Are there any programs out there that require a BSN for an RN position as CDS? This would mean no consideration of any experience. If no BSN would not be considered for CDS position.
I do not have a BSN. I guess my 25 years of nursing experience and two non-nursing degrees were worth something, despite the American Nurses' Association's position.
We do not require a BSN, but we prefer one. I tend to look at the individual and their experience. Approximately 15 years ago when I graduated nursing school, it was a great group of diploma nurses that mentored me. I found their knowledge and skill to be far superior to any of the BSN's in our facility. If I had one of them apply, I'd take them in a heart beat!
Bill Freeman, RN, BSN Supervisor of CDMP® Case Management Jefferson Regional Medical Center P.O. Box 350 Crystal City, MO 63019 636-933-5324 - Office Telephone 636-933-5702 - Office Fax wfreeman@jhsmo.com www.jhsmo.com
Our program requirements are bachelors and 5-10 years medical-surgical experience. Must have both, or at least be working on bachelors. However, the bachelors does not have to be in nursing, as mine is in healthcare administration.
Are there any programs out there that require a BSN for an RN position as CDS? This would mean no consideration of any experience. If no BSN would not be considered for CDS position.
We do not require a BSN. We prefer a varied clinical background. I am the supervisor and have been in this department since it started at GMH. I am passionate about the job, the outcomes, and details of what we do in our department. The physicians respect me, think I am knowledgeable, and I have a great rapport with Administration down to the coders. I do not think a BSN is a requirement as long as the long clinical background is there. I have been a nurse for 25 years and my job experience and ability clinically have made me a success at this job.
Juanita B. Seel, RN Supervisor Documentation Management Greenville Memorial Hospital Greenville, SC
Juanita, well said. I am the lead and do not have a BSN - I am currently pursuing one but not because I have to for this position. I do have an Associates degree in Healthcare Management. I have 2 add'l CDS - one has her BSN but not an RN - She does have a masters in Healthcare Adm and her undergrad degree is RHIA or RHIT (I am not sure). The other is an RN without her BSN also. We look at experience. I have been a nurse for 23 years - diploma grad - currently working at the same hospital where I trained. My education and work experience have certainly prepared me well for this position. I think it's sad that those of us who do not have BSNs are not being considered for a variety of positions. My facility has many non degree nurses who are amazing.
We also do not require a BSN, but do require additional experience in lieu of the degree (an additional 3 yrs). That requirement is somewhat moot, as the average experience for the team of 9 we have is >15 yrs.......
Personally, when looking at candidates, it is not the degree, but rather the 'intangible' factors -- personality, communication, smarts, type A, knowledge, etc. -- that are the deciding drivers.
I personally would not support raising the educational bar -- too many excellent candidates would be ruled out.
Don
Donald A. Butler, RN, BSN Manager, Clinical Documentation PCMH, Greenville NC dbutler@pcmh.com
I agree completely!!! ( As I am only a diploma RN .... ) Thank You, Susan Tiffany RN, CCDS Supervisor Clinical Documentation Program Guthrie Healthcare System phone: 570-882-6094, pager #465 fax: 570-882-6768 email: tiffany_susan@guthrie.org "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor.Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain
My position did not require a BSN, but it was preferred. 5 years of clinical experience was a requirement. If the position was open today, I believe a BSN would be a requirement as our facility is in process for achieving magnet status.
Our facility has Magnet status and we do not require a BSN. I am a associate degree nurse with 19 years experience, most of which id critical care. We require clinical experience. Our program is very successful and has been in place 9 years. I have been in this position just over 2 years. I think requiring a BSN excludes an enormous amount of very qualified candidates.
I agree completely. There is so much to this position that having a BSN. We look at the overall experience of the candidate. We have not hired a BSN in favor of a diploma grad based on their resume, experience and strength of interview.
We require a bachelor's degree or for the candidate to commit to completing the degree by taking 6 credits/year. The degree doesn't have to be in nursing, I have some staff with their BSN, others have a degree in health management, etc.
We also look for at least 2 years of clinical experience, critical thinking skills, communication, etc. As well as the capacity to tolerate the job - and we all know that can be difficult on some days!
Julie Doy, RN, MSN Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines
I want to thank everyone for the great responses and support. I am working on a challenge and will follow up with the outcome when known. I am an associate degree RN with 35 years med/surg, critical care experience and 5
How unfortunate for you! It seems incredibly narrow minded to think that the professional and life experiences of a seasoned nurse with a strong clinical background could be less valuable than another nurse simply because one has a BSN. This is a very ill-advised move if the idea is to simply place a BSN in a leadership role. Is it possible to arrange an appointment to talk on-on-one with the decision-makers to determine their rationale, or if there is something that needs to be happening that isn't? I'm a firm believer in the power of communication and teamwork.
Is there anything else I can do for you?
Clinical Quality Management would like your feedback on our ability to meet your needs. Please complete a satisfaction survey for our department.
Sandy Beatty, RN, BSN, C-CDI
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Columbus Regional Hospital
Columbus, IN
(812) 376-5652
sbeatty@crh.org
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal." Hannah More
I am so sorry for them! Through the years I have learned that some experiences I lived through were for the better. You have assets that other hospitals will be fortunate to have. Good luck on your endeavors and never look back. I would never want to work for that facility as a BSN or ASN.
WOW!! I hope you do realize how much in demand you are ............. spend a few mins on-line and you will see CDS experience wanted in every state!!! Good luck!
Thank You, Susan Tiffany RN, CCDS Supervisor Clinical Documentation Program Guthrie Healthcare System email: tiffany_susan@guthrie.org "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor.Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain
Of course it is up to you, but I would certainly be considering refreshing my resume. CDI experience is EXTREMELY marketable right now IMHO. There are numerous opportunities out there from staff level, leadership and consulting. Look at the resources out there, especially the salary survey and staffing survey on ACDIS, as well as the jobs posting here and all over the internet.
In fact, if you would be interested in considering Eastern North Carolina, please contact me!! (I have an open position right now).
Don
Donald A. Butler, RN, BSN Manager, Clinical Documentation PCMH, Greenville NC dbutler@pcmh.com
There are 6 CDS on our team with varied degrees (LPN to MSN) and clinical experiences (insurance case mgt, peds, med-surg, ER). I think so much of this job is having the right person personality-wise that is a good fit for the facility they're working at. I wouldn't exclude anyone simply because their education and/or clinical doesn't look good on paper.
Comments
Charlene
Hire the person, not the credentials.
Renee
Linda Renee Brown, RN, CCRN, CCDS
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Arizona Heart Hospital
individual and their experience. Approximately 15 years ago when I
graduated nursing school, it was a great group of diploma nurses that
mentored me. I found their knowledge and skill to be far superior to any
of the BSN's in our facility. If I had one of them apply, I'd take them in
a heart beat!
Bill Freeman, RN, BSN
Supervisor of CDMP®
Case Management
Jefferson Regional Medical Center
P.O. Box 350
Crystal City, MO 63019
636-933-5324 - Office Telephone
636-933-5702 - Office Fax
wfreeman@jhsmo.com
www.jhsmo.com
Are there any programs out there that require a BSN for an RN position as CDS? This would mean no consideration of any experience. If no BSN would not be considered for CDS position.
Theresa Woods, RN, MSN
Jennings American Legion Hospital
1634 Elton Road
Jennings, La 70546
Phone: 337-616-7297
Fax: 337-616-7096
twoods@jalh.com
Juanita B. Seel, RN
Supervisor Documentation Management
Greenville Memorial Hospital
Greenville, SC
A BSN is not part of our requirement for a CDS position.
Juanita, well said.
I am the lead and do not have a BSN - I am currently pursuing one but not because I have to for this position. I do have an Associates degree in Healthcare Management. I have 2 add'l CDS - one has her BSN but not an RN - She does have a masters in Healthcare Adm and her undergrad degree is RHIA or RHIT (I am not sure). The other is an RN without her BSN also.
We look at experience.
I have been a nurse for 23 years - diploma grad - currently working at the same hospital where I trained. My education and work experience have certainly prepared me well for this position.
I think it's sad that those of us who do not have BSNs are not being considered for a variety of positions. My facility has many non degree nurses who are amazing.
Personally, when looking at candidates, it is not the degree, but rather the 'intangible' factors -- personality, communication, smarts, type A, knowledge, etc. -- that are the deciding drivers.
I personally would not support raising the educational bar -- too many excellent candidates would be ruled out.
Don
Donald A. Butler, RN, BSN
Manager, Clinical Documentation
PCMH, Greenville NC
dbutler@pcmh.com
Thank You,
Susan Tiffany RN, CCDS
Supervisor Clinical Documentation Program
Guthrie Healthcare System
phone: 570-882-6094, pager #465
fax: 570-882-6768
email: tiffany_susan@guthrie.org
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor.Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain
I agree completely. There is so much to this position that having a BSN. We look at the overall experience of the candidate. We have not hired a BSN in favor of a diploma grad based on their resume, experience and strength of interview.
We also look for at least 2 years of clinical experience, critical thinking skills, communication, etc. As well as the capacity to tolerate the job - and we all know that can be difficult on some days!
Julie Doy, RN, MSN
Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines
Is there anything else I can do for you?
Clinical Quality Management would like your feedback on our ability to meet your needs. Please complete a satisfaction survey for our department.
Sandy Beatty, RN, BSN, C-CDI
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Columbus Regional Hospital
Columbus, IN
(812) 376-5652
sbeatty@crh.org
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal." Hannah More
a few mins on-line and you will see CDS experience wanted in every
state!!!
Good luck!
Thank You,
Susan Tiffany RN, CCDS
Supervisor Clinical Documentation Program
Guthrie Healthcare System
email: tiffany_susan@guthrie.org
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
away from safe harbor.Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover." Mark Twain
refreshing my resume.
CDI experience is EXTREMELY marketable right now IMHO. There are
numerous opportunities out there from staff level, leadership and
consulting.
Look at the resources out there, especially the salary survey and
staffing survey on ACDIS, as well as the jobs posting here and all over
the internet.
In fact, if you would be interested in considering Eastern North
Carolina, please contact me!! (I have an open position right now).
Don
Donald A. Butler, RN, BSN
Manager, Clinical Documentation
PCMH, Greenville NC
dbutler@pcmh.com
etc
I agree, Pesonality and experience is all that matters.