Registered Nurses can work from home [6 jobs to explore]

Nurses can work from home utilizing their skills in telehealth, case management, insurance, education, auditing, etc. These are mostly administrative jobs, however some do call upon clinical skills and have patient interaction.

The pandemic has taken a toll on more than just health. Healthcare workers are burnt out from increasing patient loads, more and changing regulations, mental challenges, more responsibilities, and personal health worries. While things are not as bad as they have been, the overall burn out is there. Many workers are looking for other jobs that are less stressful overall, but will still provide satisfaction and a break from the pressures of hospital life.

Nurses in particular have been worked ragged these last two years. Bedside nursing is rewarding, but the hours are long and many nurses need a reprieve from the stress. Job satisfaction plays a major role in overall morale for nurses. Taking a break from the stress could help reignite the passion for bedside care and even help to reassess if nursing is truly one’s “calling”. Nursing in general is thought of as a very hands-on job, but there are ways to use a nursing degree that doesn’t require working in a clinic or hospital and allow for someone to work from home. These are a few jobs to look into if you are thinking about leaving (temporary or permanently) bedside clinical nursing.

Telehealth Nursing is one job that is likely more common now than it was two years ago. There is no longer a need to be in the office to triage moderately ill patients. Telehealth nurses can work through video, phone, and/or messaging services. They can assess patients based on what they see and based on what the patient describes themselves. This is great for someone who wants to work from home, but has the space for private interactions with patients.Telehealth nurses may also specialize in specific areas such as chronic disease management, post-acute care, or mental health. Telehealth nursing allows patients to receive care in a comfortable setting, improves access to healthcare services, and can help to reduce healthcare costs.

Case manager is a very in demand job nurses can do from home. Some positions even allow for flexible hours. Case managers coordinate the care for people with complex medical needs. For example, those with multiple diagnoses would need to be seen by different doctors and help with managing their prescriptions and appointments. The case manager would also be able to help arrange transportation and home care, along with social and therapeutic needs. A case manager would also need to work with insurance companies to get approval for appropriate medications and treatments and make sure the costs are considered. This together helps to provide positive patient outcomes and helps minimize oversights and errors.

Insurance companies hire registered nurses for many different positions. They may be there to review claims and provide feedback. They can also be hired as coordinators for health programs that design wellness programs to help lower number of claims. Some nurses work directly with the companies purchasing the insurance to make sure the polices provide good quality and are what the company needs overall. Nurses can work on appeals to decide if items should be covered on an individual basis. This requires broad knowledge and would be good for someone with case management experience.

Education is a great area for nurses with a lot of broad experience as it is needed to help train new nurses and also helps keep nurses current with their CE credits. Nurse educators can work as teaching faculty in nursing programs and also in some roles in teaching hospitals. Nurses can work independently from home as an instructor or help to develop curriculum and lesson plans. There are other administrative roles like coordinating clinical rotations, working on evaluations, and accreditation maintenance.

Nurse Auditors are responsible for reviewing and analyzing healthcare claims and medical records to ensure that they are accurate, compliant with regulations and guidelines, and properly coded for reimbursement. They use their clinical knowledge and expertise to identify any errors, discrepancies or potential fraud, waste, or abuse issues. Nurse auditors may work for insurance companies, government agencies, or healthcare providers. They may review claims for a variety of healthcare services, such as inpatient and outpatient hospital services, physician services, home health care, and durable medical equipment. They also may review and analyze data from electronic medical records and other sources. Nurse auditors also play a key role in identifying patterns of billing fraud and abuse and may take part in investigations of suspected fraudulent activity. They also may educate healthcare providers on billing and coding regulations and best practices to prevent errors and fraud.

Utilization review nurses are responsible for evaluating the medical necessity, appropriateness, and efficiency of healthcare services provided to patients. They work with healthcare providers, insurance companies, and patients to ensure that the care being provided is in line with established guidelines and standards of care. This may involve reviewing medical records, conducting assessments, and communicating with healthcare providers to gather information and make decisions about the appropriate level of care. Utilization review nurses also work to ensure that patients receive the most cost-effective care while maintaining the highest quality of care. They may also act as a liaison between patients and insurance companies to help resolve any issues or concerns related to coverage.