Utilization/Precert Nurses

Lorelai22RN, RN · Jul 7, 2007

I'm a precert nurse. Been at it just over 3 weeks and I love it! I worked on med/tele for a year and then I started this job. I'm still PRN on med/tele but I love the hours of this job 8-5. No holidays or weekends. Practically no stress. An hour for lunch. I love the people I work with........I feel like a new person since I started this job plus it makes you feel smart, reviewing cases not saying that I felt dumb in the hospital but I just find you get to use alot of what you learned in school here..........I really love it.Bedside full time isnt for me. So glad I found something else.......at first it was hard getting used to how slow and relaxed the pace is but I like it........

gypsyatheart · Jul 7, 2007

I have recently started a Case Mgmt job where we do pre-certs, concurrent/prospective review, etc.; along w/our case mgmt duties.

It has been about a month for me. I'm still per diem at the hospital where I am a NICU nurse.

My work hours are 7-3 Mon-Fri. I have been having a tough time getting used to the environment....basically, being out of the unit and in an office setting. I am difinitely "missing" my NICU job....but yet, I was so ready to get out of the hospital, away from the "bedside" issues/politics.

Part of my problem, I think, is the training. They've had us in class for most of this time and then some of the time is job shadowing. So I really have only just started to get my hands into it.I really think I will like the actual job, now that I've been shadowing another nurse....but I know we still have maybe another 3-4 wks "training". It is driving me nuts! I'm trying to hang in there, so I can start doing the actual job myself, get my own cases and work them....sigh, I just have to be patient.

Has anyone else had this problem...."missing" the hospital, the patient care aspect? I wish I could just work on my babies and not have to deal w/all the "junk" surrounding the inpt role!

indynurse#2 · Jul 7, 2007

I would definitely encourage you to hang in there! I too had a long orientation, spent the first week just reading hand books and several weeks after that with a preceptor. I enjoyed it much more once I got to be at my own desk, doing things my own way. I also stayed on prn at the hospital for awhile, but honestly I don't miss the bedside nursing at all. Hopefully once you get settled in this job, you can set up a good schedule for some work hours at the hospital and you will have the best of both worlds! Good Luck!

Lorelai22RN, RN · Jul 7, 2007

I would definitely encourage you to hang in there! I too had a long orientation, spent the first week just reading hand books and several weeks after that with a preceptor. I enjoyed it much more once I got to be at my own desk, doing things my own way. I also stayed on prn at the hospital for awhile, but honestly I don't miss the bedside nursing at all. Hopefully once you get settled in this job, you can set up a good schedule for some work hours at the hospital and you will have the best of both worlds! Good Luck!

I spent the first week and a half with my preceptor and they gave me info to read and criteria stuff...........I caught on quickly and if I have questions, I just ask. have been at my own desk for the last week and a half....doing things my own way too. And I agree.........i dont miss bedside.......I love not running around like a madwoman and being able to focus on one thing at a time. I am also PRN, I just do -12 hour shifts a month at the hospital and I like it that way. I can keep my skills up, make extra cash, and remind myself why i left in the first place.......precert is defintely different and I was wary when I first started, I was afraid I wouldnt like it or it would be too boring but.......it takes some time to get used to it but I realize how much happier and less fatigued I am. I used to cry every day before work and dread it.......being understaffed, having too many patients, nto having supplies, not going home on time, the politics, backstabbing coworkers.....I dont miss it. I go home at 5 every day. The other nurses are sweet, everyone does their stuff..........no one is being messy or anything. I get a nice lunch break. If I need to go to the bathroom or get a snack I can.........I feel like I am respected more. I was very depressed and miserable...........now I feel a whole lot better. I am so glad I found this job.......I would encourage you to hang in there too. Once the training is over you will probably enjoy it more......for sure! I didnt like sitting with my preceptor all day when she was training me but........its temporary. The pace is slower and stuff but.........I really dont miss the bedside. Just try to hang in there til training is over and then see how you like it......

cschuess · Jul 10, 2007

any utilization review/pre-certification nurses out there? i have been doing this for about a year for a major insurance company and just wondered what others thought about this job. i don't think there's too many of us out there :)

are there any websites that train in utilization review? just wondering how to go about getting into this field

olol765 · Jul 10, 2007

Hey!! I think I can join in here!! I've reviewed charts for almost 4 months now. I too miss my patients, but not necessariliy the work. I do find my job kinda boring...it's a new position so right now I'm left with a lot of down time. But I don't cry about work anymore, I'm not stressed... It is a whole different job.

gr8rnpjt, RN · Jul 10, 2007

I have been working in the CM/UR managed care arena for the last 17 years. I must say that I do miss pt contact, and if I had it to do over again, I would have stayed casual at my hospital. I have done on site UR for insurance companies and that does help in keeping up with the latest treatments, etc, since I am reviewing in the hospital setting. I have done telephonic UR for the last 2 years and I am itching to go back to working on site at a hospital. I like the autonomy the best. The only down side to working in the office is the politics and back biting that goes on. When working on site, you don't have to deal with it so much.

olol765 · Jul 10, 2007

There was a position at my current company where you could review doctors offices twice a week and the other 3 days you could work from home writing reports!!! How cool would that be?? I applied for it but I think they are gonna start making the nurses report to the office now. That stinks. Oh well... just thought I'd share.

gr8rnpjt, RN · Jul 10, 2007

My goal is to get a case management job and work from home. Just think get up log on in your pj's with your bowl of corn flakes...

areeve01 · Jul 11, 2007

I have done UM/CM in the hospital setting and then with health plans and I like the health plan environment alot better. They work more business hours, no holidays, get Christmas eve and Christmas off. Things like that never happened working at the hospital in UM.

Also, there's a great opportunity around the Indy area and a couple of other states for someone who does not have CM/UM experience to gain some PRN to see if they like it. Let me know if someone would be interested.

Lorelai22RN, RN · Jul 14, 2007

Hey!! I think I can join in here!! I've reviewed charts for almost 4 months now. I too miss my patients, but not necessariliy the work. I do find my job kinda boring...it's a new position so right now I'm left with a lot of down time. But I don't cry about work anymore, I'm not stressed... It is a whole different job.

I totally agree. It can be boring but I like not going home in tears every night.........and though I miss patients, I dont miss the craziness of the hospital!!