[Jonesy]

Question...when working an 8hr shift is it okay to do all your paperwork in the office because I am not full time and it is hard to just bring it all home with me...and do any of you get paid for that time if it is over your 8 hours? Some just leave quit a bit of paperwork on their desks I just know if I dont finish it that day I will be lost!

[homehealth43130]

That all depends upon your agency policy and how you are paid. We expect all documentation that can be done to be done in the home during the visit. If you are paid by the visit that usually includes all paperwork time, if you are salaried that includes all paperwork time. If you are paid hourly then you may be eligible for over-time, but that usually has to be approved and if you start turning in alot of overtime, you can expect to talk to the director. Home care is paperwork intensive, but it can be done, you just need to realize that it will take between 6 months to a year and excellent organizational skills.

[DutchgirlRN]

If I know it will be hard to get my work done once I get home then I go to the local library and get it done before I go home. We get paid to come in the office to correct paperwork or to look up charts and make copies. I don't ever ask for the pay. Several do and I know they've been questioned about the time they spend in the office and have been asked to cut down on it.

[weetziebat]

Looks like things certainly get done differently. We do very little paperwork in the homes, and finish up at our homes. Sometimes it can be difficult to do it at home cause its too easy to get caught up in other things, so I park my car and do it there. Others go to the library, local Starbucks, or just park in a peaceful location so they can concentrate.
Also have the option of doing it at the office, but we only get paid for one visit to the office a day, and it can be more distracting there.
We're paid by the hour, and as long as the time is reasonable no questions get asked. Haven't seen anyone try to take advantage of this.
It certainly does take excellent organizational skills to deal with all the HH paperwork - thought I was well organized but learning more tips everyday!

[steelcityrn]

awwww....now your hitting a sensitive area. I for one will not except any excuse to not have a skilled nurse note left in the patients chart in the home, with all forms filled out completely with each visit. Anything less is unexceptable. This is actually a medicare and company policy. Your admits, sick, recerts and p. hospitals must be in the next work day. And even with those, all info supposed to be in the chart on that visit needs to be there.

[DutchgirlRN]

Originally Posted by steelcityrn

awwww....now your hitting a sensitive area. I for one will not except any excuse to not have a skilled nurse note left in the patients chart in the home, with all forms filled out completely with each visit. Anything less is unexceptable. This is actually a medicare and company policy. Your admits, sick, recerts and p. hospitals must be in the next work day. And even with those, all info supposed to be in the chart on that visit needs to be there.

We do not have a patient chart in the home. If I finished all my paperwork while in the home, especially, admits, DC's, recerts, and resumps, I'd never get the patients all seen. I have no problems what-so-ever with finishing up my paperwork in the library or at home.

Hey Thanks Weetziebat, I never thought about finishing it up at Starbucks, an awesome suggestion that I will definately use!

[Bsea2]

We provide fax machines for our nurses to fax in paperwork that must be returned for billing or scheduling. It makes things easier if their not coming into the office the next day. Our nurses are not salaried so they are paid for officework.

[DutchgirlRN]

Originally Posted by Bsea2

We provide fax machines for our nurses to fax in paperwork that must be returned for billing or scheduling. It makes things easier if their not coming into the office the next day. Our nurses are not salaried so they are paid for officework.

I use my own fax machine and they're all local calls.