While I was at my rehab conference, I talked to lots of folks. One of the biggest issues was reimbursement.
Now I know why there are issues. If companies only hire for a bare minimum set of qualifications for their staff (see below), it's no wonder why all the case managers in the audience said they were coloring their hair due to it turning white prematurely.
Clinical Appeals Reviewer
Job Description:
Primary Responsibilities:
Provide expertise or general support in reviewing, researching, investigating,and resolving all types of appeals.
Communicate issues, implications, and decisions with appropriate parties.
Analyze and identify trends for Appeals.
Job Requirements:
Required Qualifications:
High School Diploma/GED.
1+ year of Telephonic Customer Service experience.
1+ year of Healthcare Insurance experience.
Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel, including the ability to create spreadsheets and filter data.
Preferred Qualifications:
Familiarity with Medical Terminology
Funny, but no where did it say this person ought to be a nurse. You get what you pay for...just sayin'
More to come...
Showing posts with label professional. Show all posts
Showing posts with label professional. Show all posts
Friday, September 5, 2014
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
What not to do as a nurse, version 100
We have new staff members at the Hotel, so I'll be sure to bring along the latest installment from the RehabLand State Board of Nursing newsletter.
This issue was more sad than silly, unfortunately. When they say you are a "licensed professional nurse" they really are stressing all three of those things. Licensed (you have one) professional (you are one at all times) and nurse (the occupation, not just the job).
Here are the top 10 items: (I wish there weren't this many, but...)
1. Yes, you really can get a ding on your license if you decide to take some controlled substances you got in 2010, and for which you no longer have a prescription.
The little problem happens when your employer makes you pee in a cup.
Can you say "just dispose of this properly and get a script if you need one."? I knew you could.
2. Don't just screw up one thing, screw up many.
A nurse had a really, really bad day and just kind of forgot to follow a bunch of orders on an acutely ill patient (meds, isolation, etc.)
3.Sleep on duty.
Just say no. Sleep on your own time and no one ever reads about it in a newsletter or on the news. End of story.
4. More on not following orders: disobey transfer orders on a patient, then remove a surgically implanted port, then attempt to reinsert it yourself.
O.M.G. After reading this, I would have had a hard time not thoroughly throttling this nurse.
5. Just forget to renew your license for a year.
Whoops! No license, no job. Sorry!
6. You work in an office and you just don't call the patient back when they ask to reschedule. If that's not enough, you just forget other things, too.
My question: How did you pass your boards? Certainly you had to remember SOMETHING?
7. Do drugs (at work, at home, at some place you can't remember).
Yes, all of those came up this issue (cocaine, meth and alcohol). The scariest one: the pregnant nurse doing meth. And yes, the kid tested positive.
Hello, another state agency, Children and Family Services.
8. Fake your license renewal.
Because, really, who wants to pay the State of RehabLand money to work when you can do it for free?
9. Get drunk, go driving, and wave a gun around in the air.
You will win the following: an unlawful use of a firearm, peace disturbance, and driving while intoxicated charges.
10. And finally, the worst one this issue: steal a dead patient's identity to get a cell phone in his/her name.
Despicable... be warned, professionals!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Professional generosity
Some days it doesn't seem like there is any in the world, but I know there is. I was doing research for my class at LocalStateU, and found a commentary that made me think of my advisor.
As a result, I sent her a note (and one to the author of the op-ed). They both replied. Looks like I'll be spreading the love in a blog for students soon at my advisor's request.
Giving and receiving seems to be an infinite circle. Don't forget to share some generosity yourself today.
More later...
As a result, I sent her a note (and one to the author of the op-ed). They both replied. Looks like I'll be spreading the love in a blog for students soon at my advisor's request.
Giving and receiving seems to be an infinite circle. Don't forget to share some generosity yourself today.
More later...
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The good, the bad, the ugly
The good: the sun eventually came out today. The torrents of rain ended before I was ready to leave the Hotel.
The bad: I had to send my slightly squirrely EKG to my provider today. She never called me back, so I take it that it wasn't anything major.
The ugly: The ways people from our interdisciplinary team manage to talk about how nursing is "so unprofessional" and maybe we need training.
I really wanted to bang my head on the table. Why not? It's just another form of not-so-subtle nurse bashing.
And I get to be the battering ram before our group at an area meeting tomorrow. Nice.
I'm taking backup.
To be continued...
The bad: I had to send my slightly squirrely EKG to my provider today. She never called me back, so I take it that it wasn't anything major.
The ugly: The ways people from our interdisciplinary team manage to talk about how nursing is "so unprofessional" and maybe we need training.
I really wanted to bang my head on the table. Why not? It's just another form of not-so-subtle nurse bashing.
And I get to be the battering ram before our group at an area meeting tomorrow. Nice.
I'm taking backup.
To be continued...
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Shut out
I almost went 3 for 3 today.
1. The patient portal I was supposed to get patients registered in for the SU was down...yet again today. I get to try tomorrow for the complete shutout for the week.
2. I got the dreaded Professional Development e-mail, "Sorry, you (a nurse) don't deserve time off on duty to speak at xx International Conference."
It just doesn't matter that you have your boss, your boss's boss and the boss's boss's boss sending letters on your behalf. No, but "you can do this on your vacation time."
But, your colleagues in the department (not nurses) get an all-expense paid trip to their conference.
Idiots. Will be happy to consult my HR/lawyer friend. I smell a rat.
3. My computer keeps acting up. If it dies, I doubt the cheapskates at Madison will let me have another before the end of the fiscal year.
I will be so happy when this week is finally over!
1. The patient portal I was supposed to get patients registered in for the SU was down...yet again today. I get to try tomorrow for the complete shutout for the week.
2. I got the dreaded Professional Development e-mail, "Sorry, you (a nurse) don't deserve time off on duty to speak at xx International Conference."
It just doesn't matter that you have your boss, your boss's boss and the boss's boss's boss sending letters on your behalf. No, but "you can do this on your vacation time."
But, your colleagues in the department (not nurses) get an all-expense paid trip to their conference.
Idiots. Will be happy to consult my HR/lawyer friend. I smell a rat.
3. My computer keeps acting up. If it dies, I doubt the cheapskates at Madison will let me have another before the end of the fiscal year.
I will be so happy when this week is finally over!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Ode of the tired (of the BS) nurses
The boss told me today it's important to network in your field, if you don't have any grinches (aka the Professional Development committee) at your hospital.
Lately, I've spent way too much time justifying my needs in nearly 50 pages of forms, brochures and supporting material. And if life were really like a Hollywood musical, this would be my song to perform below. (My apologies to David Bowie).
To the committee:
I've nothing much to offer/There's nothing much to take/
(How many more forms can I possibly fill out?)
I'm an absolute beginner/And I'm absolutely sane/
(and I absolutely read every stinking thing in the handbook twice)
As long as we're together/ (me and all the other nurses at the conference)
And to the bureaucratic horses behinds...y'all
(The rest) can go to hell
Lately, I've spent way too much time justifying my needs in nearly 50 pages of forms, brochures and supporting material. And if life were really like a Hollywood musical, this would be my song to perform below. (My apologies to David Bowie).
To the committee:
I've nothing much to offer/There's nothing much to take/
(How many more forms can I possibly fill out?)
I'm an absolute beginner/And I'm absolutely sane/
(and I absolutely read every stinking thing in the handbook twice)
As long as we're together/ (me and all the other nurses at the conference)
And to the bureaucratic horses behinds...y'all
(The rest) can go to hell
Friday, January 20, 2012
Blasts from the past
I get a message on a professional network I'm on from my former boss. Didn't even know he was still around. After that, I managed to catch up with a few other coworkers, too.
Then I read this story about Mr. A. on Grumpy's blog.
Reminds me of that song, "Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days."
Enjoy the weekend, all, wherever you spend it.
Then I read this story about Mr. A. on Grumpy's blog.
Reminds me of that song, "Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days."
Enjoy the weekend, all, wherever you spend it.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Just lovin' it
Yes, in a mere three days I'll be done with the latest installment of my graduate education. And I have to say, I learned a lot. I learned that some people are just a pain in the arse. Yes, they are.
I thought we only hired non-professionals at the Hotel. No, kids, the non-profs are everywhere. What distinguishes them?
1. When you're supposed to function as a team and communicate with members who can't show up for meetings, you take minutes and post them before the next meeting.
2. You act like an adult.
3. You actually show up, and do some work.
and finally,
4. When you're assigned to be the leader, you lead. You don't goof off hiking in the woods when you're supposed to be responsible for an assignment (I wish that wasn't a real excuse...).
Now, I'm going to finish what I started, just like I said I would. And when I'm done, I'm gonna pray that we get a passing grade out of this one. I don't have a really good feeling.
Should make doing evaluations really interesting.
More on the way!
I thought we only hired non-professionals at the Hotel. No, kids, the non-profs are everywhere. What distinguishes them?
1. When you're supposed to function as a team and communicate with members who can't show up for meetings, you take minutes and post them before the next meeting.
2. You act like an adult.
3. You actually show up, and do some work.
and finally,
4. When you're assigned to be the leader, you lead. You don't goof off hiking in the woods when you're supposed to be responsible for an assignment (I wish that wasn't a real excuse...).
Now, I'm going to finish what I started, just like I said I would. And when I'm done, I'm gonna pray that we get a passing grade out of this one. I don't have a really good feeling.
Should make doing evaluations really interesting.
More on the way!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
In case you have an interview soon...
One of our regular readers has an interview with a SNF coming up, so I thought I'd put on the career hat and start a list of interviewing tips. Feel free to jump on in the comments section and add your $0.02.
Interviewing for a nursing job is not unlike interviewing for any other job, so keep the following in mind.
RehabRN's 10 interviewing commandments
1. Show up on time. Be nice to the receptionist/secretary/clerk. Some of them do make hiring decisions in one way or another.
2. Do not bring your cell phone. If you have to, turn it off. Do not make or take phone calls in your interview. It is considered rude.
3. Dress appropriately. Business attire is not bad, nor is leaning on the conservative side. You can save the bright pink shoes for when you have the job.
4. Practice your speech in your head before you go in. You'll have to introduce yourself, so make sure you can do that with a firm handshake. You may interview with one or multiple people, so make appropriate eye contact with each person.
5. Bring a portfolio with notebook and take notes. You'll need these notes to ask questions at the end. Be sure to note the name of the interviewer and any other people you may talk to during your interview.
6. Have an additional copy of your resume and any important documents (i.e. license, BLS info, etc.) with you.
7. Pay attention. If you don't understand something, ask the person to repeat it. Maintain appropriate eye contact and actively listen.
8. Sit up straight and do not slouch. Posture is important in communicating that you're paying attention, just like your second grade teacher said.
9. Answer the questions posed by the interviewer after you count to 5 or 10, even if you already know what you're going to say. This helps you to keep calm and appear poised and thoughtful. If you don't understand something, tell the interviewer.
10. Finally, once all the questions are done, thank the interviewer and any other staff who may have participated in your interview.
Be certain to follow up with a personalized thank you note (to one or all of the people who interviewed you), using those notes you took during the interview and make sure to ask for the job. You can send them via regular mail or e-mail.
DO NOT blow off a thank you note...it may be the difference between hiring you and someone else.
An example:
Dear Nurse Manager:
Thanks so much for meeting with me today. I'm really impressed by ABC SNF and I'd really appreciate an opportunity to use my RN/LPN/CNA skills to work with your residents.
Please contact me at xxx-xxxx (NOTE: you can use e-mail also if you'd like here) if you have any other questions.
Sincerely,
Random Nurse
Also, check out the following nursing related interview pages below. Prepare, be courteous, and be confident.
Interview Tips and Tricks.com has a few questions to consider for nursing interviews.
Nurse Careers also has more questions and tips.
Nursing Link has some of the worst answers to nursing interview questions, so make sure you don't answer like one of these examples!
Last but not least, check out Jennifer LeClaire's questions on www.monster.com and related articles, such as How nurses can detect an unhealthy work environment and information on the behavioral health interview.
Happy interviewing! And as a veteran of more interviews than I care to count, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Interviewing for a nursing job is not unlike interviewing for any other job, so keep the following in mind.
RehabRN's 10 interviewing commandments
1. Show up on time. Be nice to the receptionist/secretary/clerk. Some of them do make hiring decisions in one way or another.
2. Do not bring your cell phone. If you have to, turn it off. Do not make or take phone calls in your interview. It is considered rude.
3. Dress appropriately. Business attire is not bad, nor is leaning on the conservative side. You can save the bright pink shoes for when you have the job.
4. Practice your speech in your head before you go in. You'll have to introduce yourself, so make sure you can do that with a firm handshake. You may interview with one or multiple people, so make appropriate eye contact with each person.
5. Bring a portfolio with notebook and take notes. You'll need these notes to ask questions at the end. Be sure to note the name of the interviewer and any other people you may talk to during your interview.
6. Have an additional copy of your resume and any important documents (i.e. license, BLS info, etc.) with you.
7. Pay attention. If you don't understand something, ask the person to repeat it. Maintain appropriate eye contact and actively listen.
8. Sit up straight and do not slouch. Posture is important in communicating that you're paying attention, just like your second grade teacher said.
9. Answer the questions posed by the interviewer after you count to 5 or 10, even if you already know what you're going to say. This helps you to keep calm and appear poised and thoughtful. If you don't understand something, tell the interviewer.
10. Finally, once all the questions are done, thank the interviewer and any other staff who may have participated in your interview.
Be certain to follow up with a personalized thank you note (to one or all of the people who interviewed you), using those notes you took during the interview and make sure to ask for the job. You can send them via regular mail or e-mail.
DO NOT blow off a thank you note...it may be the difference between hiring you and someone else.
An example:
Dear Nurse Manager:
Thanks so much for meeting with me today. I'm really impressed by ABC SNF and I'd really appreciate an opportunity to use my RN/LPN/CNA skills to work with your residents.
Please contact me at xxx-xxxx (NOTE: you can use e-mail also if you'd like here) if you have any other questions.
Sincerely,
Random Nurse
Also, check out the following nursing related interview pages below. Prepare, be courteous, and be confident.
Interview Tips and Tricks.com has a few questions to consider for nursing interviews.
Nurse Careers also has more questions and tips.
Nursing Link has some of the worst answers to nursing interview questions, so make sure you don't answer like one of these examples!
Last but not least, check out Jennifer LeClaire's questions on www.monster.com and related articles, such as How nurses can detect an unhealthy work environment and information on the behavioral health interview.
Happy interviewing! And as a veteran of more interviews than I care to count, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Making nursing visible #1
You may think it's a load of *&^( to think that nursing is an "invisible" profession, but in many ways, it is.
The following blerb came from Ye Old State Nurses Association, and I recommend you follow the link and share it with your nursing friends, far and wide. Please make sure you vote. There are even suggestions, and include one of my former bosses among them (and no, I won't tell you who she is!).
I can tell you she is 1) powerful and 2) listed with a whole lot of other powerful nurses who should be recognized. Recognize one and you recognize us all. We are powerful. Let the rest of the world know, too.
======================
The following blerb came from Ye Old State Nurses Association, and I recommend you follow the link and share it with your nursing friends, far and wide. Please make sure you vote. There are even suggestions, and include one of my former bosses among them (and no, I won't tell you who she is!).
I can tell you she is 1) powerful and 2) listed with a whole lot of other powerful nurses who should be recognized. Recognize one and you recognize us all. We are powerful. Let the rest of the world know, too.
======================
[Sent on behalf of ANA’s Communications Dept]
RECOGNIZE NURSES AS POWERFUL PEOPLE
Vote for Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Powerful People
Silver Spring, MD- The American Nurses Association (ANA), the largest nursing organization in the U.S., encourages nurses to show support for the leaders in our profession by voting for nurses in Modern Healthcare’s “100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare” ranking. Nurses played a key role in the passage of health reform legislation this year. We helped make history! Getting nurse leaders included in the “Most Powerful” rankings is an excellent way to bring much deserved visibility to the nursing profession.
Let’s work together to get nurses on the list. You can help make it happen by voting here. Voting will continue through Friday, June 25. The final ranking will be published in the Aug. 23, 2010, issue of Modern Healthcare.
Nurses nominated:
Linda Aiken Univ. of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Karen Ballard New York State Nurses Association Geraldine “Polly” Bednash American Association of Colleges of Nursing Colleen Conway-Welch Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Barbara Crane New York State Nurses Association Sister Carol Keehan Catholic Health Association | Beverly Malone National League for Nursing Rebecca Patton American Nurses Association Sister Mary Jean Ryan SSM Healthcare Pamela Thompson American Organization of Nurse Executives Mary Wakefield Health Resources and Services Administration Marla Weston American Nurses Association |
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Ironies
There are just some things that are very ironic in my job.
First, no one expects anyone at the Madison to be efficient. As a professional, I expect my coworkers and team members to act that way, but apparently, it's only an illusion. We have people who are really, really professional, and others, who somehow missed the professional boat. Or it's just a hope, by some of the medical staff, that the nurses will screw up so they have something to complain about.
I'm not a transporter but occasionally, I have to transport my patients, when our one lowly transporter decides to do something else and not bother to notify the nurse manager or the charge nurse. This week, I had a person from another department actually stop me and ask me if "transporter" was somehow now on my badge, since she was so incredulous that RNs actually transport patients to and fro. Yes, Tina, RNs really do transport people in rehab! It's annoying, but it's just one of those tasks we get to do...and things that interrupt us (see page 7 in this article).
Second, doctors really need to have a communication class. For grins, we were reading notes on one of our patients. Note one said patient had been in an ICU situation and has a trach. Said patient wanted to talk so patient told attending, "Take this trach out." Said patient was so seriously ill that attending viewed this as the patient wanting to end his/her life. Attending, probably freaked out by patient wanting to end it all in his/her ICU, consulted psych. Note two said psych visited and patient repeatedly denied wanting to end his/her life. Patient stated, "I just want to take this thing out so I can talk." Can you imagine what would have happened if psych didn't get involved? This could have been the ultimate whoops situation.
One other good thing did occur: patient decided to have a family member act as healthcare POA in the event he/she really can't communicate.
Finally, I'm starting to think life is really like a collection of Seinfeld episodes. One of our patients looked just like a recurring character from the show. Many other folks on the floor (including myself) have bitten our tongues laughing as we want to yell his name as we stroll to his room down the hall. Besides humoring ourselves with this patient, we also spent a lot of the week talking about the Seinfeld episode about the English Patient. Yours truly finally got a copy and watched it...so that Seinfeld finally makes sense. We don't have any English patients, but the ironies of that movie and Seinfeld linger in our little world.
Stay tuned. More merriment to come...
First, no one expects anyone at the Madison to be efficient. As a professional, I expect my coworkers and team members to act that way, but apparently, it's only an illusion. We have people who are really, really professional, and others, who somehow missed the professional boat. Or it's just a hope, by some of the medical staff, that the nurses will screw up so they have something to complain about.
I'm not a transporter but occasionally, I have to transport my patients, when our one lowly transporter decides to do something else and not bother to notify the nurse manager or the charge nurse. This week, I had a person from another department actually stop me and ask me if "transporter" was somehow now on my badge, since she was so incredulous that RNs actually transport patients to and fro. Yes, Tina, RNs really do transport people in rehab! It's annoying, but it's just one of those tasks we get to do...and things that interrupt us (see page 7 in this article).
Second, doctors really need to have a communication class. For grins, we were reading notes on one of our patients. Note one said patient had been in an ICU situation and has a trach. Said patient wanted to talk so patient told attending, "Take this trach out." Said patient was so seriously ill that attending viewed this as the patient wanting to end his/her life. Attending, probably freaked out by patient wanting to end it all in his/her ICU, consulted psych. Note two said psych visited and patient repeatedly denied wanting to end his/her life. Patient stated, "I just want to take this thing out so I can talk." Can you imagine what would have happened if psych didn't get involved? This could have been the ultimate whoops situation.
One other good thing did occur: patient decided to have a family member act as healthcare POA in the event he/she really can't communicate.
Finally, I'm starting to think life is really like a collection of Seinfeld episodes. One of our patients looked just like a recurring character from the show. Many other folks on the floor (including myself) have bitten our tongues laughing as we want to yell his name as we stroll to his room down the hall. Besides humoring ourselves with this patient, we also spent a lot of the week talking about the Seinfeld episode about the English Patient. Yours truly finally got a copy and watched it...so that Seinfeld finally makes sense. We don't have any English patients, but the ironies of that movie and Seinfeld linger in our little world.
Stay tuned. More merriment to come...
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