Tips for Nurses Making the Transition to Medical Coding

Nurses choose to leave the hands-on responsibilities of their profession for a variety of reasons. Some are burned out. Others deal with lots of anxiety and stress. Whatever the reason, more and more nurses are turning to another role within the healthcare industry: medical coding.

In fact, medical coding has turned into one of the most attractive options for nurses after they are ready for a change in their career. Here are some tips for nurses interested in medical coding.

Advice for Making the Transition

Hear Mrs. Ortega give Invaluable career advice to nurses that are thinking about making a transition into medical coding, management and auditing in this video:

What The Best Nurses-Turned-Medical Coders Have In Common

Nurses who transition properly to medical coding thrive when have certain skills or experiences. If you’re not able to watch the above video, here’s what some of the best nurses-turned-medical coders have in common:

• Deep clinical knowledge. This makes them better at appeals.
• Solid research skills. Due to experience looking at different sources (labs, notes, physicals, etc.)
• Ongoing documentation. This helps with ongoing improvement for coders and providers.
• Auditing experience. Which ensures accuracy before codes goes out the door.
• Superior leadership abilities. The highest medical coding positions are often former nurses.

The Best Medical Coding Education Option for Nurses

At Medical Coding Academy, we’ve helped dozens of nurses shift their career successfully into medical coding. Whether you are interested in an online option you can pursue while still maintaining your nursing job or you’re without a job and looking for something completely new, we can help.

Check out our courses page to learn more about your options.