I got a job in home health! Is this really better than LTC?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.

Hello all!

I have been working in LTC for 2 and half yrs and I have hated almost every minute of it. I went from nights to weekends and it takes all week for me to calm down to deal with the weekend bs. I also work hospice during the week and I absolutely love it. I do not work full time anywhere because I am working on ADN, RN. Anyway my point is, will home health actually be a lot better than LTC? Or is the the same bs just different setting. I know if I can work nearly 3 yrs in LTC, I am thinking I can work in home health until I finish the ADN program( just a bit over a yr). One bonus I can think of already is the one to one pt care will be fantastic compared to the 25 I have in LTC. Does anyone have any advise to make my transition any easier?

Thanks in advance :)!

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

You're probably not too concerned about benis (part time work)which are less good in HH in my area. Don't know what the pay difference is in your area, but if I have learned one thing it's this - A dollar an hour is nothing when you have no sense of accomplishment and leave work frustrated.

I have 14 yrs in LTC, 8 yrs hospital and 6 yrs HH (some concurrently) and I have no plans to leave HH

If Caliotter doesn't respond to this thread, look up some of her posts (valuable info).

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Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.

Oh thanks so much and its a weekend baylor so I do get full benefits :)! I am so excited about that!

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Specializes in Peds,, Home Health, some geriatrics.

I worked in LTC and loved it, for a while....I love the older generation. They have so much wisdom and are walking history books. But after cut backs and not having time to barely say hi, just pushing pills...it was too much. We treat animals better than our elderly population.

I've been in HH for 12 years and still find it rewarding. I've never gone home feeling like I didn't finish my job. I can spend as long as I want with my clients and see them improve and become independent if possible. It's very rewarding to know I'm keeping them in their homes and out of nasty LTC facilities.

Don't let the new wallpaper and new carpet fool you. I've keep all my relatives at home except one (my kids were teenagers and I just couldn't do it). My patients tell me the PT they receive at home or in outpatient is 100% better than in LTC.

Hope I didn't step on any toes, but I love my job. And I love old people!!!

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Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.

Yes I have adopted so many new grandmothers and fathers and I have even attended several of their funerals. Its one person that I hate to leave but I will visit her often. This LTC is right around the corner from my house. But I think home health I will gain more skills like blood draws, wound care and Iv therapy to make me more marketable as an RN.

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Specializes in LTC.

I went from LTC to HH. I currently work peds HH and hate this job. If I could I would go back to LTC in a heart beat. I have two clients that I see in shift work. Both are pretty stable. I feel like an over paid baby sitter. For some people this is their dream job. For a 22 y/o nurse like me, this is torture. I feel like I'm losing any skills I did learn in sub acute and LTC and critical thinking skills. My critical thinking skills now involves how to beat level 2 on a supermario video game.

You may love it, so I say go for it. Alot of people say HH is the best kept secret.

I'm too in RN school. I pray I graduate, pass boards, and find something that will suit me better.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

There's a big difference between home health and private duty.

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Different areas for different people with different work needs and goals. Lots of people do home health in addition to their regular job to pull in more income. Others go to home health to destress from a difficult job setting. They may never leave hh once they get used to only having one patient. I went from LTC to hh, and will likely not leave hh. I can't see being responsible for 80 residents instead of 1 patient for similar, if not the same, pay.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I'm seeing people using "HH" and "private duty" interchangeably. OP, which are you referring to? I think of HH as case management. You have a group of 12-20 pts and you visit them once or twice a week for an hour or so at a time.

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Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.

I will be home health not private duty. I was told I would see about 10 PTs a day intermittent visits. I was told most insulin, wound care or iv's I would be doing.

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Specializes in Peds,, Home Health, some geriatrics.

peds private duty is way different. A lot of families want you to be servants and maids. You see some pretty dysfunctional stuff. Stay professional, you went to school for a long time. If it's not for you get out. Some people love it and do it for years. I get very depressed doing 12 hr shifts in someones house for.....what???

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Home health refers to health care provided in the home setting, either intermittent visits or extended care cases. Private duty is home health care paid for out of the client's pocket. Not everyone makes this distinction.

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