[Cora Zone]

Hi,

I am in home health now for four months, but only a little over two years in nursing as a whole. I think my lack of experience makes it hard to do this well. What am I good at? Well the patients love me. That and a dollar will get you a small cup of Joe at Dunkin Donuts. They say I am good because I don't rush in and out like the other nurses. It's the whole " hustle for the visits" mentality that really makes me feel bad about this job. I feel like I am working piecework in a garment shop. Then after 8 or more hours in the field, I come home to piles of paperwork and searching the internet for good educational materials. And doing phone calls, and..and--then I toss and turn and can't sleep, I am so worried about these people. One thing I believe is really needed are written handouts that are readable and simple, with lots of pictures, on all the basic diseases we run into...if anyone has any ideas on that, please--I am open to any of them, including how to not burn out again on my third nursing job in two years. I sit there in the houses, drawing pictures, because I can't find what I want for teaching. Good to find this forum. I'll be checking back, for sure.

[yogalover47]

Hello everyone,
I am new to HH only been in for 2.5 months now. WOW, do I feel stupid. I worked on orthopedic/urology/gen surgery floor for 12 years, didn't do much medical nursing, then did 2 years as circulator in ENT/GYN suite. Took 6 years off to raise kids etc. Now the last 2.5 years in Pain Management doing venipuncture and conscious sedation. This seems to be a very rewarding type of nursing but gosh, I can't seem to remember EVERYTHING

[yogalover47]

OOPs sorry, new to this site and can't quite get this right either, LOL. Anyway any advice for how to slow down and still see 6-7 patients like they want me to and do it RIGHT too? I feel so inadequate and the other girls say it will take up to a year to get it? Gosh, I can't wait that long! Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Silverblitzen]

Originally Posted by yogalover47

OOPs sorry, new to this site and can't quite get this right either, LOL. Anyway any advice for how to slow down and still see 6-7 patients like they want me to and do it RIGHT too? I feel so inadequate and the other girls say it will take up to a year to get it? Gosh, I can't wait that long! Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

OMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....deep, cleansing breath. That's it, sloooooowly. Patience is your friend, Grasshopper. (Boy, now I'm really dating myself!) All your fellow staff members were once newbies as well and had to go through that awkward, gangly stage. Can you communicate with your team members if you have questions? I'm finding that I'm asking questions all the time and I also have a problem with patience - I wanna know it all NOW! But....the wiser, older part of me tells me that it will all come with experience. Someone on here has a wonderful signature line, something like 'With experience comes mistakes. It is through mistakes we gain experience' (or something akin to that - apologies to the original owner). Knowing my own shortcomings, that is something I try to keep in mind. Above all, be patient with yourself. Take the time with your clients, ask a lot of questions, be organized, and you'll do fine. Let us know how it goes!

Best,
Sue

[catfish1]

Hi. I'm a new RN but an LPN for 15 yrs. I've been offered a job with VNA here in Florida. Since this is my first HH job, is VNA a nice agency? I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

[annaedRN]

I work for the VNA in PA and I love it! WHile there is no such thing as a perfect agency, I have found that the non-profit status helps. While the goal is to make money, my agency tends to focus on the quality of care not the quantity of patients admitted. I hear alot of stories about agencies giving grief to nurses who discharge or refuse to admit a patient for various reasons. I do not experience any of that. My patient load for a day is usually between 4-6 ( admissions counting as 2 visits). Just make sure that you get a thorough orientation to the OASIS - it is probably the most important and time consuming thing you will need to learn. Just ask alot of questions. I hope that you will have the same experiences and environment that I have at work!

[anticoagulationurse]

I just accepted a HH Case Manager job today and will be startign in 2 weeks. I think I will enjoy it! Nice to meet you all.

[annaedRN]

CONGRATULATIONS! Hope it works out for you!

[purpledaisies]

I started HH 2 weeks ago after spending the past 11 years of my career in acute care doing med-surg, MICU, SICU, and csurg ICU. I am really enjoying it so far! It's a really nice change from the chaos of an ICU, and it's so much more flexible!

[yogalover47]

Hey everyone,

Well, I am still hanging in there, I'm up to seeing 8-9.5 patients a day. The part I HATE is doing 5-6, or 8 hours of paperwork for all of these patients. Today for instance, I have 4 regular visits, and 3 oasis, all 3 seem to be recerts which I don't mind too terribly. I finally get to go to week-ends since I survived my "trial by fire", I call it, I volunteered to work memorial day week-end, they said, you have 4 patients, which actually, I had 2 reg, and 2 oasis. Well, the phone started ringing at 7:20 and they said, 1 of the nurses called in sick, can you take some more? I didn't know any better, and by the time I got 2 more phone calls, I had 9.5 equivalents. I worked until 8:00 that evening, so tired, went to bed. Got up sunday and worked 8 hours on paperwork.That is RIDICULOUS. So......I am praying this will get better? If it doesn't, what will I do?

Love and prayers,
Yogalover