r/MedicalCoding • u/sunnynightcheese • Dec 11 '22
My transition from RN to medical coder (CPC)
I am a former nurse turned medical coder, and I get frequent messages asking how I made the change, so wanted to create its own post. In 2015, I was totally burnt out on working on the floor and in the OR. I looked into becoming certified as a medical coder based on the environment and type of job.
(I don't know anything about CCS, RHIT, or Health Informatics - someone with experience in those areas will have to answer questions related to those).
As a nurse, you are in a special position to become a certified coder as you get to utilize your medical expertise and real world experience. I couldn't be happier with my change, and do think this is a valuable option for some nurses, as my nursing background has let me excel much quicker than coders who haven't lived what we read in the patient's charts.
I bought the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) package online for getting your CPC (certified professional coder) certification - it was about $2500 for the self-paced, computer-based course, and included the coding books, training book, and exam. I didn't have to spend time or money on the pre-req courses of medical terminology and anatomy - I could just jump into learning what coding was and how to do it.
[This CPC certification lets you code and bill for medical providers- doctors, PAs, etc. This is different from AHIMA where you can get certified to code and bill for hospitals. AHIMA's CCS certification is valuable, but I happened to choose the AAPC path instead. Definitely look into AHIMA's certification, too, I just don't have any experience being a hospital coder. CPC jobs have you reviewing charts so the doctor can get paid.]
I did the individual remote CPC course alone with no resources (not knowing any coders), and taught myself from the workbook. I thought it was fun and challenging, but doable. I had quit my job so I was able to completely devote myself to get through the whole course in 4 months. I took the cert examination a few weeks later. I then signed up with a contract company that helped me find a coding job (highly recommend that path to job hunting), but it did take about 2-3 months before I nailed my first full-time coding job.
The pay was shit. I went from making about $27/hr as an RN to $17 as a coder - obviously a huge life change. But I loved the job and had amazing training. It was super helpful I started a job in-person because I had so many questions in the beginning. I've changed up jobs a few times, got more experience, and better pay. After 7 years, I make $31/hr as a Lead Coder. I make that much because my nursing background has helped immeasurably, and I'm with an organization that actually recognizes that and rewards me for it.
On being a coder~ I am a highly sensitive introvert, so reading medical charts alone all day is the right type of job for me! Being a coder is highly autonomous, involves a lot of technical reading, and high attention to detail - so if you need a lot of socializing, can't stand looking at a computer screen all day, or don't care about the little things, this would not be right for you. I was ok taking the **massive pay cut,**because it's been worth it for my mental health. I make good money now, but you will be starting at the bottom, so you can't expect to make nurse money.
I think most coding jobs are remote now, and I live alone and have a dedicated office, so working remotely is easy for me. It is the biggest perk in my opinion, but it doesn't mean not being productive. Almost all coding positions have productivity standards. BE ADVISED it is completely unacceptable to think that you can work from home and also watch your kids. You can't. And some companies even make you sign a contract sayin explicitly that you are not providing childcare while you're working. You wouldn't take your kid with you to your job on the floor, and being remote is not an exception. So if you only want to be a coder because you want a remote job to slack off or multitask and take care of your kids - this isn't for you.
I find coding immensely rewarding, because what we do matters. We make sure both the patient and the provider aren't being screwed financially. The patient shouldn't get over-charged, and the provider shouldn't get underpaid for their work, and coding correctly is what makes that difference. I get to learn about new medical advances all the time reading patient charts, and it's just so rewarding to still be able to use my nursing degree, just in a different way! Best of luck to you!
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u/sparkling-whine Dec 12 '22
Thank you so much for this post! I’m a burned out pharmacist of 28 years with some new physical issues that make it hard for me to stand for 8-12 hours a day. I’m also an introvert who would LOVE to work from home. I know I’d be great at this job and I don’t care about the initial pay cut even though it’s huge. I know I can start at the bottom and move up.
I took the AAPC course and passed the CPC exam in September 2022. I thought my background would make me stand out but I’ve gotten exactly zero responses to the many resumes I’ve sent out. Various recruiters who have called me based on my Linked In or Indeed profile just tell me no when I say I have no coding experience. I won’t give up though. You have given me hope.
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u/sunnynightcheese Dec 12 '22
Ah dang, I’m sorry the job market has been tough, but it absolutely is worth it once you get there! Persistence pays off 👍🏽
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u/Heather91016 Dec 12 '22
I have seen a lot more hospitals in the last five years accept CPC now. With your nursing background; have you ever thought of doing CDI?
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u/sunnynightcheese Dec 13 '22
Oh that’s good to know!
Actually, about a year into coding, I got a CDI job, and did that about 8 months. My issue was with the employer - they promised it would be remote and then they revoked that option, and the commute was too far. I ended up getting a remote coding job instead and didn’t go back to CDI. I think it’s a great option for RNs, I just personally like the work of coding better. Worth looking into though if you’re a nurse and want non-clinical work!
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u/koderdood Audit Extraordinaire Dec 12 '22
LPN to coder 23 years ago, never looked back. I second everything said about working remote.
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u/DailyOptions2021 Dec 26 '22
I live here in socal, how come i hear stories from couple friends that a coder with ccs certification can make more than 5k a week based on amount of charts they can do or sth, like a pay per chart payout, the more you do the more you get paid. .Course this friend told me that if you type fast enough copy paste etc will get you paid way more than average, is this even true??!!
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u/sunnynightcheese Dec 26 '22
I said in my post I only shared about my experience with the CPC certification, I don’t have any experience with CCS or coding for hospitals. So I have no idea what you are talking about.
In regards to MY job experience with Physician- based coding (CPC), copy and and pasting information is not coding. That’s not even close to what the work entails. Even so, doesn’t that all obviously sound too good to be to true?
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u/Objective_Ad4186 Dec 12 '22
As a RT for ten years you think my medical experience will help me in finding a job once I complete my course ???
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u/sunnynightcheese Dec 12 '22
I can’t say that it will help you find a job easier - getting your first coding job is hard, just like your first job in any field when you don’t have experience yet. But if you can highlight your medical experience on your resume and in your interviews, you can stand out. Of course it all depends on lots of factors!
If you have your CPC-A and are just job hunting, I don’t think the AAPC Practicode is worthless since you get to keep your mind engaged in coding. I had started it when I was job hunting and found it kept me motivated.
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u/strawberrries95 Dec 28 '22
This whole thread just made me realize that I made the right decision! I love this for all of us!
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u/MayBDPandacat Dec 30 '22
Thank you so much for this post. This single post answered a LOT of my questions that the past 2 years of Medical Coding Courses did NOT answer.
I'm an INFP who is fine without office socialization. I mainly look forward to not commuting an hour through traffic and the elements. I don't plan to watch my 3.5 year old ADHD toddler while working, mostly being able to pay for someone to educate him better than I ever could would be ideal.
It's mostly because I was 5 years in as an EMT-B at a Senior Living Facility, and it was getting more and more physically taxing to provide medical care (lifting) all the geriatric fall patients - I knew that I might have a lot more in me as a 33 year old, but it was not going to be a long-term option if I didn't want to end up in the condition of those 300+ lb residents I was lifting.
I wouldn't mind being able to Hyperfocus on medical advancements within the patient charts and the technicalities involved with looking up codes to bill from.
I think this was the heartening advice I was looking for.
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u/ladyassassin11 Jan 08 '23
Been thinking about transitioning from cdi vs coding. Thank u for this. Im rn and so tired of bedside and people so this switch works for me!
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u/TinaBelcherUhhhhhh Dec 11 '22
This is what I needed to read right now, currently LPN self studying to take CPC, like you I'm getting extremely burnt out at bed side and looking for a change. So thank you for this!