Working at Home as an RN?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in OB (with a history of cardiac).

Are there opportunities for working at home as an RN? I know it seems to sort of defeat the purpose of being a nurse to work at home- lack of patient care and whatnot. I'm just wondering... I have a 4 month old (almost) who will be 9 months when I start my LPN-RN bridge program. I sort of feel a longing to stay at home with him, but I also want to be an RN... is there any way this could work?

Specializes in Emergency room, med/surg, UR/CSR.

RNs and LPNs can work from home for insurance companies in prior authorization, continued stay review and case management. I don't know how long you've been an LPN, but depending on that and what kind of experience you've had, you might be able to get a job with an insurance company eventually working from home. You usually have to work for the company for a certain amount of time before you're allowed to work from home though. I would caution you though, just because you would be working from home, doesn't mean you wouldn't need child care. Depending on what area you might get a job in, trying to do that job and run after a toddler would be next to impossible. I know that you wouldn't be able to do it with prior authorization nor continued stay review because you really need to be able on focusing on your work, and being available if providers call with information, doctors call wanting clarification on something you've sent them for review, etc. I can't speak for case management because I haven't worked in that area yet. I don't know how other companies are but the company I work for has daily production goals for us and if I didn't sit at my desk literally the whole day, I'd never reach those goals. Also, just because you're working from home, doesn't necessarily mean you will be able to sign off at 5 or 6pm. Again, I don't know about other companies, but the one I work for, since I work from home, kind of expects me to stay online and finish my work no matter how late. I think that's more of an unwritten rule, but we all have MSN communicator and I'm not the only one that can be seen online after our scheduled quitting time of 5pm. I don't mean to be discouraging, just trying to give you a realistic view. I worked as an RN for 6 years before I stumbled onto this job. It isn't all perfect, but it beats working bedside and having to be exposed to body fluids on a daily basis. Good luck with your studies! You might check out some of the head hunting websites, they always have nursing positions posted. Again, good luck!

Pam

Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, MR/DD.
RNs and LPNs can work from home for insurance companies in prior authorization, continued stay review and case management. I don't know how long you've been an LPN, but depending on that and what kind of experience you've had, you might be able to get a job with an insurance company eventually working from home. You usually have to work for the company for a certain amount of time before you're allowed to work from home though. I would caution you though, just because you would be working from home, doesn't mean you wouldn't need child care. Depending on what area you might get a job in, trying to do that job and run after a toddler would be next to impossible. I know that you wouldn't be able to do it with prior authorization nor continued stay review because you really need to be able on focusing on your work, and being available if providers call with information, doctors call wanting clarification on something you've sent them for review, etc. I can't speak for case management because I haven't worked in that area yet. I don't know how other companies are but the company I work for has daily production goals for us and if I didn't sit at my desk literally the whole day, I'd never reach those goals. Also, just because you're working from home, doesn't necessarily mean you will be able to sign off at 5 or 6pm. Again, I don't know about other companies, but the one I work for, since I work from home, kind of expects me to stay online and finish my work no matter how late. I think that's more of an unwritten rule, but we all have MSN communicator and I'm not the only one that can be seen online after our scheduled quitting time of 5pm. I don't mean to be discouraging, just trying to give you a realistic view. I worked as an RN for 6 years before I stumbled onto this job. It isn't all perfect, but it beats working bedside and having to be exposed to body fluids on a daily basis. Good luck with your studies! You might check out some of the head hunting websites, they always have nursing positions posted. Again, good luck!

Pam

JUst curious how one stumbles on to this kind of position..... sounds like good stuff to me. I am a LPN but will graduate this year with my BSN.

Specializes in Emergency Room.

i agree with everyrhing pam says. i have RN friends that work from home and love it. there are quite a few companies that hire RN's for home, but i don't want to play recruiter. just get online and you should be able to find what you are looking for. again, look at major insurance companies and even a few drug companies. the only thing is a lot them require experience of at least 1-2 years acute care and prefer a BSN, although not required. GOOD LUCK!!!

Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.

With a 4 month old, I think you definitely should be home with the sweet little thing! Even if you have to work for 8 hours, if you could find a college kid or someone that would come to your home and rock babies, change diapers and bring the baby to you when its time for it to eat, at least you would be there and be assured that your baby is well cared for. Just being there would be huge for me.

Go for it!

Specializes in Emergency room, med/surg, UR/CSR.

You might want to look at Career Builder's.com for work at home opportunities that you can get into now while your baby is little. Just a suggestion.

Pam

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