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

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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 😄

If you can't manage to work as a CNA, take care of family business, and school, then yes do the coding program. If you think you can be a CNA, manage family and school, definitely become a CNA. A CNA job, will probably be better than a coding job on your nursing school resume. I say this because we had a lot of CNAs in my class, including myself. But here's the long term thought. A CNA job will almost 100% get you an RN job in your facility, no guarantees in life though. On the other hand, a medical coding position will not get you an RN job unless the Dr is willing to hire you afterwards, but from what I understand from your post is that you will be working for a company that manages the outsourcing of billing for physicians. Is this correct? So maybe a zero shot at a job directly through them.

Bottom line is, if being a CNA while in school, will not allow you to finish school, then forget it. No point if you can't finish school.

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If you can't manage to work as a CNA, take care of family business, and school, then yes do the coding program. If you think you can be a CNA, manage family and school, definitely become a CNA. A CNA job, will probably be better than a coding job on your nursing school resume. I say this because we had a lot of CNAs in my class, including myself. But here's the long term thought. A CNA job will almost 100% get you an RN job in your facility, no guarantees in life though. On the other hand, a medical coding position will not get you an RN job unless the Dr is willing to hire you afterwards, but from what I understand from your post is that you will be working for a company that manages the outsourcing of billing for physicians. Is this correct? So maybe a zero shot at a job directly through them.

Bottom line is, if being a CNA while in school, will not allow you to finish school, then forget it. No point if you can't finish school.

I'm a little confused by your post maybe I read it wrong, my original post was that I am going for medical coding and billing to have a back up while I go back to school for nursing, but I was curious to see if my medical coding and billing certification would look good on my nursing school application. Not if it would help me get a job as an RN cause I have the whole time I'm in nursing school to keep volunteering at hospitals and maybe down the line do a CNA program. I can balance work and school as well as taking care of my child but not everyone has help handy to make everything go as smoothly as they would like.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

CNA's typically work 3 12 hour shifts per week. This leaves plenty of time for nursing school and your home life. The course is very quick.

Coders work typically M-F 8a -5p. Plus the 2 semesters and summer internship. How will you attend nursing school?

Just something else to think about. I did the "coding" before nursing school. The best it got me was 8.50 an hour working at a doctors office running the front desk. The hours were M-F 9a -6p, closed for lunch.

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My nursing program had very specific prerequisites. You coyld have all the certifications in tbe world, but if you didn't have competetive grades in very specific classes, you wouldn't get in.

Actually, there was a poster on here who graduated from Harvard or Yale or such with a Bachelors and was dumbfoundef that she didn't proceed to get accepted into a community college ASN program.

Poster: "I graduated from Harvard."

School: "But did you take these prereqs?"

Poster: "No."

School: "Come back when you do."

Poster: Flabbergasted

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I'm a little confused by your post maybe I read it wrong, my original post was that I am going for medical coding and billing to have a back up while I go back to school for nursing, but I was curious to see if my medical coding and billing certification would look good on my nursing school application. Not if it would help me get a job as an RN cause I have the whole time I'm in nursing school to keep volunteering at hospitals and maybe down the line do a CNA program. I can balance work and school as well as taking care of my child but not everyone has help handy to make everything go as smoothly as they would like.

Yes, you didn't mention anything about job prospects, I threw that in there to give you a second idea about a long term outlook, and I brought up the CNA position because you said that you considered it in a later post after your Q.

You mention volunteering, and doing a CNA down the line. Are you sure you will have enough time to work in coding from home, take care of family business, and volunteer/do a CNA program *while* going to nursing school? Because if you did have enough time to volunteer, what could be a better idea is work as a CNA per diem, instead of volunteering. You hit three birds with one stone like that, you get paid, it looks good on your nursing school resume, and it will help you in the future get an RN job.

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Do you know how hard it is to get a job as a coder? Most want years of experience and extra certifications before they would even consider hiring you. Be super aware of all the scams out there offering training and coding certification as a sure fire way to make a living. Computers have replaced coders to a large extent. All having a certificate in coding would mean to a recruiter is that you are probably good with medical vocabulary, which won't count for much at all. Working as a CNA is much more appropriate and worthwhile IMHO. That is something that *will* make a big difference to a recruiter.

I unfortunately know too many people who got into coding and never was able to get a job doing such. Let alone from home.

My opinion: Become a CNA, and aim for a position in a hospital by networking.

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Yes, you didn't mention anything about job prospects, I threw that in there to give you a second idea about a long term outlook, and I brought up the CNA position because you said that you considered it in a later post after your Q.

You mention volunteering, and doing a CNA down the line. Are you sure you will have enough time to work in coding from home, take care of family business, and volunteer/do a CNA program *while* going to nursing school? Because if you did have enough time to volunteer, what could be a better idea is work as a CNA per diem, instead of volunteering. You hit three birds with one stone like that, you get paid, it looks good on your nursing school resume, and it will help you in the future get an RN job.

No lol I wouldn't be able to do all of it at once I could volunteer sometimes versus everyday and as for the CNA program the only issue is the only program for it near me is like a 8 hours a day 5 days a week and so I'm not able to do that since I'll be going to school plus that would require daycare and daycare costs money so I'm opting for medical coding /billing , so as for the CNA course that's a big "maybe" but probably not.

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CNA's typically work 3 12 hour shifts per week. This leaves plenty of time for nursing school and your home life. The course is very quick.

Coders work typically M-F 8a -5p. Plus the 2 semesters and summer internship. How will you attend nursing school?

Just something else to think about. I did the "coding" before nursing school. The best it got me was 8.50 an hour working at a doctors office running the front desk. The hours were M-F 9a -6p, closed for lunch.

Wow that's horrible I could get payed more somewhere else with less education. And well I wouldn't be going to nursing school until a year or so after the coding program. But I'm not so sure about the coding idea now. I was also kind of interested in EMT/ paramedics any advice or thoughts?

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

I don't see how it would. Sorry.

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 ������
Up Vote Up Vote ×
My nursing program had very specific prerequisites. You coyld have all the certifications in tbe world, but if you didn't have competetive grades in very specific classes, you wouldn't get in.

Actually, there was a poster on here who graduated from Harvard or Yale or such with a Bachelors and was dumbfoundef that she didn't proceed to get accepted into a community college ASN program.

Poster: "I graduated from Harvard."

School: "But did you take these prereqs?"

Poster: "No."

School: "Come back when you do."

Poster: Flabbergasted

Boy, would I love to have seen that thread :laugh:

The best place to find out nursing school admissions processes are the individual nursing schools. I like the cut & dried processed best, myself. Objective numbers like TEAS and grades, not who had the best opportunities for extracurricular activities.

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