Home care?

Juryizout · Jul 2, 2012

Try being a hospice cna. I'm doing that this summer full time until nursing school starts back up in august.

Dawnski · Jul 2, 2012

I totally feel your pain. I worked at a hospital on a telemetry floor for 6 months and had the same complaints. I was also night shift (7pm - 7:30am). The workload was horrible and I was tired all the time. I felt guilty leaving, because I know how hard it is to get a job in a hospital, but I was going home crying almost every night, and it just wasn't worth it. I interviewed for and got a job as a caregiver at a retirement community close by. There are individuals living independently in apartments, assisted living, and SNF and hospice care, all in the same community.

I only work one-on-one with the residents, about 20 hr. per week, and I LOVE IT! I'm not really doing CNA work, and I don't make lots of money, but I am so much happier! Some of the caregivers work up to 60 hours per week! 12 hour shifts with one person might be kind of hard, though. 2-6 hours with one person is perfect!

I also work for a home health agency (although they haven't called for awhile). I am much happier providing one-on-one care.

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Jul 3, 2012

They're hiring for 12 hour shifts? Wow! Having worked in home health for my entire CNA career I can say that I only worked 12 hour shifts on special occasions. Home Health is nice, it's easier (for the most part) than working in a facility and can be more relaxing. I would say that the biggest con is that you really can't know when your next job will be. Sure you might have some clients on a consistant basis, but if they decide one day that they don't like you or that you don't cook well enough or don't clean up to their standards, then there goes that job and you're waiting until something else comes up. There have been some weeks where I worked myself silly and other weeks where I was lucky if I got 2 hours. I love the job, but I can't stand the unpredictability of the paycheck. I wouldn't believe an agency that says that they can consistently give you 3 12 hour shifts a week.

I would recommend that you don't go with a mom and pop company. My first job was with one of those and I will say that there was some shady stuff going on. I would be scheduled for a client, and then another CNA would show up 15 minutes later and I would have to leave, having to wait on my pay check for a month because the company had already spent the money, being lied to about how much I would get paid an hour per client, hearing about clients being charged twice CNA visits or being charged when no CNA showed up, the list goes on. Make sure you go with somebody reputable. I'm with a reputable company now and it makes a world of difference.

shay&lynn, ASN, RN · Jul 3, 2012

this is a rather old thread that i ran across, but thought i would share.

https://allnurses.com/cna-ma-nursing/nursing-home-vs-382216.html

hope it helps

duskyjewel · Jul 3, 2012

Thank you so much for the replies, and for posting that older thread. It has pretty much confirmed what I thought. As to the driving, I really don't mind driving (I used to deliver newspapers...now THAT is a driving job!), I just worry about my car being able to take it. I will just have to keep up with maintenance if I decide to go that route. The agency I said was hiring for 12 hour shifts also says they have 4 hour shifts, 1 hour bath visits, etc.... so I am sure that whatever schedule I end up with will be a hodgepodge. I interviewed with them last year but my availability didn't fit with their needs. They are a nationwide home care agency (initials V.A. and no not the Veterans Administration) and I have researched them. The office I interviewed with... I cannot find ONE negative review or complaint about them anywhere! What kind of company can say that these days?! I worry about not being able to get or stay full time though and I don't think they offer benefits. There is also an outstanding hospice company near me that I am thinking of applying with. I have researched them too, and again, can find only good things people say about them. A former employee called working with them "an honorable experience." Isn't that what we all want? I need to stay full time and have benefits if I can. My husband can get benefits at his work, but they cost almost one of my current paychecks per month! Honestly, though, I have begun to see the admittedly good insurance plans for very low cost as a trap this hospital system uses to keep people working for them, no matter how awful the conditions.

I feel a bit like a quitter and a wimp, but I have to admit my limitations, and I need something different! If I am doing caregiving, then I need to feel like I am actually CARING for a person, not just trying to get done with them as fast as possible because I have three call lights going off and four blood sugars that are due. But it's the people who I neglect that really sit on my conscience. Maybe they need me less, but that doesn't mean they need to feel cared about less. I have been really afraid to make a change, for fear of jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, ending up stuck with an even worse situation than I have now. Being a job hopper looks BAD and I don't want to do that. But taking no risks leads to getting no rewards....so, here I go.

Dawnski · Jul 4, 2012

Good luck!

duskyjewel · Jul 4, 2012

[deleted] Sorry, tried to post resume for advice and it was unreadable!

RmCU_nA · Jul 6, 2012

I have a question for you CNAs..I am a PHIL grad with BSN and I wasnt eligible to take the NCLEX..so I figure with a BSN do I still have to do training and clinicals..I've heard being a CNA is a stepping stone if you really want your career in healthcare/nursing..some say I can take the exam some say take a CNA course because CA doesnt approve PHIL grads..what is the real deal...need info any info on CNA certification/examination in CA...

duskyjewel · Jul 6, 2012

Woo hoo....got called for a hospice interview! Applied on the 3rd, they called on the 5th. Now that's confidence inspiring!

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Jul 6, 2012

Congrats! We only have one hospice company in my area and they're not hiring If they were hiring I would apply in a heartbeat. Good luck!

Juryizout · Jul 6, 2012

Coolness! Keep us posted!