NurseAN94

NurseAN94's Latest Activity

1. 

   Case Manager at Aetna

   NurseAN94 posted a topic in Case Management

   HI everyone! I am really thinking about getting away from the bedside and I have been thinking of becoming a case manager before I even graduated nursing school but I wanted to get that acute care experience first. An Aetna recruiter reached out to me and I am very interested in the position. my only issue is that I've been looking up salaries (I'm in NJ) and some nurses are making around 60k and some are making around 80k. I am really wondering how much nurse case managers at Aetna really make in NJ. if anyone has any insight on this PLEASE let me know! I am thinking about getting my masters in administration and taking CCM exam but I don't want to do all of this if this job is not paying a certain amount of money.
2. 

   Float pool med surg nursing

   NurseAN94 posted a topic in Med-Surg

   hello everyone! So I am a new graduate nurse graduated May 2019. As of right now I am in an out of hospital residency program that is visiting nursing (home health nursing). I have been doing this the past 3 months but I am feeling like the job is moving very slow and I am not learning the skills I want to learn. sure I raw blood in the home, I do tons of wound care, I drain chest tubes (Pleurx) I do wound vacs... so yes I am learning and I am pretty well for a new grad in home care. but it is slow paced though. I was interested in this because I thought I wanted to get into case management (which the job is case management) but I am realizing its slow and I think I want to do more. So I got a job offer in a hospital doing med surg. It is also a residency program. but only thing is... Its going to be float pool. when I was getting interviewed my interviewer explained the position Is very tough and they don't usually hire new grads for it. so I am scared! but I really want to do it. ill be floating between 3 different floors, ortho-oncology-regular medsurg and later on may also be tele. i am wondering if this is a good idea to take this position. clearly I am getting used to nontraditional new grad positions lol but I just don't want to take on too much. I really do want to take the position bc Id want to get into a hospital based setting. what do you guys think about this? and if u can offer any tips!
3. 

   What do you mean I'm not a REAL nurse?!?

   NurseAN94 replied to #Nurse2017's topic in Nursing

   Beautifully written. I am experiencing this right now in my life and it has me second guessing everything. Anxiety is off the charts b/c of it. I decided to take a job as a field case manager (home health nurse) but they call it field RN case manager. When I tell people this they always question me and make me feel wrong or bad about my choice. I do not really desire to do med surg nursing. I do think the experience would be good to have but I got accepted to a residency program that teaches you home health nursing and I am open to being a case manager in a few years so I think it would be great experience. I can go to the hospital anytime but this residency program won’t always be here! I am so tired of people questioning me about it.. “what hospital u working at” and then I have to explain the whole thing... im so glad you shared this bc I’ve even gone back on me decision, feeling like I should do hospital nursing b/c everyone else is. But there’s so many things you can do with your career! I didn’t join nursing to be stuck in one place. I loved the flexibility of it. It’s one reason why I picked it! I’m going to stay confident in my decision
4. 

   Masters Degree??

   NurseAN94 posted a topic in Case Management

   I am thinking of getting into case management. I have a bachelors degree but I want to pursue a masters degree. I am just not sure what would be the best to obtain a masters degree in while being a nurse case manager. I do see online they have programs that focus on case management but I'm not sure I want a masters degree that specific. I saw the clinical nurse specialist degree which I thought may be really good. I don't think I want to go the nurse practitioner route because I really don't see myself wanting to prescribe meds and stuff like that. I want to further my education though. I'm wondering what are some of the masters degrees you case managers may have and how it worked out for you in your career choice. I am also wondering if its really worth obtaining or should I just get the case manager certification instead. I planned on doing both eventually but I'm just unsure. I landed a job as a home health nursing case manager getting paid $39 an hour and I'm really not sure how much more money I'd make if I got my masters degree. So I'm not too sure if the loans would even be worth it. Please give me your advice!
5. 

   Switching fields of nursing

   NurseAN94 replied to NurseAN94's topic in General Career

   I’m so sorry to hear this. I would completely hate to just feel like I’m passing meds and taking vitals. I think that I would go back to home health nursing if that was the case. You deserve to do something fulfilling for you. Please reconsider, I don’t want you to end your career this way. I do feel like people hold hospital jobs to a higher standard and I really don’t even understand why. Every home health nurse that I’ve spoken to says the same thing, they learned so many skills they don’t even use in the hospital setting. Have you tired case management for an insurance company? Aetna has great positions available where you can teach the client as well as advocate for them. Stay positive! I hope you find something that make should feel happy!
6. 

   Home health nursing as a new grad?!

   NurseAN94 replied to NurseAN94's topic in Home Health

   Thank you both for sharing! My plan is to actually go into case management after a few years of experience. I am open to working for insurance companies or a hospital really. I just know I don’t want to be doing bedside nursing. I’ll do it for 2-3 years bur I don’t want to do it for much longer than that. I’ve been doing research and I see a lot of companies want you to have some experience in home health nursing before applying to be a case manager. I did get more information and the residency program will actually be 12 months long, from sept 3rd-aug 31st. I also love the flexibility of the schedule, and the relationships I’ll get to build with my clients. I did receive my offer letter and the pay is also amazing. They are offering me $39 an hour. I feel like this is an offer I can’t refuse! The benefits package is great also. Did most of the nurse residents in your program quit because they did not feel like they were equipped with the proper training & knowledge to continue? I don’t think a 6 month orientation would be long enough to just be out on your own afterwards either.
7. 

   Switching fields of nursing

   NurseAN94 replied to NurseAN94's topic in General Career

   Wow, thank you for sharing this. Did you change your mind from wanted to be a nurse case manager to wanting to go back to bedside nursing in the rehab? Since you have such a strong background in case management why did you make the switch?
8. 

   Switching fields of nursing

   NurseAN94 replied to NurseAN94's topic in General Career

   Thanks so much for the word of advice. The reason why I am leaning more toward home health is because I want to eventual become an RN case manager and after doing extensive research, Ive noticed most case manager jobs want you to have some experience in home health nursing (since it is case management) so I feel like this would be a good opportunity. besides the fact that the residency program isa year long and they offer amazing benefits such as wound and ostomy certification, case management certification, tuition reimbursement and more. they also offer 6 free credits towards your masters degree at Rutgers university with paid text books, and the pay is really amazing. I am still applying for other positions, but I am dealing leaning more toward this opportunity. It seems to just fit me best.
9. 

   Switching fields of nursing

   NurseAN94 posted a topic in General Career

   Hi everyone, I’m really just wondering, if it is hard to get a job working in a hospital after only having experience as a home health nurse? I am graduating next month and I’m pretty much open to trying any field. I am interested in taking a job as a home health nurse but I don’t want to take the job and then later on not be able to get into a hospital If I change my mind. I’m also interested in psych nursing but I don’t want to limit myself and get too specific so early on. I don’t know what to do because I have a job offer as a home health nurse that has a great residency program. I guess I’m also wondering how hard is it to switch fields in nursing?
10. 

    Home health nursing as new grad??

    NurseAN94 posted a topic in First Year

    Hello everyone! I am graduating with my BSNnext month and I just landed a job as a home health nurse. It’s actually a residency program where you are paired with a preceptor for 9 months and you take on assignments together. There are also 2 in class days per month where you learn about insurance, case management, and brush up on nursing skills. This program is through Rutgers university and after completing the residency they give you 2 free classes towards getting your masters degree. It seems like a cool deal but I’m just really afraid I’ll be missing out or limiting myself by taking a home care job straight out of college. Most of my classmates are looking to start in hospitals and I always thought that is where I would start too so I’m just a little skeptical to take the job. I guess I’m just wondering if you’d still learn as much as you’d learn if you were working in a fast paced setting such as a med surg floor? And I’m really wondering if it’s even a good idea to take this job as a new grad. Im also wondering if it’s going to be hard to get a job working in a hospital after only having home care experience. I don’t want to limit myself and get stuck in home care if I happen to hate it. I do have experience as a home health aide and I did like that so I am open to the idea. Im also worried about the pay. I live in northern nj where nurses in the hospital are paid around $34 an hour, but I highly doubt a home care nurse would get paid that much since I have a bachelors degree and I would not want to work for less than $31 an hour. If anyone has any insight that would be great. Thank you!
11. 

    Home health nursing as a new grad??

    NurseAN94 posted a topic in General Career

    Hello everyone! I am graduating with my BSNnext month and I just landed a job as a home health nurse. It’s actually a residency program where you are paired with a preceptor for 9 months and you take on assignments together. There are also 2 in class days per month where you learn about insurance, case management, and brush up on nursing skills. This program is through Rutgers university and after completing the residency they give you 2 free classes towards getting your masters degree. It seems like a cool deal but I’m just really afraid I’ll be missing out or limiting myself by taking a home care job straight out of college. Most of my classmates are looking to start in hospitals and I always thought that is where I would start too so I’m just a little skeptical to take the job. I guess I’m just wondering if you’d still learn as much as you’d learn if you were working in a fast paced setting such as a med surg floor? And I’m really wondering if it’s even a good idea to take this job as a new grad. Im also wondering if it’s going to be hard to get a job working in a hospital after only having home care experience. I don’t want to limit myself and get stuck in home care if I happen to hate it. I do have experience as a home health aide and I did like that so I am open to the idea. Im also worried about the pay. I live in northern nj where nurses in the hospital are paid around $34 an hour, but I highly doubt a home care nurse would get paid that much since I have a bachelors degree and I would not want to work for less than $31 an hour. If anyone has any insight that would be great. Thank you!
12. 

    Renewal in NJ with history DUI

    NurseAN94 replied to 1_icurn's topic in Recovery

    Hi, yes they can find out. A similar issue happened to my mother but she was going up to take her state board exam after it happened. They found out she had a DUI and they made her go through a program called RAMP. Still gave the license to her after agreeing to go through the program, it was just a super annoying process. I wouldn’t lie on these things. The BON always finds out at the worst times and they could suspend your license at the worse expected time. I would just take the necessary steps and give the proper documentation so there are no issues. Since it’s your first offense they may not even suspend your license at all. This was also in NJ
13. 

    Home health nursing as a new grad?!

    NurseAN94 posted a topic in Home Health

    Hello everyone! I am graduating with my BSN next month and I just landed a job as a home health nurse. It’s actually a residency program where you are paired with a preceptor for 9 months and you take on assignments together. There are also 2 in class days per month where you learn about insurance, case management, and brush up on nursing skills. This program is through Rutgers university and after completing the residency they give you 2 free classes towards getting your masters degree. It seems like a cool deal but I’m just really afraid I’ll be missing out or limiting myself by taking a home care job straight out of college. Most of my classmates are looking to start in hospitals and I always thought that is where I would start too so I’m just a little skeptical to take the job. I guess I’m just wondering if you’d still learn as much as you’d learn if you were working in a fast paced setting such as a med surg floor? And I’m really wondering if it’s even a good idea to take this job as a new grad. Im also wondering if it’s going to be hard to get a job working in a hospital after only having home care experience. I don’t want to limit myself and get stuck in home care if I happen to hate it. I do have experience as a home health aide and I did like that so I am open to the idea. Im also worried about the pay. I live in northern nj where nurses in the hospital are paid around $34 an hour, but I highly doubt a home care nurse would get paid that much since I have a bachelors degree and I would not want to work for less than $31 an hour. If anyone has any insight that would be great. Thank you!