Resources

I’m often asked if there are remote roles available for nurses who work in (insert specialty here: OR, pediatrics, maternal health, behavioral health, oncology, etc…) and the answer is usually yes. 

Some specialties lend themselves to particular remote roles.

• Oncology — data abstraction
• ER — telephone triage
• OR — prior auth/coding/clinical documentation improvement
• Maternal health — maternal health case management
• Behavioral health —  behavioral health case management
• Critical care —  clinical documentation improvement (often need to gain experience on-site at a facility prior to finding remote roles.) Critical care experience is highly prized for many remote positions.

Many companies hire remote nurses. There are probably nurses who work remotely for your own facility and you just didn’t know, because you never see them obviously. 

Companies that hire remote nurses:

• Insurance companies
• Staffing agencies
• Hospitals
• Major corporations
• Triage contractors
• Researchers
• Public health departments
• Consulting firms

Your ability to travel while working completely depends upon your employer’s policies. For most, you’ll have to wait before jumping into RV travel life. 

Many companies require that you have a separate and secure office with a locking door and your computer hardwired to the internet. 

Other companies are okay with using wifi. It simply depends. 

Hint — at the bottom of many job posts you may find the internet and home office requirements for the role.

This question can be hard to answer. My idea of paying well living on the West coast is likely different from what you consider paying well in the midwest. 

My suggestion — decide how much you need and want to get paid (making multiple budget scenarios helps — I save almost $8,000 a year in car/commuting costs by being remote.) 

Enter each job application knowing that some may offer more and some may offer less. You have my permission to “bless and release” the insulting offers while accepting and celebrating the good. 

And remember, negotiation is a powerful tool! 

Yes! The vast majority of remote roles are full time, but there are part-time and per diem options. 

Jobs are rarely listed as per diem even though some function this way.  Read the job posts.  Many data abstraction roles, for example, will be listed as part-time but only require 10 hours a week and you make your own schedule.

No! Certifications are great if you have them, but you don’t need them to find a remote role. 

Please do not take an internet certification course/class that is not recognized nationally or provides CEUs. 

Common certifications that are awesome if you have them, but don’t panic if you don’t!

• CCM Certified Case Manager
• CCDS Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist
• CTR Certified Tumor Register
• CRN Clinical Research Nurse
• CPC Certified Professional Coder
• CCS Certified Coding Specialist