It is not unusual to have additional visits if you are the on-call nurse. I have worked 15 hours straight on days/weekends when I had call. That is nowhere near typical but it can happen. Ironically, the call visits were often the most satisfying because (unless it's an admit) there is a specific focus for the visit and the pt is usually very grateful that you have come to help, keeping them out of the ER or hospital.
I have worked in HH for seven years. Doing performance improvement in the office now, but really loved being out in the field. You are able to really focus on your patient, and you get a much more realistic view of their life and how they are handling their medical issues. Sometimes the HH nurse is the only "company" these people get and they really look forward to your visit. They will want to show you photo albums, feed you coffee and homemade pie, and play that song they wrote 40 years ago for you on the piano (although this can add some time to your day, it always made me feel good to take the extra time when I could and give these people some companionship and human validation).
As someone said earlier, I too have been in some really nasty homes and also in some incredibly beautiful places. For the nasty places, take shoe covers, use your newspapers as a bag barrier (like we're supposed to every time LOL), and be careful where you sit!
The documentation demands are usually what run people out of HH. Do as much as you can in the home, try not to end up with a back-log, and remember it will get easier with time. But DO document well - remember, it's only you, the pt, and their family or friends present, the only witness you will have if needed is your own documentation, so make it good. Good luck, I hope you love it as much as I do!
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