Melissa Mills BSN

Workforce Development, Education, Advancement

Melissa is a nurse with over two decades of experience in leadership and workforce development. She loves to help other healthcare professionals advance their careers.

Workforce Development Columnist

All Content by Melissa Mills

  1. Melissa Mills

    Psst....Let's Talk About Gossip in the Nurses' Station

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    Flatline - I agree completely! Being a very communicative staff is great, as long as the communication is positive in nature.
  2. Melissa Mills

    10 Tips for Resume Readiness

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    Great additions!
  3. Melissa Mills

    My Body Is Not My Resume: Exploring Nursing Dress Codes

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    Thanks for sharing! This is exactly why we need to have these conversations. Is this right? Is it fair? Probably not, but there is technically no laws be broken,
  4. Melissa Mills

    My Body Is Not My Resume: Exploring Nursing Dress Codes

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    SmilingBlueEyes - Thanks for your thoughts. Yes, as managers, it can be a bit more difficult. I think the first thing every manager must do is recognize that you do have biases. And, if tattoos or...
  5. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Utilization Review

    Melissa Mills posted a topic in General Nursing

    Another popular work from home option is to become a utilization review nurse. Utilization review nurses work behind the scenes to control costs while monitoring the quality of patient care. With the...
  6. Melissa Mills

    My Body Is Not My Resume: Exploring Nursing Dress Codes

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    AWESOME!! Yes, tattoos often have personal meaning. So, maybe they are part of your personal statement (i.e. resume)! Great thought about the title and the article. Thanks for sharing!!
  7. Melissa Mills

    My Body Is Not My Resume: Exploring Nursing Dress Codes

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    adventure_rn, GREAT point! I am in Ohio and have always been in this general area. Ohio (Cincinnati to be exact) is conservative. But, in other parts of the country, conservative dress is not...
  8. Melissa Mills

    My Body Is Not My Resume: Exploring Nursing Dress Codes

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    It is awesome that you can separate work and personal life. Sometimes, we have to do this to be able to achieve the things we want to achieve and still have a true sense of self. Thanks for
  9. Melissa Mills

    My Body Is Not My Resume: Exploring Nursing Dress Codes

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    I think it great that you could conform, if needed. I think for many people, conforming feels uncomfortable, even a bit like self-betrayal. We are each unique individuals and have different opinions...
  10. Melissa Mills

    My Body Is Not My Resume: Exploring Nursing Dress Codes

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    I personally think case-by-case is the way to go. There is not a "one size fits all" answer, in my opinion. It is a delicate balance though.
  11. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Nurse Case Manager

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in Case Management

    Neats - You sound a lot like me. Case Management just clicks! I love rising to the challenge of finding what the patient needs outside of what I already know. I enjoy having something new each day...
  12. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Nurse Case Manager

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in Case Management

    Niknnan - I partially agree with this. As a nurse of 19 years I have had some employers turn away because of my salary expectation and others who see me as a wealth of knowledge and understand why I...
  13. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Nurse Case Manager

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in Case Management

    Susie - Take a look at my page and you can learn a bit more about me. I write for several clients, all with different backgrounds. I really look at the needs of each client and match what their...
  14. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Utilization Review

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    Hi there! I am not overly familiar with Canadian Healthcare. I would think that similar positions would be available, but with a more universal system, it may not be a service that is used as much....
  15. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Utilization Review

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    I don't have leads, but I can certainly offer a little insight! Large insurance companies often have UM positions available - think Humana, Aetna or United Healthcare. Go to your favorite job board...
  16. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Utilization Review

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    Hi Leader25! Thanks for the comment. Many insurance companies have UR and CM positions. Not all of these positions allow you the opportunity to work from home though. Good companies to search are...
  17. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Utilization Review

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    I think that if you are worried about missing the human contact/interaction of your current job, you likely will miss it. For me, when I transitioned out of bedside nursing and into case management, I...
  18. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Utilization Review

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    SharrisRN - So glad you are liking your career as a UM nurse! It is great when you finally find your niche!
  19. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Utilization Review

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    Thanks KatherineMCG! I will see if this can be done!
  20. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Utilization Review

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    Blondy2061h, I have seen some nurses struggle in positions such as this or case management for the exact reason you stated above. However, these nurses are not picking and choosing what to approve...
  21. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Utilization Review

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    Hi Sparker RN! As NurseBecka2000 stated, you do not need any special education to be a Utilization Review Nurse. Some companies may require a BSN, however some companies are fine with an associates...
  22. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Nurse Case Manager

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in Case Management

    The Nurse Farmer, BSN, Yes, you are correct that Aetna and Humana utilize case managers and will allow nurses to work from home at times. Another great company for work at home opportunities is United...
  23. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Nurse Case Manager

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in Case Management

    You are so very right! We are encouraged by other nurses and society as a whole to continue our education, whether it be CEUs, degrees or certifications, however employers do not always see the value...
  24. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Nurse Case Manager

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in Case Management

    Hi Anon101, Many case management positions want you to have a full year of nursing experience before you become a CM. This is just to give you time to better your assessment skills and start to...
  25. Melissa Mills

    Work From Home: Nurse Case Manager

    Melissa Mills replied to Melissa Mills's topic in Case Management

    Nurse olamide, It really depends on what type of nursing you currently do and what kind of CM job you are looking for. How much experience as a nurse do you have? Research different types of CM jobs...