Home Health Salary Question

Specialties Home Health

Published

Hello Again. I'm a new grad in May 2003 and work FT for state gov't. Wasn't sure what area I wanted to pursue yet, so, a local home health agency was hiring for a home health PRN part time position. Long story short, I got the position and start next week. I'll be able to keep my good gov't job and earn some extra money on the side while getting my 'feet wet' as a new grad. I want to get some input from the home health RNs out there. After talking to the manager, I would initially be doing a lot of orientation, dressing changes, vitals, etc until I built my skills. Mainly, I want to know about salary and home health. This agency pays per visit and not per hour. Is this a good or bad thing for home health? The rate is $27/visit and then after 6pm its $30/visit. I'd be doing evenings since I work FT days, so I'd be getting $30 visit. Does that sound about right for home health. Once again, I'm clueless about salaries and wanted some input. Its $20 more if it's an admission and mileage is .345/mile. On call M-F, $15 night, S/S, $30. Anyways, any input from the home health nurses out there would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!!

renerian, BSN, RN

5,693 Posts

Specializes in MS Home Health.

It depends on how close your visits are together. If they are close that works out okay. If they are far apart it is not unless they are paying you for drive time, and I am not meaning mileage. I worked for my last home health company who paid per visit but my visits were sometimes 2 hours apart. There were days, alot of them, I could only do three visits and I would make 75 dollars for a whole days work. tHat is why I left. Other people here work for better agencies where they do get some money for drive time.

How big is your service area?

renerian

jfpruitt

205 Posts

I live in a small rural area and small company, so I'll only be serving my one county. This agency serves 5 counties, but, they have divided the staff where each nurse only serves one county, so, the drive between patients shouldn't be over 5-15 minutes unless one patient lives on one end of the county.

renerian, BSN, RN

5,693 Posts

Specializes in MS Home Health.

That is great I would think then. I know I had to cover 9 counties and it was not worth my while. WE were not in areas.

renerian

jfpruitt

205 Posts

Yes, most home health agencies cover many areas/counties, that is why I was asking about this. This is a small growing company and they have few patients right now. I wasnt sure if a hourly or per diem wage was better considering the drive and paperwork involved.

renerian, BSN, RN

5,693 Posts

Specializes in MS Home Health.

Let us know what you decide to do.

renerian

marymary

84 Posts

Hello Again. I'm a new grad in May 2003 and work FT for state gov't. Wasn't sure what area I wanted to pursue yet, so, a local home health agency was hiring for a home health PRN part time position. Long story short, I got the position and start next week. I'll be able to keep my good gov't job and earn some extra money on the side while getting my 'feet wet' as a new grad. I want to get some input from the home health RNs out there. After talking to the manager, I would initially be doing a lot of orientation, dressing changes, vitals, etc until I built my skills. Mainly, I want to know about salary and home health. This agency pays per visit and not per hour. Is this a good or bad thing for home health? The rate is $27/visit and then after 6pm its $30/visit. I'd be doing evenings since I work FT days, so I'd be getting $30 visit. Does that sound about right for home health. Once again, I'm clueless about salaries and wanted some input. Its $20 more if it's an admission and mileage is .345/mile. On call M-F, $15 night, S/S, $30. Anyways, any input from the home health nurses out there would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!!
:p slave wages.

homesrus

15 Posts

:) i think you will like home health. The rate seems a little low but they may base it on home health experience. So maybe it will go up a little the longer you are there. Good Luck!!

Traveler

328 Posts

Also inquire about complicated visits that may take longer. I am also prn paid per visit. Over the last several years we have been getting lots of complicated visits that require up to several hours in the home (wound vacs, iv's, etc). General rule of thumb is that if the visit takes over an hour then I charge hourly time for the excess.

Want to hear slave wages? No raise in 3 years. $20 per visit, .26 mile, $65 admission, hourly rate of $15, hourly rate paid for travel time over 30 minutes between patients. If I work a full day I drive over 100 miles.

I have thought about leaving, but they're pretty flexible about my schedule and I am able to see patients in between classes (back in school). I think I'm going to ask for a raise though.

Ann

bgogal

13 Posts

Hello Again. I'm a new grad in May 2003 and work FT for state gov't. Wasn't sure what area I wanted to pursue yet, so, a local home health agency was hiring for a home health PRN part time position. Long story short, I got the position and start next week. I'll be able to keep my good gov't job and earn some extra money on the side while getting my 'feet wet' as a new grad. I want to get some input from the home health RNs out there. After talking to the manager, I would initially be doing a lot of orientation, dressing changes, vitals, etc until I built my skills. Mainly, I want to know about salary and home health. This agency pays per visit and not per hour. Is this a good or bad thing for home health? The rate is $27/visit and then after 6pm its $30/visit. I'd be doing evenings since I work FT days, so I'd be getting $30 visit. Does that sound about right for home health. Once again, I'm clueless about salaries and wanted some input. Its $20 more if it's an admission and mileage is .345/mile. On call M-F, $15 night, S/S, $30. Anyways, any input from the home health nurses out there would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!!

Those quotes are on the low side but it may depend on your lack of experience and also the cost of living in your area. If it's the latter then it's all relative.

Good luck and :welcome: to home health !

mim-o

62 Posts

hey,

I too live in small rural area. The visits can at times be very spread out even though we each have an area. I am salary-34,000.00 per year.Milage 40.5 cents per mile. On call $2 hr on weekdays. $4 hr weekends and holidays. $30 per on call visit-$60 for admission/resumption. This is with one year experience prior to going into home health.I took a big cut when I left the hospital, but I Love my job-it beats hospital nursing for me hands down. What is money without happiness? Good Luck and welcome to home health.

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