Any RHIT's or RHIA's out there to give some advice?

elkpark · Aug 6, 2009

I'm confused -- you say you want to "go into a non-traditional nursing role" -- but you're talking about an entirely different field. Health information technology is what we used to call medical records -- dealing with charts (whether paper or electronic). (I wish we'd quit changing the names of all the departments every few years -- it's so hard to keep track!) I've been in nursing since Hector was a pup, and I've never encountered a combination nurse/medical records role or job. You're either a nurse or a medical records person. Are you maybe thinking of nursing/health informatics, which is about applying computers/computing to nursing/client care? There are lots of nursing informatics people and jobs out there.

Maybe you could clarify what you're asking or looking for ...

Peanut7 · Aug 6, 2009

If it came between one or the other I would actually like to try HIT or HIM, but I have been looking at non-traditional nursing roles. I haven't really grasped exactly what nursing informatics really is. But I have seen a few positions that required RHIT, RHIA, or CCS and RN prefered. I have also heard of RN coder. I have recently seen a position at my local hospital that was RN biller, although I don't recall if you needed to have RHIT, RHIA, or CCS. These things always ask for experience, experience, experience. I also thought that HIT/HIM would go well with something like utilization review. Anyway, thanks for responding.

rocknrollnurse · Oct 20, 2010

I have interviewed for a "data registry manager" position which requires an RN, preferably a BSN, and a background with some experience with IT, which I have.

I'd be in charge of a team of abstracters that do not have a clinical background.

When it comes to data abstraction, especially for research and quality, a nurse's clinical expertise is second to none.

Rlnelson · Nov 23, 2010

i am an rhia and actually joined this forum because i was interested in maybe going to nursing school and become an rn in addition. i think that there are jobs that are out there for rn's that are non-traditional in hit that you don't necessarily have to go to school to get your rhia. i know that at the hospital i completed my internship at, the manager of medical records was an rn (the director and ad are rhia's though). also, i know of places that will train a coder that is a nurse because of their clinical knowledge. i am actually interested in informatics as well but would not be limited to case management and utilization review. these roles are more non-traditionally rhia and more traditionally nursing roles. i obtained my current job as a medical auditor because of my knowledge of medical records, coding, a & p and terminology but my boss is an lpn and an auditor as well and we are both also certified coders. so there is opportunity for crossover there as well.

cball · Feb 28, 2011

Hi, will you provide me with information on those places that will train nurse coders?

ccihon · Oct 23, 2011

I am a Coding Compliance Auditor, I have an RN with 4 yrs critical care along with 4 years transcription, 12 years billing and coding, 12 years laboratory. I went to a community college and took Coding I and II along with Health Administration Law Ethics. After I took my certification test for CPC, the current hospital contacted me. Yes, there is a great demand for RN, CPC. They are unique and upcoming. I am in the finance department and absolutely love my job as an internal auditor.