A Day in the Life – An Interview with an Optum HouseCalls Nurse Practitioner and a UnitedHealthcare Nurse Case Manager

A Nursing career at UnitedHealth Group can be challenging, yet very rewarding at the same time. Our Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners are caregivers through and through. At UnitedHealth Group, they work in a fast-paced environment directly with patients providing compassionate, personal care.

Meet Charlie, Registered Nurse Case Manager for UnitedHealthcare and Mady, Nurse Practitioner for Optum House Calls.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Charlie: Emails, LearnSource and follow-ups are the first thing I conquer every morning, followed by phone calls to medical providers and members. I then meet with my members and their families in their homes to assess for unmet needs and to see how they are doing. Then I return to the office to work on how and what I am going to put in place to get those needs met.

Mady: The beginning of a typical day as a House Calls NP starts with getting organized and mapping out the day. Usually I call the members a day before the scheduled visit and give them a timeframe of when I will be arriving to their homes.

What does it take to be successful in your job?

Charlie: Compassion, perseverance and thick skin

Upon initial meeting, my members equate me as UnitedHealthcare in general. If they have had one bad experience previously, then I am the one who hears those frustrations. My desire is to prove to them that I am here to be their advocate. In order for a member to truly embrace that I am there to help, they have to know that I am listening to every word they say. I want my members to feel heard.

Mady: I think that if a person possesses the following traits: outgoing, attention to detail, independent and self-motivated, they have the potential of becoming successful here. Having an attention to detail and being independent are important because in my field I am by myself without the aid of nearby co-workers and without direct supervision; I must be hypersensitive to details.

And what are the benefits working as a telecommuter?

Mady: As with any medical career, a telecommuter NP role comes with a certain pressure to get things done. That said, time constraints are much lower than most traditional NP roles and the simple act of meeting the member on their “home court” can make all the difference in terms of comfort and ability to connect with a member. Even if you’re not the kind of person who needs a “thank you” for a job well done, it’s nice to note all the measurable ways you can improve lives with a simple but comprehensive House Call visit.

What’s the most important thing someone should know before joining our company?

Charlie: Be prepared for change. One thing that really sticks out to me about UnitedHealthcare is they encourage innovation. If something isn’t working, they will change it until it does. I appreciate an organization that is willing to address difficulties and work to fix them.

Mady: We are visitors in our member’s homes, therefore we must be able to bring compassion and passion, energy and dedication to every home visit that we make.

Describe the work environment at UnitedHealth Group and how does it help you thrive in your career?

Charlie: My immediate team is amazing. We have been here together since the start of our particular program. I think the camaraderie between staff and knowing that help is a phone call or email away gives me the encouragement I need to know I am doing the right thing. Being able to brainstorm with my teammates is helping me to grow as a case manager.

Mady: Since day one it was transparent that UnitedHealth Group fosters an environment characterized by collegial relationships between NPs and their clinical team managers. They provide clear visibility of the NP role, and available support for the NP. Our clinical team managers are our support and our lifeline. I have been fortunate to have three clinical team managers and all were always readily available and eager to assist in me in any way possible.

What are the career opportunities nurses can get here?

Charlie: My manager keeps us informed of opportunities for advancement when they come along.

Mady: They created a Program called APEX which gives NPs the opportunity to move up the clinical ladder with monetary bonuses for each step.

You can visit our Clinical Careers page to learn more about our opportunities and how you can provide leadership and contribute in ways that can affect millions for years to come.

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