[moondancer]

I am wondering if anyone can tell me what the difference in roles between the Home Health RN and the 'RN Case Manager' in Home Health?

I have an opportunity to get into HH and can't really see any difference in the job description....?

Any help is appreciated....
TIA!

[dhyser96]

For me there is no difference. We use the case management approach - from the time a patient is admitted until discharge I am responsible for them. I set up visit frequency and if I cannot make a visit - I find someone who can and make sure they have a full report on them. We use a RN and LPN team so there is as much continuity in care providers as possible ( only 2 or 3 nurses coming and going) I communicate with the therapists and HHAs to see how progress is being made and communicate all changes/updates to MD.

We have clinical managers who help to oversee all that every patient needs - they are in the office and doing paperwork and on the phone all the time. They take the referrals and assign them to appropriate RN. We try to keep everybody in a certain geographical location but directly in town is fair game for anyone. Anyway...hope that answers a few of your questions

[moondancer]

Thanks for your reply. So, basically, the RN in HH is also the pt's or 'client's' case manager, as well? You set up POC and then do the visits and tx's, etc.?
I wonder why they differentiate between RN and RN Case Manager....
Still figuring this all out....thanks for your help!

[dhyser96]

So, basically, the RN in HH is also the pt's or 'client's' case manager, as well? You set up POC and then do the visits and tx's, etc.?

Yes - I write the orders (the 485), determine frequency of vists, set the goals, etc. I do some of the visits and the LPN that works with me does some of them (depending on the client). I often get "bumped" from some of my revisits if I am needed to do an admission, recertification, resumption or a discharge. Or if another RN is off and I'm needed for an IV patient. I'm not sure why they would differentiate unless they have some nurses that just do whatever admissions or visits are needed to be done - for whoever the case managers are.

[moondancer]

OK, I see, thanks again, makes more sense now.

[GYPSY1349]

Originally Posted by moondancer

I am wondering if anyone can tell me what the difference in roles between the Home Health RN and the 'RN Case Manager' in Home Health?

I have an opportunity to get into HH and can't really see any difference in the job description....?

Any help is appreciated....
TIA!

Actually, there are HH nurses that just do visits...to different patients most of the time, without doing Case Management. Some agencies have specific Case Managers for a certain group of patients, some by zip codes, some by specialties (i.e. Cardiac, IV..etc)

So, for most, there is a difference, not only in the work required, but in the pay.

[moondancer]

So it can vary, depending on the agency....OK, great; thanks for the info!

Originally Posted by GYPSY1349

Actually, there are HH nurses that just do visits...to different patients most of the time, without doing Case Management. Some agencies have specific Case Managers for a certain group of patients, some by zip codes, some by specialties (i.e. Cardiac, IV..etc)

So, for most, there is a difference, not only in the work required, but in the pay.

[NurseRoRo]

Originally Posted by moondancer

So it can vary, depending on the agency....OK, great; thanks for the info!

At our agency the titles Primary Care Nurse, Primary Nurse and Case Manager are all used interchangeably.

We're all case managers, except for the on-call nurses who make visits after our day ends, and also take calls from pts after hours. They do admits and such too, but no case managing.

[HannahLeah]

this question hits home for me this weekend- I'm wearing all the hats for our agency and I'm tired! I am usually a back-up since I work every other weekend and only 2 other days a week but recently I was asked to pick up case mangement for 6 patients and I also have to cover Hospice on the weekends. I prefer the back-up position (re-certs are a pain!) I also share admissions with the regular admit nurse. I had 2 admits and 4 regular back up visits plus a Hospice pt to see and just got home from being called out to see him again. Does anyone else have trouble "shifting gears" between Home Health and Hospice like I seem to? Its a different mind set for sure. I think Im wearing too many hats

[NurseRoRo]

Originally Posted by HannahLeah

this question hits home for me this weekend- I'm wearing all the hats for our agency and I'm tired! I am usually a back-up since I work every other weekend and only 2 other days a week but recently I was asked to pick up case mangement for 6 patients and I also have to cover Hospice on the weekends. I prefer the back-up position (re-certs are a pain!) I also share admissions with the regular admit nurse. I had 2 admits and 4 regular back up visits plus a Hospice pt to see and just got home from being called out to see him again. Does anyone else have trouble "shifting gears" between Home Health and Hospice like I seem to? Its a different mind set for sure. I think Im wearing too many hats

Whoa...I guess I'm lucky that our agency separates HH and Hospice. And we're not allowed to offload recerts/discharges as primary nurse. Get some sleep!!