of their homes to save on office space.

I don't know if you belong to a church but parish nurses are pretty popular around here. I know our parish is looking for one and having a difficult time. I don't know if that would be what you are looking for but it would involve home visits with elderly patients, new moms, sit with people with family members in the hospital, arrange services like blood pressure screening, etc.

 

[C.Ann]

My sister - who is a nurse - runs her own consulting business out in Arizona.. I'm not sure about the details, but it has something to do with going out to the nursing homes and reviewing records to be sure that Medicare quidelines are being followed and that the nursing homes are up to par.. She works as little or as much as she wants..

 

[Christine]

Have you considered being a visiting nurse? My SIL is also a "long-time" nurse and has recently started as a visiting nurse. She takes on her own patient load but is also responsible for documenting their care and tracking their records.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You should look into becoming a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant. There are certificate programs at accredited colleges. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have done case management for an insurance company, and would love to find one around here that lets me work form home. unfortunately, right now CT is backward in terms of that type of thing. We're still into the "the boss wants to see you sitting in the office" mentality .

Homecare was great when I did it, but unfortunately, again, kind of a "been there, done that" thing.

I like the sound of reviewing charts & documentation to make sure they are up to certain standards...that's along the lines of what I am looking for.

Legal nurse consultant has been soemthing I've tossed around, but I'd much rather do the research end of it than the testifying end, if you KWIM?

I know the perfect job is out there...it's a matter of it finding me or me finding it!!!!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

go to www.workplacelikehome.com . There are some at home jobs that might require a medical background. Also posting there in a general forum, you might get some more nibbles on what else your qualifications could bring you at home.

Good luck!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'd much rather do the research end of it than the testifying end

Yes, I do know what you mean. I've looked into doing LNC myself. I didn't get the sense that testifying was a huge piece of it - maybe just a small one, if that. Anyway, here's an expample of a program, there's a good definition of the role and shows what subjects are studied. Northeastern

 

[KristaTX]

I see it advertised in NurseWeek magazine all the time and have always wondered about the Vickie Milazzo Institute http://www.legalnurse.com/index.html . Has anyone here ever known anyone who has done that program? If true it looks like it could be really good, but it also has that infomercial look of being a total and complete rip off .

It's not working at home, but I've been a school nurse for several years. Your busy-ness level depends on the school size and grade level, so it can range from either being kind of boring to completely exhausting. But the hours are regular and you get a lot of time off (weekends, summer, Christmas, Spring Break, etc). I got a little burned out on the ice pack/bandaid thing with elementary school aged students, so for the last couple of years I have just been substituting in my old district. When I was doing it full-time I really enjoyed being able to develop relationships with the students and staff during the school year. I enjoyed the junior high and high school aged population the best.

I am wanting to go back to work part-time, so recently I've been looking for a job-share in the public schools. So far I have not found a job-share position, but tomorrow I am interviewing for a part-time job with the campus nurse at the local community college's clinic .

Have you ever spent any time on these boards http://allnurses.com/forums/f129/ ? You might find some helpful information over there. It is pretty much laid out like the DIS.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

it also has that infomercial look of being a total and complete rip off

LOL, Krista, ITA. If I were going to do LNC I would do it at a college like the program I posted above. I've heard that things can be kind of "slow" the first few years of certification, but once you've established yourself things pick up.