I Am Completely Baffled....

[OldGrayNurse]

I couldn't really explain adequately in the title what my post is actually about but I would like some advice.

I am an LPN with more than 25 years LTC/SNF experience, and have been an MDS Coordinator for more than 10 years. As part of my position, I oversee, participate in, and educate staff regularly on Medicare claim denials. Both RAC (part B) and MAC (part A) audits are given to me solely to handle. It is my responsibility to gather all information, interview all staff, discuss pertinent issues with all disciplines involved before I send in our appeal and cover letter stating why we deserve payment for our services rendered. It is an arduous job but in 10 years I have been able to get payment on 100 percent of our claim denials.

We have gone through some major changes in our facility and our administration no longer feels LPNs should be allowed to perform this job and has given me the ultimatum to go back to school in xxx amount of time or I may be relegated back to floor nursing (which I am asked to do anyway when we are short staffed- at least a couple of times a month).

I am now enrolled in school on my dime because when I do get that degree, I'd like to look around and see what else is out there I may be interested in, keeping along the lines of what I do now.

With that being said, I was asked by a local hospital recruiter to give an online confidential recommendation on a nurse I supervised when I was at another facility. At the end of the recommendation, a window popped up asking if I'd like to look at current open positions they had. When I took a look, they had an opening quoted as "Clinical Reimbursement Specialist- RN/LPN. Upon "clicking" on the title link, the job description was described as being a reviewer of Medicare denials and RAC audits and appropriately appealing them, as well as educating staff, staying up to date on Medicare guidelines, etc, etc. The nurse filling the position was required to have at least 3 years experience in Medicare billing/appeals/HCPCS, be familiar with the new ICD-10 codes, and be LICENSED AS AN LPN OR RN. All the other recommendations were just that, recommendations, not requirements (specific computer programs, etc). The hours and benefits were more attractive and plentiful than what I have now, and it appeared to look like a nice job and "right up my alley", so I applied and uploaded my current CV/resume.

Today, I got an email stating that they had decided to "pursue other applicants". Now, this part did not upset me. But the CHANGE in the job description following it did.

Now, the job was listed as "Clinical Reimbursement Specialist- RN. The job ticket number was still the same, but the title had changed from "RN/LPN" at the end, to just "RN".

So, I went back to the website and looked up the ticket number. Lo and behold, not only had to job title been changed, but the requirement had been changed to read "licensed as an RN". No LPN anywhere in the description OR the title.

Now, before you think I just overlooked that, and saw what I wanted to see instead of what was actually there, I had a friend over the night I filled out the application and she looked at the job title and description as well. And I called another friend on the phone and asked her to look at it. I thought since they were employees there, they may be able to tell me where at the hospital I might be working. Also, I have the original confirmation email thanking me for the application and if they are interested they will contact me at a later date. That email also had the "LPN/RN" tag on the end of the description and ticket number.

I am hard-pressed to find any valid reason for this change. I would love some feedback as to what possible motives could have caused them to completely change the job description to exclude LPNs when LPNs were included in the original posting, which had been up over a week, until I submitted my application.

I guess what I am asking is - am I being too sensitive thinking they changed the job description after I applied?