I'm the new admissions screener

[TheScreener]

Hi all. I have been a nurse for years, most recently (10 yrs) working in a fast paced ER. I was looking to slow down the pace a little and change gears completely so I accepted a job as an admissions screener at a small skilled nursing/rehab facility. My manager (a social worker) knew this was a new field to me and agreed to orient me. All in all, it's going well, but I have to admit, I'm sort of figuring this out on my own. I ask alot of questions. I do spend alot of time at the hospital, but not all thanks to electronic discharge! Any words of advice, any recommendations on courses or classes or nursing organizations that would help be in my job? Books to read? I want to do a good job and think I am overall, but I want to understand better and do a great job. The majority of admissions I see are for rehab. Our LTC floor don't turn over much. Thanks!

[artsmom, BSN, LPN]

I too am a new admissions screener. I cannot offer help but thought i would say hi. There is soooo much to learn, it is crazy.

[mom2cka]

Are you in inpatient rehab? I'd suggest knowing the medicare rules forwards and backwards to avoid dotting the i or crossing the t on the preadmission screen if that's the case... I handle the PPS piece in my unit and that's key to defending admissions when the audits come your way. Have a great relationship with your physicians and the social worker / case manager / therapists / nurses / PCAs/CNAs / HUC... pretty much everyone. You might find you'll need their help when it comes to getting through your referrals, whether it be on the acute units or in your own facility... especially when you need to go back and ask them to update their documentation to support the medical necessity of the admission you want to take, etc. If you're not in an IRF... can't offer much advice there. Good luck!

[Rehabme]

I suggest reading up what the role of a rehab nurse is. the REHAB nurses association around the world would be a good starting point. It does vary allot from the acute sector - especially emergency departments. I would also try to avoid saying you worked in ED. I worked with someone in a similar situation and she mentioned it allot. This just frustrated the nurses on the ward and she lost allot of respect from them. She no longer works with us. Rehab may not be as fast however it has some extremes of complexity which take up allot of time. I find that once patients arrive to rehab they start asking questions about their acute care. They may or may not have been told in the acute sector. There is also caregiver stress when families realise that they are not going to get their fully functioning family member back. One shift working with a harden rehab nurse with some highly dependent patients ie new strokes should be good enough to give you a picture of what they have to do this will also help with your screening of patients. Good luck