[steelcityrn]

The H.S. near me is always looking for nurses.

[Skwidward]

I just started at a HS as an LVN. I'd really like to get some experience med/surg, but the decent hospitals round here only hire RNs. I plan on doing that once I get my RN. For now HS seems like a good fit.

My question to anyone working at HS or rehab in general is how much charting do you do/are you required to do?

I work nights and was surprised to see that you don't do an initial assessment on each pt when you first get there (putting aside the fact that you wouldn't have time). An assessment is performed every day, but is normally done by the day shift. I saw the day shift nurse had made only one narrative entry for most pts at 1200 plus the assessment check sheet. My preceptor only made two narrative entries, one at 2300 and one at 0200...unless more was required. I closed out the charts for the pts I knew about you know "pt resting in bed, denies pain, call light in reach etc.." at shift change. But it seems this isn't required.

We had 10 pts with one aid, and my preceptor said she sometimes has 14! I just feel it's a little risky not documenting that you at least popped your head in the pts door when you first got on, even if you didn't do a full-on assessment. Also, I was taught you need to make an entry every 2 hours. Does this count for rehabd too?

Is this just how it is a rehab facility? I know it's like this in LTC somewhat.

EDIT: Also, VS are done twice a day by the day shift. I found this strange, as I was used to having VS q 4 hrs.

[mel1977]

I have been working for HS since 1998 and at our facility we chart by exception. Meaning, anything out of the ordinary we chart. Now, we always do the daily one time assessment-usually on days, as well as any dressing changes. The other shifts sign their names to the assessment sheet basically meaning they agree with the original assessment and have no additions to the origl. assessment. We are not acute which is why we don't have to chart on the assessment every two hours. Exceptions: on the daily flowsheets of nursing care (ins/outs, up/down, bm/void, cont/inc, turns self or dep. etc....that the techs fill out) and the restraints forms, which have to be filled out a min of every two hours.
Does this help?

[Skwidward]

Yeah, thanks.

I bumped into my nurse manager today (had to hand in some papers) and asked her about it. She told me that you don't need to chart every 2 hours. She did say that at night she expects the pts to be checked on q hr. She expects the nurse to check on odd hours and the tehcs to check on even etc. She also said the flowsheets take care of a alot of your documented evidence to show that you were in the room. I get a general orientation in 2 weeks, and she told me after that she'll do an inservice with me and go over charting etc.

However, my preceptor and I had 10 patients last night with one tech. My preceptor told me she has had to care for up to 14 pts at one time. I mentioned this to my manager, and she told me she had to take 20 one time at night! I just replied with "wow." She told me in the interview the ratio was 8:1. I'm getting kinda scared. I really can't be job hopping again, as I've only worked the one night so far. Orientation (with a preceptor) is 3 days, more if you need it.....I've already told her I'm definitely gonna need more.

[TheCommuter]

There are multiple Healthsouth Rehabilitation hospitals in and around my area (Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas). All of the nurses I've met who have ever worked at their facilities say it was one of the best jobs they ever had.

[DoGood2u]

HealthSouth sounds like a decent place to work. I did my first clinical rotation at a HealthSouth in my city. The nurses all seemed nice but the LNAs always seemed overworked.
Even so.......I got an externship there this summer in between first and second year. I may even want to work there after I graduate.
The company is stable.

Do you think their benefits are good?

[lvs2nrs3535]

Expect high acuity patients, we got them from the ICU, with trachs, pegs, on precautions of all kinds..IV's of all types with TPN and mediports, picc lines and more...
Its a wonderful learning opportunity for a new nurse, because (at least at our facility)
you have a charge nurse to go to when unsure.
This can be frustrating as you gain experience and you are overruled, especially when it turns out you were correct.
Also, be very careful about your fellow nursing staff. Another nurse who was a float stepped into a room where I was feeding a red spoon patient in a supine position, made a 10 second evaluation of the situation, and accused me of unsafe nursing. Although I proved later, I had the doctor come in and evaluate the patient, (the patient had no swallowing issues..only pain and limited ROM issues) and I was actually acting under that doctors orders...this nurse was a favorite of the Nurse Manager and DON....and my life subsequently became hell.
I eventually had to leave my job. They changed my schedule to one I could not work, and when I told my nurse manager that...she said, well..dont work it, and its no call no show..and your done. Im miserable about it...but a lesson learned.
Be careful whose toes you step on.
They just might be attached to a butt you should be kissing.
This nurse actually caused my patient pain and harm with her actions...but somehow...Im the one out.
Now...I do NOT believe this applies to Healthsouth as a rule. I think its an everywhere anywhere thing. I was in the right. That did not matter...and Im now fighting for my license....after getting unemployement..(which I actually only collected for 4 weeks)
The DON wrote a letter to my state board accusing me of multiple med errors, ect....
My life is hell...nursing IS my life...I suppose I should start my own thread on this and ask for advice...
But...back on topic...I loved my job...its rewarding to have patients for 4-6 weeks, and help them back to the highest level of functioning they can achieve, and they love you for it also. I miss it sooo much.

[Mooch206]

I recently had an interview with Healthsouth for an LPN position. They didn't let me know anything during the interview and I really didn't tell them anything about myself. The only questions they asked were "why should Healthsouth hire you"? and "do you have IV experience" however, if you don't that's ok. I got called a couple days later and offered a job, but I have to set up a meeting to go over the benefits and offer. From what I've read and heard from others, they don't really make an offer until they find out if you are going to take benefits or not. I believe they pay more if you don't enroll in benefits. They also pay more if you are flex or on call.
It's a great sign that you got an interview, because if they don't have an opening, they don't call, you just get filed. So Good luck to you.

[A_RN]

As with any facility, management affects your experience. My experience with HS in TX has been disappointing & down-right scary at times.

There's always a staffing issue, report isn't given on time, & I'm lucky to be on the floor by 0800 even though I've been there since 0630. Mgmt will throw you into any situation to cover the "assignment" board w/o giving much consideration to experience, length of employment, etc.

RN's are required to do ALL the assessments but the majority of staff are LVNs. Your assignment might be assessing 55 patients if you're the only RN that day.

I'm on my out of that place but only there PRN so that helps.