http://allnurses.com Where Home Health Nurses come to talk, share, learn from other HH Nurses. Home Health Nursing Topics include home health care practice, education, administration and research and more. en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:59:52 GMT vBulletin 60 http://img.an-file.info/misc/rss.jpg http://allnurses.com http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/vents-feeding-tubes-440090-new.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:17:38 GMT Are MOST home care cases for nurses,
patients with feeding tubes, vents and or trach's ?
it seems that is what I am finding out..... ]]> Home Health Nursing pat8585 http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/vents-feeding-tubes-440090.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/just-vent-oncall-439907-new.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:15:04 GMT My manager admitted a patient who I would be case manager of. I hadnt seen the patient, nor had I... My manager admitted a patient who I would be case manager of. I hadnt seen the patient, nor had I received any info on him yet. The oncall nurse calls me and tells me that this patient called her and that I need to contact him. This happened at 9:00 at night, I have a sick child and I had paperwork all around me I was working on. She expected me to make the visit. I called my manager to get some info on him, but I decided that it wasnt my place to take care of it...my manager agreed with me.
When Im on call, I take care of whatever comes up, its my place to do so. Thats the entire point of being on call. This oncall nurse EXPECTED me to take care of it when SHE was on call. I didnt go, but neither did she! She told him to go to the ER (his f/c was stopped up). I found out today this is what happened. The ER taught the wife how to irrigate it.
This nurse is now mad at me, I can tell by her attitude. If I visited every time one of my patients called, I would never be off work. Thats why we take turns being on call, so we can each have some time to forget about work.
Im getting sick of home health, I really am. I truely feel like Im never "off" work. :( Im thinking of finding a different path in nursing. :o ]]> Home Health Nursing chenoaspirit http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/just-vent-oncall-439907.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/classifying-meds-med-439898-new.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:26:40 GMT The office has changed how we have to classify meds on the med profile. Like with Abx, there are... The office has changed how we have to classify meds on the med profile. Like with Abx, there are approx 8 different abx classes and I usually have no clue how to classify. Does anyone know of anywhere online I can get a copy of something to help me out. I usually have to choose "abx...other" because I have no freaking clue! I hate this. They just keep making my job harder to do. They provided us with a book that classifies, but it only says "anti-infective", it doesnt tell what class of anti-infective. I am so frustrated wen I have to do a SOC and have to fill that out, especially when the patients has pages of meds. ]]> Home Health Nursing chenoaspirit http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/classifying-meds-med-439898.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/alacare-home-health-439821-new.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:45:25 GMT Does anybody have any experience with Alacare for Morgan County, Al? They seem to have several... Does anybody have any experience with Alacare for Morgan County, Al? They seem to have several openings which makes me wonder, but I am really interested in home health care, and they are the only ones with openings. Thanks, any suggestions would be helpful. BTW does anybody like HH? I only read negative things. Is it really bad or just the company? ]]> Home Health Nursing alabamagrad http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/alacare-home-health-439821.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/cuddle-me-hh-439719-new.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:08:38 GMT Has anyone worked for Cuddle Me HH agency in Garland, Texas, or have any info about it? I am... Has anyone worked for Cuddle Me HH agency in Garland, Texas, or have any info about it? I am looking into possible extended care visits and I know that they do offer it. Thanx! ]]> Home Health Nursing NURSET2007 http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/cuddle-me-hh-439719.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/any-info-appreciated-439650-new.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:27:48 GMT Hello, I am new to allnurses and wondering about a few things about HH. I am considering HH... Hello,

I am new to allnurses and wondering about a few things about HH.
I am considering HH position at Holy Redeemer only because it is the largest HHA in Philadelphia area (and NJ).
However, I would like to know more about the agency, such as job satisfaction, pay rate, flexibility of work hours.
They said it's 8:30 to 5:00 Mon through Fri but I thought HH hour was more flexible than that.
Also, would I be working after 5:00 pm often?
Any input is appreciated! ]]> Home Health Nursing blueberry72 http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/any-info-appreciated-439650.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/working-all-time-439506-new.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:23:01 GMT Do you guys find yourselves working 7 days a week in home health? If you are full time, how do you... Do you guys find yourselves working 7 days a week in home health? If you are full time, how do you balance your work schedule so that you have a life? ;) ]]> Home Health Nursing NURSET2007 http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/working-all-time-439506.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/pediatric-home-health-439208-new.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:45:18 GMT I am accepting a job doing Pediatric Home Health and they told me that I have to take a test before... I am accepting a job doing Pediatric Home Health and they told me that I have to take a test before I can go out in the field. Does anyone know of any practice tests online that I could take? Thank you in advance! ]]> Home Health Nursing misswhitney http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/pediatric-home-health-439208.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/new-grad-question-438939-new.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:36:16 GMT Although home care is not the ideal first job for a new grad, it was the only one i was offered so... Although home care is not the ideal first job for a new grad, it was the only one i was offered so I was wondering if some of you seasoned home care nurses could answer some of my questions.

Today, for example, the visiting dr saw a pt that has a 0.5in x 0.5in x 0.25 in wound on his lateral malleolus. His (first) primary care dr said that it was a venous stasis ulcer and to just put bacitracin and leave OTA. THen the visiting dr took over and said that it's cellulitis and ordered Keflex po, a wound care nurse, and a wound care specialist. I asked him if he wanted me to put anything on the wound and he just said to have a wound care nurse see the pt and treat. Am I missing something? Does the wound care nurse make decisions on her own as to what should be put on the wound, dressing-wise? Also, don't primary care dr's treat wounds like this also? I'm just wondering if he was just trying to pass off the responsibility to someone else, when he could have taken care of it himself. I feel a little bit guilty since I'm the one that referred the pt to this dr after the family asked me if I could find them a visiting dr.

Anyway, it's times like this that I honestly wish I was in a hospital setting with a nurse by me, where I can just ask her questions. I did notify the dir of nursing and told her of the situation. She said that as a home care nurse, I am also a "wound care nurse" and that I can see the pt. But I asked her if she can go out to see the pt, to placate the dr that a wound care nurse was there to see the pt. (She has more experience than me with wound care but she's not a certified wound care nurse). Apparently she just used nursing judgement and placed a hydogel dressing on it.

Thanks for your thoughts, comments.

PS-Do a lot of private home care agencies have certified wound care nurses? I'm assuming that majority of the home care agencies affiliated with hospitals have them.. ]]> Home Health Nursing skyvortex01 http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/new-grad-question-438939.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/home-health-having-438906-new.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:13:09 GMT Hello all,

I'll start off with a question. How many of you had babies/very small children while working home care and do you feel you were better off doing it that way as opposed to working bedside?

I'm considering a change from bedside to home health. I am constantly stressed out, don't sleep well, have gained 15 pounds, and although I do actually love my job, I don't feel it's my perfect fit. I've only been an RN for a year, and my husband and I are trying to get pregnant this winter. I work med/surg and some days its great but I never feel I have enough time for my patients. I know that home health has its own stressors but I feel that I would really thrive in an environment where I could actually have time to teach my patients what they need to know and do treatments without having to worry that my phone will ring with a patient needing their pain meds or needing to "see my nurse" and then going in and finding out all they wanted was a Sprite.

My biggest worry is this. If we get pregnant soon, I know that working bedside would afford me 4 days off a week to be with my child. However, as I said I don't sleep well the night before I work. So add that on top of a baby waking us up during the night, trying to coordinate childcare when we both have to be at work early and get home late, and then working 12 hour shifts...

I've seen so many posts from people saying they'd never go back to bedside and I feel I'd be a really good fit in home health because my patients are always my primary focus and I really enjoy that one-to-one time. My reviews have always been good with the best marks in rapport with my patients. It's something I'm proud of and I feel like it would be better used in a home health environment. I know there's tons of paperwork but I'm no stranger to that, and it's still easier to do all that paperwork on one patient at a time, than it is to try and chart on 5 patients continually throughout the day (where I work we chart EVERYTHING down to giving a patient a glass of water).

Anyway, any advice you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if this post is rambling or nonsensical..I'm still tired from working yesterday :) ]]> Home Health Nursing rhapsodyRN http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/home-health-having-438906.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/anything-positive-about-438868-new.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:29:23 GMT I really need help from someone who can give me information that worked or works for amedysis! I... I really need help from someone who can give me information that worked or works for amedysis! I was excited to hear that I was going to become a full time LPN for the company....However I see so many negative outcomes from amedysis!! I also have never done home health before. I currently work at a long term care facility and am looking for something different due to all the drama that is going on at my facility..also the PA department of health seems to have it out for us!!!! I need some advice...they gave me a good salary to start with...However if you are seeing about six patients in a day how long of a day does it end up to be?? I currently work my 8 hours and go home...Is this going to turn into 8,10,12 hour days?? Please advise!!!!!

And is there anything positive regarding amedysis???:jester: ]]> Home Health Nursing mel1213 http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/anything-positive-about-438868.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/there-good-money-438809-new.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:53:48 GMT I was just wondering if there are home health agencies out there that pay pretty good for LPN's.

I am an LPN.
thanks! ]]> Home Health Nursing pat8585 http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/there-good-money-438809.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/beginning-home-health-438798-new.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:03:58 GMT When you start with a home health company full time, how do they go about giving you patients? All... When you start with a home health company full time, how do they go about giving you patients? All at once, a few at a time? My company is not a good example since I may get 1 patient every 2 weeks if im lucky. Also if you start a new company should there be an "orientation visit" to acclimate your self to the company or is it all the same? Any tips or additional info is welcome. Thanx! :twocents: ]]> Home Health Nursing NURSET2007 http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/beginning-home-health-438798.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/home-health-company-438790-new.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:16:55 GMT I am a LVN who has journeyed out to the world of home health! I love the flexibility, and autonomy,... I am a LVN who has journeyed out to the world of home health! I love the flexibility, and autonomy, but dislike the paperwork. But anyway I left the hospital because I could not do the 12 hr shifts anymore due to my kids. I am with a company and I have only 3 patients, averaging 7-9 visits per week, And I am supposed to be full time! So I applied to another agency elsewhere and its like they have a problem with it, saying things like well you agreed to be fulltime, even though I was passed up on numerous occasions to get new patients. I have been with them over 2 months. Should I try and stick it out with this company or go elsewhere?
:spin: ]]> Home Health Nursing NURSET2007 http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/home-health-company-438790.html http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/best-facilities-hospital-438585-new.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:29:16 GMT Hi, everybody :) I am from Florida and planning to move to Las Vegas, NV next year. I just want to... Hi, everybody :) I am from Florida and planning to move to Las Vegas, NV next year. I just want to know what and where are the best facilities or hospitals to work as a CNA? Any suggestions? Thank you so much!! ]]> Home Health Nursing oicirtap http://allnurses.com/home-health-nursing/best-facilities-hospital-438585.html