A few weeks ago, Tricia Mitchell left a comment on one of The Work at Home Woman’s Facebook posts about how she quit her nursing job and is now working from home as a medical coder and biller.
Because I too am a retired nurse, I was curious as to why she made the career transition and to find out why she LOVES medical coding and billing.
Read on to find out why she made the switch from nursing to medical coding and billing.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey to becoming a medical coder and biller.
I am a Registered Nurse from a very small town in central Kansas. I have been married a little over two years, and we have a 10-month-old little boy. I graduated from a local private college with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and worked in a local hospital specializing in Medical/Surgical patients and also Labor and Delivery.
Nursing for me was always the goal; I never wanted to be anything different. I gained my mother’s nurturing side and have always felt compelled to help those who are not able to help themselves.
As a young nurse, I went into my profession giving 100% of myself to every patient I ever had the pleasure of taking care of; however, I was let down on too many occasions by the “bureaucracy” behind healthcare. The system we currently have now is not working for the citizens of our country who need it the most. Too many high-risk populations are being overlooked, and I felt I needed to find a way to be a voice for those slipping through the cracks.
Medical Billing and Coding has given me a voice with regards to medical policy and how it affects patients on an individual level – I specialize in Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Error and play an active role in fighting for the voiceless on a daily basis.
Why did you leave the nursing field?
One of the most difficult decisions of my life was leaving bedside nursing care. However, the personal goal of wanting to start a family with my husband conflicted with working full-time nights. I researched and researched viable work-from-home jobs that allowed me to continue to grow as a nurse and stumbled upon Medical Billing and Coding courses on Dave Ramsey’s website! I now have a 10-month-old son and a work-from-home career that gives me the flexibility to be an engaged mother but also continue to impact the delivery of healthcare.
What do medical coders and billers actually do on the job?
What do medical coders and billers actually do on the job?On a daily basis, coders look at medical records and turn a doctor’s charting into a “bill” that is then sent to insurance companies for reimbursement. With all of the changes in healthcare the past few years, the coding industry is ever-evolving and in a way provides “job security” for medical coders. This career will never be an automated process and will always need specially trained individuals to complete.
Do you have any special training?
As mentioned before, I stumbled across Medical Billing and Coding on Davy Ramsey’s website as he endorses an online technical school, CareerStep. CareerStep is an online school that provides several programs that are 100% self-paced and, upon completion, allows students to certify and apply for work-from-home careers. I completed the coding and billing program through CareerStep over four months, certified through AAPC, and then received a job offer through my current employer. Even though I was an RN before attending CareerStep, their program is geared toward those individuals without any medical experience. They require no prerequisites and is a fantastic option for those who want to gain new skills while still working or raising children full-time.
Do you have to go to school to learn about the medical coding and billing field?
It is possible to buy a current set of Medical Coding books and teach yourself; however, it is a lot of information and can be quite overwhelming without a program to organize the information. CareerStep did an excellent job of organizing a lot of new information in a way that was easy to understand and allowed me to learn the content relatively quickly and pass the certifying exam.
I have not come across an employer who is hiring non-certified coders to work from home. Certifying is the key to success for individuals who are new to Medical Billing and Coding because it “proves” you are able to complete the job, and CareerStep teaches you all of the “need to know” information in order the pass the certifying exam.
How easy was it to find a remote medical and coding job?
CareerStep has a very thorough Graduate Support Service that keeps in contact with graduates aiding them in finding jobs. They sent me the contact information for my current employer, and I was able to find a remote coding position right after graduating. There are many resources out there to find remote careers after certifying including Facebook groups and LinkedIn. Also, please feel free to use me as a resource and email any questions to [email protected]!
What advice do you have for aspiring medical billers and coders?
Go for it! It is a career that is just exploding right now. The demand for Medical Coders is greater than it ever has been and is opening the door for more remote positions. I have personally seen individuals with no medical experience take the online program, certify, and are now working from home. I no longer just have a job; I have a career. The possibilities are endless, and I’m constantly working my way up the ladder, which never would have been possible for me in small-town Kansas!
Thanks, Tricia for sharing your story!
To get more information on becoming a medical coder and biller, click here, then click on the pink “Get Started” button to receive additional info.
I live in Florida and have no medical background but im looking for a career change. Thinking of entering a two year program at a local community college for medical coding and billing with the hopes of finding a work from home job. How is it in Florida if anyone knows? Is there a lot of longevity in this career? What is retirement like? Thanks!!
Hi Harleigh,
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for medical coders and billers is growing at 11%, which is faster than average. You can learn more about the outlook of the career here:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm
You can also Google what medical billers and coders make in Florida. I would think the need in FL is higher than average, with so many retirees living there. You’ll definitely want to research.
Medical billing and coding is great if you absolutely must work from home like Tricia needed to, but I’d always prefer working as a nurse where I get to work with people instead of having to work with spreadsheets and numbers all day. I’d go nuts!
Hi Laura,
That’s great that you enjoy floor nursing — we need good nurses like you! Nursing stressed me out, so, I’m incredibly grateful that I get to work from home.
I am a nurse with over 15 yrs experience in open heart surgery/cath lab. I have taken the CPC course and am awaiting the exam. I sure hope to find something that interests me when I become certified.
Thanks for this post.
Good luck, Nicole! Keep me posted =)
I’ve been a nurse coming up on 4 years now and realizing its not something I care to do for the rest of my life upon retiring. I’m a LPN and did think about going back to school for my RN, but nursing school as we all know is Not Fun… and its some thing I would rather avoid. I love my job & being an LPN, but its not something I want to do for the long term. My step daughter is thinking of going into coding & billing, that’s what made me think may be there was something out there I could do, and still stay in the medical career. I wanted to know from you anything to could tell me about nurses going into the field? Do you believe its a good career choose? I’m really excited and can’t wait to make the change. Any pros & cons would be Helpful :)
Thanks Shelby
Hi Shelby,
I’ve heard quite a few nurses making the switch from nursing to coding. As a former nurse myself, I totally understand why. Because I don’t know all the ins and outs of coding, I suggest speaking directly to Tricia. You can find her on Facebook, or join this Facebook Group for nurses seeking remote jobs (https://www.facebook.com/groups/314006579279450/).
I believe Tricia is a member of that group too.
Good luck and keep me posted!
The success or failure of your claims all lie in the hands of your medical coders. Start asking yourself these questions: Are my medical coders diligent and detail-oriented? Are they thorough and accurate? Are they experienced? Do they communicate well? If they are, then your medical practice is headed in the right direction. If they are not, then you need to train them and conduct internal quality checks to create change and improve their coding performance.
Are there part time remote positions in billing and coding? Also, how long did it take you to complete the training?
Hi Alicia,
I’ve seen part-time positions for medical coders and billers.
CareerStep’s course is meant to be completed in 4-months, but you have up to a year to finish it if you need it.
Good luck and keep us posted!
I’m currently a Phlebotomist and specimen processor at a hospital. I want to go to Nursing because my parents are encouraging me to go for it but I actually have more interest in clerical part of the medical field plus like working with computers and I must say I’m a computer pro. I am planning to get certificate in Medical Billing and Coding from a local college but I’m having second thoughts about it. But I came a cross your article and you gave more motivation to go for Medical Billing and Coding. I knew I was going in the right path. Thank you.
Glad that you were able to confirm your thoughts!
Good luck and keep me posted!
Tricia,
I currently have my CPC and work as a medical coder. I’m going back and forth between going for a degree in HIM, or Nursing.
I feel like Nursing would be a better path because RN, CPC’s have better job opportunities.
Do you have an advise?
Hi Jessica,
As a retired RN, I can tell you that there is a lot of versatility within the nursing field, which makes it great. But it can also be incredibly stressful, or monotonous depending on where you work. The pay is better for nurses too. If you’re serious about going into nursing, I would suggest working in a doctor’s office or hospital setting as an aide or assistant to see if you enjoy the work.
This post also talks about remote nursing positions:
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/remote-jobs-nurses/
I have been a RN for a very long time and have seen my share of it all. As I’ve gotten older I’ve looked for something to get me out of the bedside status but keep me in nursing. I’m in Care management now, in s roll where I work somewhat with coding as I do pre-certain for status control. But it sure would be nice to start working a little less form “work” and a little more from home.
Hi Tracey,
As a retired nurse, I feel you! Take a look at this list of remote options for nurses:
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/remote-jobs-nurses/
Good luck on your job hunt!
I’m an up and coming medical billing and coding student, reading this article made me realize I picked the correct field everything about I love especially working from home.
Do you know if you get compensated differently for having your RN? I am very interested in the prospects of being able to work from home, but not at the expense of a huge paycut.
My mother is actually the one who I have been thinking about reading this article as she is now almost 60 and still working as a nurse. She doesn’t want to retire, but I can tell it is taking a toll on her body. I am actually a nurse as well and working for a smaller medical office, so I agree that more medical billing solutions are in demand. How perfect would it be for my mom to focus on an industry that she is used to, but be able to to something that is less tolling on her body.
Hey Megan,
I’m a nurse too (well, retired nurse).
I think this would be a great option for your mom! Although, there are many remote jobs for nurses if she doesn’t want to go through the extra training. This post may be helpful for her too: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/remote-jobs-nurses/
Good luck and keep me posted!
I totally agree with Tricia that medical coding will never be completely automated and will always require a human hand. In fact, my daughter said to me yesterday that she would like to find some medical coding classes as she likes medical stuff but does not want to be a nurse or a doctor. I will support her decision and held her find some nice courses.
Glad you enjoyed Tricia’s interview!
Good luck to your daughter!