Finding a new niche

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

Specializes in med surg, pediatrics, geriatrics, family.

After being an LPN for 20 years I am having difficulty finding suitable work for my age (55) and physical abilities. With cervical and lumbar spine DJD I am no longer doing LTC. Despite my experience, local physician offices prefer the cheaper to hire MA's. I did work for three local urgent care centers until the employees from the last center used the "friction" reason for shoving me out despite the fact that I worked tirelessly and professionally.

So now I am doing chart abstraction to EMR (through a staffing agency) and I enjoy it. No stress. Coding would be another area I could train for however this area of PA is overloaded with new coding graduates unable to find work.

So - considering sending my resume to other local physician offices offering to do chart abstraction for their practices as an independent contractor.

Anyone out there doing medical chart abstraction to EMR?

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Specializes in pediatrics; PICU; NICU.

Have you thought about private duty Peds? I have a patient (8 years old) who's ambulatory; never have to lift him. A lot of Peds private duty patients have barrier-free lifts in the home. Might be something to look into.

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Specializes in med-surg,sa,breast & cervical ca.

I am 50 and cannot do floor nursing currently as my knees are bone on bone and I need bilateral total knees. So my last job of 5 years which was case management also with abstraction to emr was eliminated due to budget cuts. I ran out my unemployment and am currently interviewing for a similar gig but more coding/analyzing billing errors.

Pray I get it as I tried to work rehab but just couldn't do it my pain was extreme. So I'm hanging out here with no insurance-ACA insurance to expensive for my age bracket/budget and praying this comes through for me. Even after I am able to get my new knees I have no desire to work on the floor any longer. I've been chipping away at my RN via excelsior but it is such a financial strain right now I'm ready to just throw in the towel.

I hope your able to find something. I think you are on the right track and there will be more opportunities with billing/coding/abstraction for LPNs in the future..Lets hope. I'm not ready emotionally to go on SSI/disability but if I can't find a benefited position I may have too.

Keep me posted-I'm interested to hear what you find and I will do the same!

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@poppycat

How did you get started in private duty peds?

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