URanurse

I am sorry, I forgot to reply to your question. Our hospital-based home health nurses make the same pay if they work in the hospital or home health. All are based on years of experience/education/certifications.

I am an Intake Coordinator for our hospital based home health/hospice agency. Twice a week I meet with the Charge Nurse and we review patients that might need home health assistance after discharge. We are considered a rural area (50 miles from another hospital) and happen to be the only home health agency in our area. After the meeting with the Charge Nurse, I check the chart and if appropriate place a form on the chart asking the doctor if the patient would benefit from home health/hospice. Issues have been brought to the CEO's attention/Compliance Officer/Etc that what I am doing is violation of HIPPA. They state that because I am not involved in direct patient care we should not be allowed that information. 1. They want Social Services to continue discharge planning. I find this lacking since they are not medically driven and sometimes do not check charts sometimes for >4-5 days or not at all. We were asked several years ago not to attend Discharge Planning. 2. Utilization Review is not in direct patient care either and they have access to the patient's charts. 3. Can it be a conflict of interest if we suggest home health after discharge and our agency happens to be the only agency in the area? If another agency was in the area, the patient could then choose which one they want. 4. Why is not considered continuity of care? I hope this is not too lengthy. Are you involved in hospital discharge planning at all? I would appreciate some feedback. Thanks.

I also found out that you do not have to attend their seminars. You can send McKesson the fee for testing, the name of a college/library facility, name of proctor, address, phone # and they will mail directly to the proctor who can give you the test. 1-800-522-6780 Ext 3137 and his name was Tom.

You can get a self study guide from the website. Go to the website and in the box with orange lettering click on Registration Information. Scroll down to Examination Options. There you will find a self study guide for $150. McKesson's # is 1-800-522-6780 M-F 0800-1730 EST. Good luck.

It has been over ten years since I have worked Med-Surg so I won't be able to give you a ratio. I do know the patient/nurse ratio is lower at Mat-Su in the Valley than in the Anchorage hospitals. If you are interested in Mental Health nursing you will have to commute to Anchorage.

http://www.interqual.com/IQSite/services/cpur.aspx is the website I was referring to when asking about the CPUR exam. Hopefully we will get some answers to our questions. Good luck.

I worked in UR for two years, but that was three years ago. To make myself more marketable, I thought about taking the CPUR exam. McKesson has a self study guide for $150. If I actively pursued it, how fast could I finish it? Also, can I buy it somewhere cheaper and McKesson still recognize the self study? Any thougts/ideas on re-entering this field will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I worked UR for two years and that was three years ago. To make myself more marketable and return back to UR, I want to take the CPUR exam. Have you taken the CPUR? McKesson offers a self study course for $150. I was wondering how fast I could take the self study if I actively pursued it? Can I buy the study guide cheaper somewhere else and McKesson still recognize it? Thanks.

The hospital in Palmer just recently relocated to a new hospital closer to Wasilla. You can find them on the web as Mat-Su Regional. We still have Palmer Pioneers Home in Palmer. Wasilla has an assisted living at their senior center now and Chugiak has as assisted living also (25 mins from Wasilla). Other than that, Anchorage will be your next place to look. Good luck.

Unfortunately, my information to you is not current. I relocated from Illinois to Kodiak in 1993. Since then alot has changed with Providence taking over the system. I found the cost of living to be very high. Alcohol (drunks passed out on the town square any hour of the day) and stabbings (fish canneries) were frequent. As a night charge nurse with ER altercations I felt like I might be marked by the agressors and no place to go on such a small island. Coming from sunny southern IL and going to a coastal area with alot of rain and no sunshine, I was not aware of the light deprivation problems (SAD Seasonal Affective Disorder - no medication needed- just felt "blue" alot) that I probably experienced. The DON really gave me inaccurate info as far as housing, etc. After 2 1/2 mos, my family and I relocated to Palmer, AK. We have been here since and really like it. However, I don't plan on retiring in AK due to the long winters. I will say the people on Kodiak was the friendliest I think I have ever met. When we arrived, we were immediately treated and welcomed as family. I think you would have to have that mentality to "survive" on an island. I can also say my husband and son (12) loved it as much as myself and daughter (14) hated it. I hope this helps.

My daughter (Staci Kish) has traveled with Club Staffing for two years as an echocardiographer and has had no complaints. Unfortunately, the traveler does get a heavier work load. She has worked in several hospitals and most (not all) staff fill that because you are making the "big bucks" you should do more. With a correct frame of mind, good attitude and goal in site (debt free in one more year) she has no regrets. Also, you will need to consider it does get lonely at times. She enjoys seeing America and experiencing different lifestyles. Please mention her name if you decide on Club Staffing as she will get a bonus. Thanks, Glenda

My daughter is a traveler (echocardiography) and has worked for Club Staffing for two years. They have been very easy to work with and she has had no complaints. Give them a call and see how comparable each are. If you do sign up with Club Staffing, please mention Staci Kish. Thanks, Glenda