help! a confused RN

twokidsmom,rn · Feb 4, 2011

Most home health companies want you to have at least 1 yr in med/surg. I worked 18months in med surg and still have to call and ask questions from other more experienced nurses. I don't always get home before the bus. and I always have homework which somedays is only a couple pages other days it may be 2 oasis which are 20pages long. Home health is somewhat flexible but you never know what to expect when you walk into a house. I do like home health and do not plan on going back to the hospital.

caliotter3 · Feb 4, 2011

It is possible to make arrangements with a client to tailor your shift so that you are home by the time the bus arrives when you do extended care shifts. I knew one nurse who only did 7 and one half hour shifts so that she could do this and it was ok with the home care client's family and the agency. You can also more easily arrange this if you do intermittent visits, but you have to be more strict with your time management skills and will probably find yourself doing a certain measure of your charting at home on your own time (which you may have to do anyway).

meluhn · Feb 5, 2011

I started in home health almost a year ago. For me it has been a catch22. I love the flexibility,hate the hours and hours of paperwork that I bring home everyday and really hate the low pay. But, it works with my lifestyle, my husband isn't military but travels alot for work and I am solely responsable for the kids when he is gone. If I need to drive my son somewhere in the middle of the day for some reason, I can. It also depends on the agency. Mine is very family and nuirse friendly. My friend works for an agency where that is not the case.

Kyasi · Feb 5, 2011

I did private duty and home visits through an agency and also self-contracted home visits for a Medical Supply company for many years before accepting my current position.

I only worked part time when my kids were small and chose hours on the weekend and evenings when my husband could be with the kids. When they all got into school, I switched to jobs that I could do during the day while they were in school. For me, home care was extremely flexible. I never missed any of my 3 kids field trips, was room mother, etc. (all the things I wanted to do) When they got into high school, I was able to be there when they got home, go to their sporting events etc.

As far as paperwork is concerned, there is much more paperwork for home visits as opposed to private duty shift work. When I did shift work at patient homes, I have to admit that the work wasn't the most challenging and at times was downright repetitive and boring. The compensation was that I knew I made a difference in those families lives helping them cope with caring for their disabled children. At that time in my life, I chose that so I could put my family first and it was perfect for me. Now that my kids are out of the nest, those years of experience have led to a management position. (Nursing Supervisor of a HHA) My varied background experience really helped me transition to this new position.

I hope you can find your niche and also be able to put your family first when they need you most.

Kyasi

noski · Feb 6, 2011

Thanks twokidsmom, caliotter3, meluhn & kyasi, I appreciate you guys taking time to respond. I’m sure I will like home health, I have friends who do home health, I get a lot of info from my friends and it does sound interesting, but my main catch is the flexibility. I want to be there for my family, I think they sacrificed enough while I was in nursing school…lol

Isabelle49 · Feb 25, 2011

noski, I say go for it. Give it a try. Surely you have the assessment skills and have gotten the feel for what the elderly are like. Do whatever you can to spend more time with your family. I worked the first 16 years of my career in 12 hour night shifts and started when my youngest child, a son was 6. He was killed in an auto accident at age 22. I curse every moment that I missed with him, while caring for others. I can't turn back the clock. All that time is lost and he is gone. I wish you every luck possible.

noski · Aug 18, 2011

noski, I say go for it. Give it a try. Surely you have the assessment skills and have gotten the feel for what the elderly are like. Do whatever you can to spend more time with your family. I worked the first 16 years of my career in 12 hour night shifts and started when my youngest child, a son was 6. He was killed in an auto accident at age 22. I curse every moment that I missed with him, while caring for others. I can't turn back the clock. All that time is lost and he is gone. I wish you every luck possible.

Isabelle49,

sorry about your son, I can't imagine the pain of losing a child. Don't be mad about the times you did not spend with him, rather cherish the memories of the times you spent together.

(sorry for the late response)