Calling all HH Nurses, roll call

[hoolahan]

Hi, as a newly appointed moderator, I want to live this forum up a bit. I just resigned my position as a HH supervisor, to go back to the field.

I have been a nurse 20 years, 17 in critical care, mostly cardiac critical care, and the last 2.5 years in HH, or asthma disease management , which I also had to leave because I hated to be in a cube farm all day.

I still love HH, even though PPS is the pits, even though the OASIS would make good kindling for a massive bonfire, and even with all the rest of the paperwork, it is the most rewarding nursing I have ever done!!

PS, I went back to my former VNA who is now paying $30/hr, yes, you read that right, to work 3 out of 4 weekends. Since weekends work well for me, it's a good deal.

Let's hear from all the HH nurses out there. Out of all those registered members, there's got to be plenty of us on this BB!!

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Welcome treefrog!

I just quit my home health aide supervisor job, I don't have the energy to explain why at this point. I think I will write an article about the experience though. Anyway, Back to VNA full-time instead of just weekends. I am very excited. The final lure was the promise of working in my own zip code, and half of my own township!!!!! Can it get any better than that???? :D

Please post often.

[nur20]

Hollahan , have you jumped ship again!!! ;) I can relate to the pursuit of happiness . I told you i knew where your heart was. Congratulations!!! And i would love to hear your experiences of your supervisor position

[billssisbeth]

Ta Dah! It's Beth! LOL.

I have been in HH for 10 + years. I LOVE it.

I give ONE to ONE care, I am respected, cared for and I go to the "enth Degree" for my clients.

I Chose Pulmo as my specialty and know a variety of vents, trachs and specialized pt. care.

I have specialized skills that some "In House Nurses" have stood by in amazement as I handeled situations they would call RT to fix.

I love my job. I love knowing I am trusted to work in people's homes and having to be independant and self sufficient. Before I got into Home Health I was very afraid of accepting total responsibility for a patient. I used to depend on other nurses to help me accomplish tasks, but Home Health has forced me to become more educated, more multitasked and organized.

I wouldn't go back to "In House" Nursing for a Million bucks a year!!!

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Welcome Beth. Now we know who to ask for a pulmonary consult! :)

[LoisJean]

Hey, Ho Hoolihan- It's Me!!! You would not believe ......! So, I shall not take up precious time to explain it all.

Suffice it to say that I have been gone so long that I had to re-register!

We have been BUSY to say the least. My last post indicated that we had suffered a shortfall in clients due to medicaid cuts....well that seems to have corrected itself--plus we have picked up a whole new area of waivers to include mentally challenged folks living in group homes in our area. It has been a challenge lately for me and partner, Christine.

AND GUESS WHAT...we have hit the big time! We will have our first official State audit first of next month! O, I am giddy with anticipation! :roll

(Listen, let me tell you, that's pretty big stuff for us two little guppies swimming around in the big nurse-bowl of life).

Soooooo, on top of everything else I've got no less that one ton of paper work to sort out.

Wanted to let you know I'm still alive...Linda do you still want that info on foot care?

Welcome to all new postage people, too.

Lois

[lisadavis]

hello to all my home health collegues out there. i have been a nurse for 16 years and have been doing homehealth for the last 6. i worked at a university teaching hospital and thought i had seen it all but...... the homes i've been in, the way some people live oh my...... eye opener...... it is no wonder the compliance rate for clients is so low. i cringe to think about the conditions i sent my hospital patients hom to. WELL NO MORE! i think we need to fix things on the home front to improve outcomes when hospitalized. paperwork yeah its bad (i have an admission chart to finish sitting in front of me right now) but in any area where there is massive government involvement there is a mound of paperwork. I am really glad to read that so many of you doing home health really like it....i thought i might be the only weirdo out there. LOL!:chuckle :D

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Hi Lois, congratulations on your success. (Yes, I would still like the info!!) Let us know how you do with the inspection.

Welcome Lisa! Please post here often. It has started to be fairly regularly active, and we need to grow this forum, it is a wonderful resource of information.

[live4today, RN]

Congratulations to you on your new job, Hoolahan! I can read how excited you are in your post comments! Good for you! I wish nothing but the best for you! Love the pay you'll be getting, too! Wow! $30/hour! Fantastic! :)

[TeresaNJ]

After 4 years out of practice, I'm re-joining home health. I'm so glad that I came across this site! I had a lot of questions that were answered from browsing over the posts and topics.

I ordered Robyn Rice's book from Amazon on your recommendations.

I worked as a field nurse for 6 years for the VNA and I loved it. I was asked to be a supervisor a few times, but I declined so I could continue making visists. To me, home health is *real* nursing. In the home, you have time for patient teaching and your assessments mean something.

I'm so glad I found this forum, and plan to visit a lot -- probably with a lot of questions!

:)

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Renee, you must have read an older post, the $30 was the w/e only spot. I'm back to FT now at a crummy $22.71 per hour.

Welcome Teresa. I am also from NJ. Subscribe to the forum by clicking on the top right of the screen, and you will get an e-mail everytime someone posts. The forum has bursts of activity, and the rest of the site is nice too. Glad you found us!

[live4today, RN]

Originally posted by hoolahan

Renee, you must have read an older post, the $30 was the w/e only spot. I'm back to FT now at a crummy $22.71 per hour.

Welcome Teresa. I am also from NJ. Subscribe to the forum by clicking on the top right of the screen, and you will get an e-mail everytime someone posts. The forum has bursts of activity, and the rest of the site is nice too. Glad you found us!

Gosh darn it! Well, for a day or two, I got to imagine you making $30.00 per hour, hoolahan! :chuckle One day our ship will come...or should I say our well deserved increase in hourly wages? :chuckle I can't sneeze at $22.71 per hour because right now, that is a lot more than I'm making per hour. :chuckle I keep telling myself this sabbatical will be over before I know it, and I'll be collecting my much missed nursing paychecks again. I miss doing Home Health, but first I will take a RN refresher course, then work inpatient med/surg or pediatrics again, then possibly go back to doing Home Health. One step at a time, and I know I'll eventually be back on top of things again. I have hope!

[PattiRN]

Home Care Nurse for the past 9 years. Supervisor for the past 2 years. The paperwork is just crazy but I love home care.