[lynnr_98]

Wow! I'm so glad I found this thread. I've been working in WC case management for about a year and have been thinking of leaving also. I am so tired of the BS like rush referrals, injured workers not showing up for appointments, etc. Plus, I always end up working on the weekend to catch up on my billing and reports. I've thought of going back to the hospital but don't really want to work weekends or holidays. I also hate getting up early so don't want to work days, but also can't see myself working nights. The local VNA has a M-F position from noon to 8:30 pm that I'm thinking of applying to but hate the thought of working every M-F. I used to be a Public Health Nurse and had an alternative schedule with every other Friday off but the pay was very low. The last thing I'm considering is leaving nursing altogether and going into new home sales. I have my real estate license but never used it and I'm told you can make a lot of money in new home sales but I'd have to work weekends. The hours are good though - usually the models are open from 10 am - 6 pm. It might be worth it if I could make a lot of money. I don't know what to do at this point but know that I can't stand to do WC much longer...it's driving me crazy!!!

[RNLeavingTheOC]

WC is a tough field to be in I agree, sometimes I would get so frustrated with the adjuster too! I also know how poorly a PHN gets paid, its a wonder they can even staff those positions. Funny how when I was a staff nurse I would dream of being a "desk" nurse-now I dream of what else I could do. Down your way by Temecula you would have numerous opportunities with the new home industry. Every Sunday in the OC Register I read the new home section-so many new developments at attractive prices--prices that nurses could afford. Luckily as nurses we have the flexibility to go part time while pursuing other interests.

[Nella]

You might try something similiar to case management like disease management. I don't think you have to worry about billable hours in disease management on a regular staff nurse level. There's usually abit more flexibility in hours. I know nurses that work part time in that field.

[kaytsamopo]

take my word for it, disease management is extremely boring and most of the people you are calling at home, to educate, really don't want to talk to you. As far as work comp case management? I have only been doing it for four months as an onsite nurse and I gave notice today! I absolutely hate billing for time, I hate dealing with the adjusters. Conversely I love the patient contact even if it is just to meet with them during an appointment. I was also promised I would be able to work from home, and after four months that has not even been mentioned yet. I should have gotten that in writing when I was hired; that I would work from home by such a date. It's too late now. Also, the people that were training me were two of the crabbiest, rudest, most arrogant nurses I have ever met. All I was ever told was that I needed to please the adjusters.
I worked both hospital and home health before I went to work comp case management. I have to say I made the most money in home health. I got time and a half for over time.... I wouldn't go back to the hospital unless it was in a specialty specialty department; I don't like the 12 hour shifts too much. I think if you are married with a family and your spouse can keep the kids when you are working then 12's are fine. They are a little much if you are single and you have a kid getting home from school at 3 p.m. and you don't get off work until seven.
One thing we have as nurses is choice. You cannot say that for any other profession. Find something you like and jump in. You are still young enough at thirty to become a CRNA; go for it. I am heading back to home health, where I was the happiest. Good luck!!

[aaac]

Originally Posted by kaytsamopo

take my word for it, disease management is extremely boring and most of the people you are calling at home, to educate, really don't want to talk to you. As far as work comp case management? I have only been doing it for four months as an onsite nurse and I gave notice today! I absolutely hate billing for time, I hate dealing with the adjusters. Conversely I love the patient contact even if it is just to meet with them during an appointment. I was also promised I would be able to work from home, and after four months that has not even been mentioned yet. I should have gotten that in writing when I was hired; that I would work from home by such a date. It's too late now. Also, the people that were training me were two of the crabbiest, rudest, most arrogant nurses I have ever met. All I was ever told was that I needed to please the adjusters.
I worked both hospital and home health before I went to work comp case management. I have to say I made the most money in home health. I got time and a half for over time.... I wouldn't go back to the hospital unless it was in a specialty specialty department; I don't like the 12 hour shifts too much. I think if you are married with a family and your spouse can keep the kids when you are working then 12's are fine. They are a little much if you are single and you have a kid getting home from school at 3 p.m. and you don't get off work until seven.
One thing we have as nurses is choice. You cannot say that for any other profession. Find something you like and jump in. You are still young enough at thirty to become a CRNA; go for it. I am heading back to home health, where I was the happiest. Good luck!!

Thanks!

I am really considering going back to the hospital and get my ICU experience and after a year then think more about what is really right for me. At least at that point, I will have some ICU under my belt, which is required for CRNA. I am considering NP too. I can always try home health in the future as well. I just don't want to keep sitting on the fence and a few years from now I decide to pursue CRNA and I do not have ICU at that time. Plus, I hear CRNA is going to a doctorate level program with more schooling. I am hoping to get in before that happens, which means I better start getting the wheels turning now. I do not see myself staying working for hospital long-term. But at least, ICU will likely prepare me for any new step and I can always go back to case management.

[mtr33]

how do I know if I'm cut out for nursing....I am interested in the field of nurse anethesist ....is there alot of blood and guts in this field...thanks.

[emeraldga]

Originally Posted by aaac

Thanks for the advice too! The only problem about the ICU route is I will probably have to jump ship to do it. THey are not likely to train me to work prn. I figure I could do med-surg prn a few months to see if I like the shift work and if so do ICU for a couple of years and then make a decsion regarding CRNA or NP. I keep having this feeling that I will not know unless I leave. I guess I can always go back to CM. But, I like working out of my house so much and hope if I do decide to go back that I can get a job out of my house again. I must say I do like field better than TCM. You get a better insight and I enjoy the travel.

Dear aaac,
I guess I'm backwards from your situation. I'm currently doing telephonic disease management and work from home ( 4 10hr days) and I'm considering leaving for an in-office M-F worker's comp case managment position. I'm only leaving my current job because my company is going down the toilet so to speak. I'm devastated to have to give up my home-based job. I live in Atlanta and the commutes are terrible. No less than 1 hr each direction to work. That means I'm basically putting in 10-11 hours for work everyday of the week. But, there are no home based CM jobs here in Atlanta that I can find. Perhaps you can give me some advice. I think I may be offered another CM position working with indigent/medicaid population. The hiring manager said it was old-fashioned case managment with careplans, etc. Do you think I would get better experience as a case manager working with WC or medicaid? Good luck and thanks in advance for your help with my question.

[MultipurposeRN]

Can't anyone get time off during the week from your jobs? I have no experience w/ home or office case management, but I do Care Coordination at a hospital; it combines some Social Work, Case management, and utilization. I thought I would miss 12 hrs shifts, but I don't at all. We cover weekends on a rotation so get 2 days off whenever we want, to make up for it. It's nice because you can take a couple of 3 days weekends, a 4 day weekend, etc.
I live where there's Daylight Savings time, so really feel like I have quite a bit of time off even after work. And our hours are very flexible. We put in our 8 hrs and stay available by pager til 5:00 pm. If we need to leave early/come in late, we can make it up over the week by coming in early/staying late, whenever. The job has it's hectic moments but I have no desire to go back to the bedside fulltime. PRN might be ok. But being a single parent, I don't want to mess w/ planning childcare, after school activities, etc around 12 hr shifts again. Seemed like the only way I could make afterschool programs was to work mostly weekends.

[TNNurseCCM]

I work hospital case mgt. and have done so for the past 8 yrs. What are job responsibilities in workers comp? What is a typical work day like? How many hrs a day do you spend? How many clients do you have? What kind of home-office setting do you have? AND, how do you get started in workers comp? One more.....are you covered with personal health insurance thru your company?

Thanks,
susan

[burn out]

Originally Posted by mtr33

how do I know if I'm cut out for nursing....I am interested in the field of nurse anethesist ....is there alot of blood and guts in this field...thanks.

Honey ,nurse anesthetist is all blood and guts, it's SURGERY. You may not be doing the cutting but you have to watch.