Does having a medical coding cert give you a better chance to get in nursing school

[KZ2016]

Hi I've done a lot of research on the nursing field and I'm eager to start learning! But as a new mom I needed something a little quicker in the meantime to start generating income. So the plan is to go for medical coding and billing and then purse my bachelor's in nursing as I work as a coder. My question is, does having a medical coding and billing certification give me an upper hand or a better chance at getting into nursing school? Thanks for your input 😄

[Cardiacluv]

Probably not but if you plan on moving into a care manager/Utilization management job, it will be beneficial and a good look on your resume. It might also help you if you get a job in a physicians office as a nurse but I really dont think it will make any difference when it comes to getting into nursing school. Good luck to you though.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

No, not at all.

[steffimiesha, ADN, RN]

What about doing a Cna course?

[KZ2016]

Well I originally was going to but I see the medical codingjobs pays better than the CNA jobs plus the opportunity to work from home for when I want to go to nursing school

[KZ2016]

Oh ok thanks

[KZ2016]

Well at least it'll help boost my resume then lol I eventually plan on being a nurse in a hospital though but I guess we'll see how things pan out thanks!

[Libby1987]

It will also be a benefit for giving you a perspective of the financial side. Understanding what goes on behind the curtain can help make sense of some of the madness.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

A medical coding certificate will not increase your chances of securing acceptance into nursing programs. It will, however, increase your chances of securing a nice and clean desk job as a medical biller/coder.

[rzyzzy]

I'd be wary of "work from home as a coder" sales pitches - facilities just aren't going to let you take hippa protected medical information home, I know a couple people with very expensive (and yet still worthless) coding certificates.

[Libby1987]

I'd be wary of "work from home as a coder" sales pitches - facilities just aren't going to let you take hippa protected medical information home, I know a couple people with very expensive (and yet still worthless) coding certificates.

Ours work from home on password protected software.

[rzyzzy]

Ours work from home on password protected software.

That's awesome, but like I said, I personally know a couple of people who went to "coding" schools (using serious financial aid that would have easily payed for a couple of community-college adn degrees) and they never worked a day as coders. If you know a couple who found great jobs, that's different than my experience, but both points are valid. If this coding school is sucking up $30k in financial aid (or worse yet, loans), and making the o.p. spend most of a year taking classes that won't translate to nursing school, it might be a waste & they should be wary.