There are a lot of RNs who have made the 'switch' to MT. There is no doubt that your medical knowledge and background will certainly aid in your ability to do this job - make no mistake about it -- it's still going to take you a while to feel comfortable doing the job.

What type of physician(s)? How many of them? What type of turn-around-time are they expecting? What happens if you need time off? Are you expected to find someone to cover for your - or will they? Or will they hold the work for you? How much are you going to be charging - and by what unit of measurement? By the line? By the page? What constitutes a line? What constitutes a page? Are you printing out the work - or are they? If you are -- who is supplying the paper? The printer cartridges? If you will be supplying this, you need to consider that - and include the cost in your charges. Clearly define your billing/payment terms (i.e. you bill once a month - on the 1st - and expect to be paid in 10 days). Will you be typing and printing letters and envelopes for them? If so - you need to decide what you're going to be charging for envelopes. You need to decide what you're going to be charging if corrections (for mistakes made on their part) need to be made. Is there a specific software they want you to use? Can you get samples of the doctors work (sans patient info) from them?

If this is a career change you're going to be making on a permanent basis (I do know nurses who continue working as an RN, and do MT on the 'side') - then you might want to seriously consider taking a course. I am currently mentoring an RN who took on MT work part-time. The first words out of her mouth when she took her first tape was "I never knew they talked so fast!!" You know that lovely handwriting you try to decipher? They speak the same way. Hearing what they're saying, and transcribing it into a concise, clear medical record isn't always as easy as it looks. I know M-Tec has a tiered program (up at the top of the board, on the right-hand side there's a drop-down menu; you'll find them there) -- specifically set up for health professionals who are interested in MT work. You might want to start there.

Good luck to you - and I hope some of this info helps.

Annie