Home care nursing for New Grad

[lola3320]

Hello all!

Good news is I graduate in 10 days! Woohoo! Bad news is no one seems to be hiring! All these hospitals are being extremely upfront about no longer taking new graduates which is very discouraging to say the least. Even though who had extern and aide positions are not landing jobs with their companies. I have no experience in healthcare other than my nursing clinicals so the odds are def against me at this time. I keep getting generic rejections and needless to say, its getting old. I know things might change once i pass boards but from the sounds of it, this is how its going to be for a few months.

My question: At this time I have been 3 different positions by 3 separate homecare companies. My question is this a good idea as a new grad who probably wont find a position in a hospital for a few years anyway? How is the pay? I understand one comapny offered me $50 per revisit...how many visits can i anticipate a week? I would love some feedback from some homecare nurses out there. Thanks!

[RN1263]

I'm a new grad RN and talked with a couple home health agencies who said Medicare won't let them hire new grads because Medicare has a stipulation about RN's needing one year of experience... is this BS or ?? I'm just curious how people are getting started in home health and I am being told I can't as a new grad....

I do not know of any Medicare rule requiring "X" amount of experience by a nurse for Medicare to cover the services. I personally think they are just saying that, so they don't have to explain to new grads that it is their policy and the reasons are ...this, that and the other. If they say it's Medicare, then that's short and sweet.... end of conversation!

I got lucky, to be honest that my agency took me on as a new-grad....I potentially could have caused them a law suit if I screwed up big time. They probably would have been considered negligent for allowing a new grad to be in the field...alone....doing acute care cases without months of training/experience.

It has worked out for me and I've been doing this since 07'. I have been given the title of admissions nurse and I train other nurses when they come on board. So, again, it worked out for me.....

As to your question re: how to get started?

Some agencies will NOT under ANY circumstances hire a new grad, however I would suggest finding an agency that does a lot of Medicaid patients/clients and fewer Medicare. Reason being that many Medicaid cases are short visits (medication set ups, etc), but long term clients with the company and their care is not as acute. Their visits are pretty "routine"....same old, same old. I can't help you figure out which agencies have more of one (Medicaid vs Medicare) then the other... I know the agencies in my area, basically from word of mouth. I will say though that more and more agencies are trying to get more and more Medicare patients, because it pays more then Medicaid.

Good luck....

[davidhart1970]

I’m a new grad and looking for job as well so can’t speak from experience but per my research just like other places home health care prefers experienced nurses as well but it’s not a requirement.

[Isabelle49]

A new grad who is confident and has excellent assessment skills could do well in home health as a first job.

[Akeos]

I got hired into peds home health a few months after graduating. as it was the only job offered to me, i pretty much has not choice but to take it. I am very grateful for my job and the experience i'm getting, but it's defiantly not what i want to do for any longer than i have to. I would say be sure they place you with a family that is very knowledgeable and willing to help if needed. I got 1hr of orientation at one family and 6 at the other family, who's child had a vent. To do home health you need to be a very fast critical thinker. I've pretty much had to troubleshoot and learn everything on my own, with some help from parents in the beginning. If it's the only job you can get, you need to take it. And I know this will upset some of the home health nurses, but take in mind I work night, when my patients are for the most part sleeping all night. To me It;s a glorified babysittting position, and if you get a pt. with a vent, there's some very stressful fast paced moments. If you're like me and want to transfer to a hospital The most recent information I got when I talked to a recruiter this week and was that they only hire people with acute care experience ( really really hope this isn't every hospitals policy). So unfortunatly in my area this job isn't doing me much good in getting the experience I need to get the job I want. but I am learning how to be autonomous and have learned some valuable skills. Good luck

[seattle_rain]

I am a new grad and just started my home health job caring for a ventilator depenedent pediatric patient. The company that hired me has been wonderful with training--they'll train me for as long as I need to feel comfortable. I'm starting to get the feel for things, so hopefully just a couple more shifts and I'll be ready to go on my own. I'm loving it though! She's an adorable kid with some complex needs and I'm learning a lot. I love having time to really care for her holistically.

[seattle_rain]

Tinysam, I spoke with a recruiter at the pediatric hospital in my city and they said taking care of kids with a trach or vent was excellent experience for the medical unit and they absolutely counted it as pediatric RN experience.