Coding/triage/travel

[GetMeOut]

Hi!

I'm just looking for some advice. I'm currently a travel OR nurse with four years of nursing experience. I really want to get out of bedside nursing and I have been looking into my different options, however, I have become accustomed to moving around regularly. I don't want to give up the freedom that travel nursing affords me, but I don't know how to do it.

I looked into coding, which sounds extremely appealing, but I've been very discouraged by the information I have read on different forums on how difficult it is to get a job. Anyone have experience with this? I'm also concerned because while there are many opportunities that say "work from home" I got the impression that you'd still need to be in the city to pick up charts. Anyone have information on this?

Another path I was looking into was telephone triage. I don't know if you need emergency experience for this or not. I'm also concerned with how much of a guideline or algorithm is provided to you. I'd really like information on the daily workflow for an at home telephone triage nurse and whether you can move around with this type of job.

If anyone has any advice on how I can travel around the country working from home I would really appreciate it.

I'm trying to find something flexible and that will convince me not to leave nursing. I've really been struggling lately to enjoy nursing and I don't want to give up on it, but I'm losing faith quickly.

Thanks!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

The "remote" coders my organization employs must utilize a specific hardware set-up in their homes in order to ensure security & transmission speeds. I understand that this arrangement is not very portable, as any new location would have to be re-evaluated by the cyber-security team in order to set up a connection.

Have you considered working with a medical equipment company? Since you have OR experience, I'm sure you have been on the receiving end of various training programs &/or presentations from vendors.... well, each of those companies employs expert nurses like you to help develop & provide these services. A know a few ICU nurses who have gone this route -working with equipment like pacemakers, VADs, drainage systems, wound care, etc. Their jobs are pretty much 100% travel. I'm sure that your expertise would be worth a lot to many vendors.

[southern rn]

I have done telephone triage for the hospital system I work at. I believe some of the insurance companies utilize them as well so that may be an option to investigate as far as still being able to move around with your job.We used a specific program with a triage tree to dispense advice and preapproved certain web sites, so your really not having to do too much off the cuff.

[lala4005]

I am a certified physician coder and chart auditor, and can tell you that most companies want three years of experience coding for the particular specialty you are applying for, especially when it comes to working from home, as you already have to be an expert since there's no one sitting next to you to help you with questions. Coding is great in that once you're experienced you can work from home with flexible hours, but I get very bored sitting at a desk all day, thus I am applying to nursing school! (It's a dream I've had since high school, but didn't really feel ready until I was almost 30).

Also- coding is not great money unless you can get experience as a facility/inpatient coder. There are some companies out there willing to train newbie coders, but you would need to be certified and complete a formal training program first, and then sign a contract to work for them for a certain period of time at like $10 an hour or something like that....

I would personally recommend looking at different insurers who are looking for nurses to telecommute for case management, etc. Good luck to you!