Worked an EMR Conversion?

NedRN · Apr 16, 2015

Well, the hospital should be fully staffed. They may not have even had travelers before. That should make for a different environment than the "typical" travel assignment (which of course has a very wide range).

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2015

I have worked three Epic conversions and I highly recommend it.

Two or three core staff were designated Superusers. They have a weeks of training and review everyone's documentation and were also helpers. They taught e quite a lot. In addition there were Epic assistants who worked only with the physicians. The travelers were hired to fill the Superusers slot temporarily. These were some of my favorite stress free assignments because the staffing was amazing, there was always a ton of food, and the staff was wicked smart. It really looks good on a resume too.

The downside is that these are short term eight week contracts, so no apartment is provided. The housing should be at a Candlewood or Homewood Suites. I am not a fan of the Extended Stay America and I would not agree to living in one for two months. That is because as a single female I want more of a secure environment that is mainly for business travelers. But some are nice and some are the opposite. It's best to check on tripadvisor.

One of my travel nurse friends is a guy who has an air mattress and a lantern and a sleeping bag that he sets up wherever. The only that he gets riled up about is having 4G. The ESA would probably be A okay with him.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2015

I'll definitely have to do one of those before I stop traveling. I assume if its an EPIC conversion say, you will need EPIC experience first? My next assignment uses EPIC, will learn it there so I'm looking forward to adding that to my belt.

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Michi66 · Apr 17, 2015

Are there a lot of these Epic conversions going on? My staff position was Epic but first and second assignment are not. I really miss Epic!

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2015

There are hospitals converting to Epic from other less efficient EMR systems all the time. I am not going to hold myself out as an expert on all of this but the contracts are posted by Cross Country and AMN two to three months in advance of the go live date.

As a traveler you will have the usual four hour class. It is helpful to get a refresher and to learn how the facility has modified Epic for their health system.

On day one, a lot of the core staff are on vacation or off, and the staffing may be mainly travelers and superusers. So be prepared to be super focused and ready to work. After the first few days, everyone is over the initial shock of the big transition and it's a very enjoyable assignment.

averysrnmom · Apr 17, 2015

I did 2 EMR conversion assignments. One was for Epic and one was for Cerner. With Epic I took the classes with the staff and was there through go live and extended beyond that. I had no prior Epic experience and they still hired me because they wanted nurse patient ratios to be low so staff could concentrate on learning the new system. With Cerner I was thrown in with no training and just taught myself. Not quite as easy but I did it. Both were pretty good assignments. I'd do it again. And yes, Epic looks really good on your resume!