Nurseterr7

This is a very complex Question. personally I would like to know what some things cost to begin with. For example what is a reasonable cost for a visit to your Primary MD -vs- a specialist , cost for basic labs, x-ray, ct scans. It is difficult to get prices from institutions and the prices they give are tired up with the insurance industry. The free market can not work when we have a medical institution unwilling to free up information about pricing. I live in Fla. and mammograms are free to women but when I registered upon arrival for mine I was asked to give them a copay. Had I not know the law my wallet would have been opened. I have insurance coverage they will charge anyway. Morally we believe health care to be a right but business interest dictates . If this nation wants to lean toward universal Health care I would suggest they start by expanding preventative health care and walk in clinics and see if it brings down the cost of the emergency services draining the system. The problem is . No patients -No profits... I really don't know what the solution is,I'm just talking off the top of my head:bugeyes:

Thanks PMFB and Eric, Yes I am an RN . But I will contact the BON just to make sure there is no conflict. I'll post again if they say No but I see lots of business cards with LMT and Physical Therapist who are in the same distributorship that I want to be in. I would think that if there was a problem they would not be allowed to do so. It is for a nutritional product so I am not making any claims. But I would rather be safe than sorry and have a problem in the future. Thanks

I am considering an independent distributorship of a product that I find helpful . Do you think it is unwise of me to use my RN status behind my name when having the cards made. I am not making any claims of curative properties attached to this product and will denote on the card that I am an independent distributer. Any thoughts on this? Thank you

I live in south Florida and it is WAY useful to know Spanish. I am not fluent myself but know enough to get by. They even offer a class at the college here called Spanish for health care professionals. One of the hospitals here has phones that connect you to interpretors if the Pt. can not speak English. Spanish is much easier to learn than English . I went to central American and took classes. Guatemala has great language schools and family stays that are really cheap, fun and interesting. The best way to learn is by immersion. Good Luck and go for it....

I am a private contractor and work for nursing registry's and I have to have malpractice insurance or they do not give me any work. I have NSO and it cost me about $112.00 a yr. Chump change for the protection. I live in the land of litigation (Dade county Fl.) and can not imagine how a lawyer would know if you had insurance or not but with the amount of information floating around out there I guess there could be a way to get a great deal of personal information on someone if they wanted to. My big out of pocket expense is Health insurance. Single female, south Florida over 50. BCBS HMO. $421.00 a month. I could pay less if I had the PPO but then I'd have a $1,000 deductible. I figured it out and it really amounts to about the same. I know that in other areas of Fla it is much less. Other states ? I have no idea. If you have a family that you want under the same policy then I think out of pocket cost would be really high. For me as a single person I like paying for my own because I am not beholding to a job because of insurance.

What kind of insurance are you talking about? Health insurance?

CritterLover, I agree with you 100%. Thank you.

The orthotebb shoe reminds me of the earth shoe that was popular in the 70's where the heel is lower than the toes. Anybody remember the earth shoe? I had a pair and I loved them but that was when I was in my 20's and could dance all night in 3 inch heels. Dem dayz is done..... Now.... It's Feets don't fail me now. $250 for the anti cellulite shoe is a bit rich for my taste. I pay close to that for my yearly gym membership. Ah, But the shoe fix does sound nice... I'd love to know if it really works.

This is just my opinion but I wish hospital staff would wear BIG badges or name tags or pins or what ever identifying them selves as RN's LPN's, House keeping, whatever. I work at places where people come into the pt.'s room and have their hanging badges turned back wards so you can't even identify who they are. Not only do I think that the print should be BIG enough for the pt's to read . I think the person should identify themselves to the pt. every time they walk into the room . Example: Hello My name is xxxxx and I am your RN today. I say this because I work private duty and so many times people have just walked into the room and do not identify themselves at all to me or the pt. I always introduce myself and tell them my role but I feel awkward twisting my head into contortions trying to read someone's small print half back wards name badge. I really hate the badges that say the person's name in BIG print and then in little print under the name it will say nursing services. Guess I should buy a clue... OK . Thanks for lettin' me vent...

Annie, I would ask what they have in mind before giving them a rate. Is there travel involved? Find out all you can about the position before you talk numbers. Good Luck.

What amount of Skills updating or refresher courses do you think an RN who wants to return to Med -Surg floor practice needs? How many hours of refreshing do you think the employers will require? There is a Skills refresher at the college in my town that is 36hrs. There is also a refresher lecture that is 48 hours and a Clinical Practicum that is 72 hours. I have asked people at the college nursing dept. and was told that any one of these would meet the requirement but I'm not sure a 36 hour refresher would count as enough. Should I ask a potential employer what they think or should I just take the class,show up with the course completion letter and hope for the best?? I love to take all 3 but it is expensive and I need to work. Signed: Tryin' to do my foot work

You said in your thread that the person has Medicaid ( not Medicare )and private insurance. Maybe I am wrong but usually people with Medicaid are not in a position to have any other kind of insurance. If he has Medicare and private insurance then you would need to find out what his insurance covers as far as skilled nursing services. Did you try calling the insurance company? Bet you didn't get far. If he does have Medicare (not Medicaid) then only an agency with a provider number can send a nurse and then it is only to do a nursing function that is maybe a billable hour or 2 at best . Medicare also may pay for a Home Health Aide for maybe an hour or so to help with ADL's. Or PT,OT Speech Therapist. But the daily visits are only about 1 hour. That is all Medicare will pay for. I could be wrong about this but that is what I remember when working Medicare HH. Private insurance is tricky because they are all so different as to what they will pay and with Health care being what it is in this country it is my personal feeling that they are less than forthcoming with any information that will help you figure out what you or your client is entitled to. If you can find a nursing registry that works with insurance companies and call them then maybe you can work with them (after all you are giving them a referral) and they can bill for you and you can work the job. At least there is a better chance you will get paid. Maybe in Ohio you can get a provider # I don't know? But please let me know how this works out for you.. Smiles

I have also heard of Pro-biotic use in cases of c-diff. . I had a pt. with c-diff and the GI Doc ordered Saccharomyces Boulardii along with some other types of Lactobacillus. (Eat your yogurt) Anyhow, I also read the article in the GI magazine he had that said (basically in simple terms) the SB competes with the c-diff for intestinal wall membrane sites. Just thought you guys might find that interesting . I did. Have any of you run across this type of treatment.

Thank you so much for these resources. I need all the help I can get. I'm like the trapeze artist .... I've got only my little finger hanging on to the trapeze I am used to and will soon be in mid-air looking to pick that next trapeze with both hands. It's the mid-air stuff that's going to be so scary.....:bowingpur

Thank you so much for these resources. I need all the help I can get. I'm like the trapeze artist .... I've got only my little finger hanging on to the trapeze I am used to and will soon be in mid-air looking to pick that next trapeze with both hands. It's the mid-air stuff that's going to be so scary.....:bowingpur

I'm in the same boat . I have been in home care for a long time and now what to get my hospital skills back. I've been looking for RN med/surg refresher class but I've had trouble finding one. Seems the hospitals in my area don't offer that . The college does but there has to be enough students to give the class. Maybe you will find one in your area. This was suggested to me by Nurse recuriters...Good Luck!!!

I have also been looking for a job . I am an RN who has been working Home health and private duty for the last 10 years and wants to go back to the clinical setting. The nurse recruiter for the hospital in my area told me I would need a med -surg RN refresher class before I apply.I agree that it would be helpful and I am more than willing. I have been trying to take one but the class I signed up for was canceled due to lack of students. They say if they have enough students they will try to re-schedule in Dec. Hate the wait.... I have a nurse friend at the Hospital near where I live that told me she would get me an interview with the nurse Manager on her floor and maybe I can get my foot in the door that way. The Hospital needs nurses . My friend also told me they are so desperate that they have made contracts for hire to bring in nurses from the Philippines and India. She also told me it was because they can pay them lower wages than they pay the nurses who are not willing to work for what they are offering. If that is the case then maybe I need to re-think this whole thing. I don't want to be caught in the backwash. Which person in the chain for employment is the one that decides what they will pay you.? Is there anyway to find out what they plan to pay the imported nurses?

Thanks for the quick reply. I am new to allnurses but have spent a lot of time lately looking at the forums, esp. because at this point I am only working 1 /12 hour shift a week.+ some visits on the side. I have been working Private duty and home health for the past 10 years. I have been very independent. I would like to do something more challenging. I would also like to travel someday and feel I do not have the skills needed to apply for a travel position. The last few years have been mostly private duty either in the patients home or hospital. I also do assessments for an agency that provides CNA's in the homes of people who have long term care insurance. The RN (me) goes in 1 time per month and does a 3 page assessment/evaluation to see how the person is doing medically ,check the meds and see if they are satisfied with the home care provided. I have anywhere from 20 to 30 people in my area at a time . It is just a gravy job. I do it on my own time and schedule with the people.I like doing that. I am looking for either 2 or 3 12 hour shifts a week . No benefits. I have no kids and I pay out of pocket for my own health insurance. I don't want to get tied to a job just for the benefits. I am a saver and would rather make a little more money and save it myself then to have a company control it. I would like to work seasonal here in South Florida because I have a place up in Maine that I wish to go to in the summer. My plan is to extend my stay in Maine if I am able to work up there in the summer. I am open to suggestions and am trying to listen to that soft voice inside that lives in the heart and gut and knows the path I should take. Wish it was a little louder. Thanks for listening...

Well here I am at the computer. Looking for direction. I want a new Job.... Would love to just talk to nurse career adviser (if there is such a person) to see if that would help me get a better understanding as to what do to. Not a recruiter because there is always a personal motive there. ie:work for my company.Need someone who is not affiliated with any institution. Someone who could help me with my resume'. Do any of you Florida nurses know of any such person in the South Florida area? I have spent days reading want ads, surfing the net. Nursing spectrum magazine, ect. I feel as confused as ever. The med/surg refresher class I wanted to take at MDCC got canceled due to not enough students. Signed: Sittin' in Limbo :monkeydance:

How to calculate "real" earnings.? Good question.. The thing is if you travel then you have to take that into consideration. Travel time, gas, Parking fees , ect. I do visits for a company that pays me 31.00 a visit. Flat fee . I pay my own taxes. I can do about 6 to 8 visits comfortably a day and do a good job. People who try to cram in 9 to 10 visits in a day are headed for either burn out or the loonie bin. I say this because it is very tiering to get in and out of your car that many times in a day. The thing about being an independent is you have some control over your time. I am at the patients home anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour. Sometimes longer if I run into something that I need to call the MD about or whatever. If my day is not to busy I can take the time to sit and really talk to my patients and it can do a world of good for an elderly home bound pt. plus +++, Open cans and jars, Change light bulbs, tighten down loose toilet seats, adjust walkers and bedside commodes.Yea, Just call me nurse fix -it. Just remember you can write off some of your expenses . I suggest a good accountant....

Thanks soooooooo much for the encouragement. I'm sure to remember more than I give myself credit for but just one &*^% up and , well you know. If I had a refresher then I would be able to have a reference point at which to gauge myself. What I would really love is to have a kind compassionate preceptor. Someone who is just bursting with knowledge and ready to let this dry ol' sponge soak it up. I'll keep on looking...

I've been waiting for months to take this refresher course at MDCC in Miami. Signed up, paid for the class and showed up today ready to go. Well was I ever disappointed that the class was cancelled. Only 5 people registered and only 3 people showed up. It's hard to believe that in a metro area the size of Miami -Dade county I can't find a Nurse refresher course. There is no hospital that will even consider hireing me without a refresher. I have been doing Home Health and Private duty for the past 7 years and want a change. None of the hospitals around here offer classes for nurses wishing to return to the clinical setting. There must be some way for me to get my foot back in the door. Any suggestions??

What state do you live in? Is it even possible for an RN independently to bill for services rendered from an insurance company coding system? I interviewed for a job once that was with someone who had an insurance policy that paid for RN services and was asked by the client to bill her insurance company for services rendered. When I called to find out how to go about doing this they told me that I would have to follow their coding system. Even after I said that I would be glad to do what they wanted ,a rep. told me they would then decide if they were willing to pay. Well I wasn't about to take a chance of getting it wrong and not getting paid for my work. At the present I work though a nursing registry that bills the pt. and pays me direct. It takes away the head aches of having to deal with collections. If I work directly for a family then they pay me direct and save themselves the middle man fee of dealing with the registry. People paying cash can do this easily but if you are dealing with insurance it is different. I basicly get the same hourly wage wether I work for the famiy (direct pay) or I get paid from the registry. The direct pay cases come from word of mouth networking with a group of other nurses. Good luck. It's nice work when you can get it but there are times when it is slow and your income may fall short. Let me know if you know a way to direct bill I would love to understand more about this possibility.

Hi,This is my first post ever. I am new to all nurses and have been thinking about Dialysis as an area of practice. I have been in Home Health for years now and need a change. I am taking a med -surg refresher course at the college this week and hopefuly it will help put me in a better position to get some training. Any suggestions as to how I might get my foot in the door. I was thinking I should just open the yellow pages and call the companies listed and take notes. I don't even have a clue as to what the going pay rates are for RN's. in South Florida Dialysis units. What do you think is the most important question I should be asking myself? Thanks for any suggestions:rolleyes:

Greetings, I live in Miami Beach Florida and have been working Private duty cases in patient homes and in Hospital settings for the last 5 or 6 years. I also have been doing in home assessments for an agency that provides Home Health Aides for people with long term care insurance. I do these visits once a month and have about 20 to 30 people at any given time. I try to stay in my area only because of driving time involved and high gas prices. I love the freedom I have with my work but sometimes I go weeks without a case. My income at this point is not very stable and I was thinking about doing some part time work in another area. Something a bit more challenging. Something I could do if I ever wanted to take on a travel nurse position. I have been in Nursing for over 20 years but the hospitals in my area say I need to take an RN refresher course before they will hire me. This course is expensive and time consuming. Even then they want to start me at a salary of a new graud. I am conflicted and would love to find a special area that would fit my independent spirit but would increase my learning curve. Thristy for knowledge but not bureaucracy. Any suggestions?