BSN, Possible Job as Admissions Screener

[mama_bird]

Hello all,

I went to an interview today for a FT M-F 8-4:30 position as an Admissions Screener for a 200 bed sub-acute LTC and Rehab Facility. The Admissions Coordinator, who still screens, spoke with me for an hour. She then asked what salary I was looking for. I said minimum of 35K because I know I will have to look elsewhere if I can't get that. She did ask me to come for a second interview after I stated that.

I am an RN with a BSN and rheumatoid arthritis trying to get back to work FT in a job where I won't kill myself physically. I haven't worked clinically in several years because of my RA and spent two years working as an Admin Assistant for an advertising agency where I learned all about marketing and sales. I guess my eclectic experience combined with a BSN appealed to the HR Dept. I fully disclosed and discussed my RA and the fact that I have been out disabled and just started Enbrel which changed everything. The interviewer herself is a nurse and completely understood and even said if I was having a rough day she would fill in. She was very encouraging and said I'd be basically getting in and out of my car and visiting about 2-3 hospitals a day. I would have to come to the office on Mondays but otherwise I would be out following referrals and keeping track of our current patients who are in the hospital and making sure another home doesn't snatch them up.

I am worried about quotas and nasty people.

I need advice. She is going to interview one more person on Monday and then they will be making their decisions. She said she wanted me to meet the other people (after I disclosed salary req.) so I take that as a good sign. The benefits are excellent.

If I don't get picked, I'm going back to my offers of 3-11 in hospitals. I wanted to work 3-11 for a variety of reasons, but this job seems good as well. If I do get picked, I'm going to be nervous! She said she would precept me for a week or two and make sure I am comfortable. She did say that some of the case managers at some of the hospitals are sharks and she wasn't going to make me deal with them right away. She also said they want someone who is aggressive but not abrasive. I always worry about looking like a b&%ch. However, I really want a job and I am definitely independent and a fast learner. Once I know what to do, I don't need a hovercraft over me. I am also a very good investigator (hey, I've been the family genealogist since I was 12!) I read and research everything I do.

I am reading about MDS online. I'll be doing alot more reading if I get called!

I need insight and advice of what I should expect and how I should prepare myself to be an Admissions Screener. I understand about the census and I certainly don't want to ever get fired. I've gotten every job I've ever interviewed for and I've never been fired but when you work from home for yourself for a long time you lose confidence/assertiveness. Maybe I'll need to read up on assertiveness! Or sales techniques! My grandparents lived a block away from the facility so I know the area well and it is in a beautiful area.

Help!!

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

1. 35K seems way to low, but this does depend on the area you live.

2. The job may be a good fit with your physical limitatons as long as you can handle the in/out of the car and lots of walking. But it's got to be better than a 3-11 shift in a hospital!

3. Yep, you have to be aggressive without being abrasive or you will lose the game. here will always be a "shark" somewhere in this game.

4. If you get the position... really listen to the DON. (This is one of my biggest pet peeves) You need to understand what type of admissions the facility can and can not take. Sometimes you may need to dig a little deeper in the chart to understand a potential admission. I can't tell you the number of times we've ended up with the cutest little ole lady that was COMPLETELY... TOTALLY.... PSYCHOTIC (throwing food, throwing feces, throwing curse words, throwing punches, you name it). When we asked the admin coordinator we got "Well she was so sweet in the hospital". Ok you bimbo - did ya not see the q4H Haldol/ativan... the psych diagnosis, etc. (She didn't really care. She met her bonus criteria for census, left the building and we got stuck with the care. AND, unfortunately this happens alot!)

A really good admin nurse will know what the facility wants and promote that to the extent possible. Love those kind:redbeathe

Good luck

[mama_bird]

Thanks Nascar!

I had no idea how much money to ask for. I looked on salary wizard and put in my zip and $39,275 is the 50th percentile for an Admissions Coordinator but that is the title of the person who interviewed me and she is above me. The ad very clearly stated screener and I would not be making any decisions.

I can deal with the in/out of the car and the walking. Hell, I want to walk. I have 40 prednisone/arthritis/fatigue pounds to get rid of.

This facility has separate wings for a range of impairments, including psych. I told her I want to be VERY familiar with the facility, what is can handle, what meds it will pay for etc, before I am left to my own devices.

It is to my understanding that I would get a cell phone, a pager, and be going to the hospitals and gathering data, faxing it over (I would assume) and waiting for an approval before a bed is offered, as well as trying to market the facility to the patient/family. I was told the referrals come from the case manager so it's not like I have to randomly wait in hospitals for people to enter. I would also have to follow current patients.

I do not understand how any LTC can have this job done by a non-nurse or just a business person. I understand the "marketing" aspect but how can a business person with no clinical background know why certain drugs are used and how serious certain diagnoses are? This ad specifically asked for a person with clinical medical knowledge and insurance knowledge.

She didn't mention "You'd be fired if you didn't meet a quota" but after reading other posts on here from people in LTC, I have come to the conclusion that it comes down to that. I have no idea how many other screeners will be there at the same time trying to sell their facility.

I really hope that if I am offered the job, I will be able to get an accurate picture in the first two weeks so I know if this is going to work or not.

And what do you think is a good salary for a BSN who also worked in marketing at other agencies to ask for? I feel like an idiot because I have been working from home for so long that I almost feel like a new grad who should ask for the minimum. We are talking about using my car and gas here though, but I was told mileage is reimbursed.

Hope I hear more!:uhoh21:

[akanini, MSN, RN]

Good luck on getting this job. It sounds like you REALLY want it.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

OKAy--first off, it helps to be a nurse to be a screener, but you don't need a BSN. You need to know what to look for and how to read between the lines. My screener doesn't have any long term care background and after 2 years is still clueless about a lot of things...I didn't hire her and can't get rid of her. If you get the job, speak to the DNS...get a feel for the kind of patients your facility can handle. Before I took the DNS position, the place I work at would admit anyone as long as they had insurance...psych, behaviors, people the nurses couldn't take care of. Find out the strengths of the nurses in the facility and the philosophy of the management team. I'm lucky that my ED sees eye to eye with me about admissions. Census is important but so is admitting people you can take care of without jeopardizing the other residents in the building.

Good luck and let us know if you get the job.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

The screening job sounds like a better fit than working 3-11 in a hospital. If you have never worked on a floor, you will find floor nursing very physical. Your lack of nursing experience will make that even more difficult. Considering you don't have a strong med surgical background, the screening job will easy your way back into nursing. LTC has several positions such as MDS nurse. The pay seems low, but if you prove yourself you can ask for more money. Also you will be able to see how nurses actually work on the floor.

Good luck

[mama_bird]

Just when I feel hopeful and confident that this is a good re-entry for someone in my situation (thanks to all who have posted).....I put a similar question on another forum and this is the reply I got:

"Its a hard job. As soon as census goes down it is your fault and they will replace you. Salary sucks, in Indiana it is about 14.00 and hour. You do not need a degree to be a admissions screener. In Northwest Indiana getting patients is very competitive. You will get calls all day and night. I worked as an Assistant Director of Nursing and have seen admission coordinators come and go."

The thought of being replaced if the census goes down is scary. The last girl was there for several years. How hard can it be? This is not a crappy facility, but one in a beautiful area, with separate wards for assisted living, rehab, and dementia/behavioral problems.

I was not told about being on call after 4:30. I would think they would have disclosed that. She said there will be no working after 4:30. I am going to go to the second interview with a list of questions and I would like anyone who has time to give me some questions to ask.

I printed out the 35 page MDS Assessment form yesterday (I am aware that only about 11 pages are what I would be filling out initially, the rest are for ongoing monitoring and re-admits) and I am reading over them. I am really doing what I can to succeed at this job. I even took out my copy of "How To Become An Assertive Woman" LOL. I have been reading the boards here. I am wiling to learn more aggressive sales techniques. It can be hard to be aggressive when you are a 5 foot tall Italian woman LOL.

I really appreciate all of the help and I am glad you have posted because I have read several of your threads and I know you guys are experienced.

My biggest fear is taking the job, having severe competition, not getting the clients because I'm not aggressive enough, and getting fired.

I don't know why I "mid-f&%k" everything to death, but I suppose it is because I am thorough and want to know all the good and bad before I accept a job.

I wanted to take a refresher course before jumping back to a 3-11 med/surg and this job will give me an easier transition. Other than clinicals, all of my experience has been in clinics, community health, and admin. I have never worked bedside (latex allergy).

I love this forum. Thanks!:heartbeat

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Here is my unsolicited advice: forget about being assertive or aggressive. Be polite and knowledgeable about the services your facility offers. What does it have that makes it special? Let's face it, we all have nurses, CNAs and rehab staff. Do you have a pool? Do you have televisions and phones? Do you provide transportation? That's what people want to know. When I have my knee replacement here's what I'll ask: What is the ratio of RNs to LPNs? How many CNAs on the floor? Is there rehab at least 6 days a week? Will I have to have a room mate, and, most importantly, do you have wireless internet access so I can bring my lap top?

You'll do fine.

PS I'm only 5'3" and my staff thinks I'm tall......it's all in the attitude.

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

"Its a hard job. As soon as census goes down it is your fault and they will replace you. Salary sucks, in Indiana it is about 14.00 and hour. You do not need a degree to be a admissions screener. In Northwest Indiana getting patients is very competitive. You will get calls all day and night. I worked as an Assistant Director of Nursing and have seen admission coordinators come and go."

Now see, this is crap. I also live in NW Indiana and the salaries are NOT 14.00/hr. I would expect 20.00-25.00/hr!

You do not need to be a nurse to be an admissions coordinator, but lots of facilities have discovered it is very helpful to have a nurse in this position (better understanding of disease process to make decisions about what the facility can/can not handle)

I'm not sure I get why you would also be doing MDS's??? These are two seperate jobs in most cases and I don't see how anyone could reasonably get both done. Afterall, one requires you to be out of the building and the other requires you to be in the building. Seems weird.

[mama_bird]

I printed out the MDS thing to read the screening part and get an idea of what a screening is going to involve. I understand that the entire 35-page thing is part of the chart at the facility and not something I would be doing.

This job is for a screener outside the building. I don't make the decisions. From reading articles and posts here, my understanding is that I would be filling out about 10 pages on the patient, reading the chart, faxing it over to the facility and waiting for them to make the decision.

I can tell you this much. I cannot take this job if I would not want to go there myself for post-op rehab or LTC. I cannot sell something I don't believe in. If I am offered the job, I am going to want to see the whole facility, a room, and I have a list of what I would look for in a facility for myself personally before I say yes. Biggest things for me are are no roommate, my own phone and tv, computers, a library, private shower/bath, exercise room, transportation and not being rtreated like a child and told lights out at 10 pm. If this facility couldn't get me to go there, I am not going to go for the job. I can sell something I would want for myself; I cannot sell something I would never ever want myself or a loved on to have.

Nascar, you and CapeCod have been extremely helpful to me here, esp. with posting what is important to you and how to approach this. I want a full understanding the facility services and benefits before I am expected to be on my own. I would hate to be asked a question and not know the answer!

Thanks!