Home Health -vs- Hospital

annaedRN, RN · Mar 2, 2009

No- you are NOT crazy!! I did the LPN to RN as well. I kept my mind open to all possibilities as far as after school employment- but there was nothing I loved or felt called to like HH. Some people spend years trying to find their "niche" - if you know yours now, you are all the better for it. As far as not going to the hospital for that "year"..no, I don't think that will hurt you. I have learned SO much since getting out of school. The fact we teach so much, you have to know all the new meds, procedures, skills, diagnosis, surgeries. Because you will need to explain to the patient why/what/how about all these things. I find that I research things MORE than if I was in the hospital because of the emphasis on teaching. As far as skills - if it's done on a med-surg unit - you'll do it in the home. Wounds, catheters, ostomies, phlebotomy, IVs (esp central lines), staples/suture removal, mom/baby checks, NGs,etc.... so losing your skills should not be an issue. I think if you are happy with HH right out of school then don't second guess your decision...or let others question it. I can speak from experience...I have NO regrets. Good luck to you!! (You will find that the OASIS part of HH is a BIG change in HH in your new role as an RN)

aloevera · Mar 2, 2009

do whatever you want to do...if you are happy in your job then it will show in your work...taking a job that makes you unhappy just to satisfy others will only make you miserable.....

I have worked home health and hospital....we all have our preferential fields....

If we all chose the same fields, we would be in a helluva shape, wouldn't we??

If you can work home health, you would be able to orient in the hospital without any problems.....should you so desire....

SnarfGirl · Mar 2, 2009

No- you are NOT crazy!! I did the LPN to RN as well. I kept my mind open to all possibilities as far as after school employment- but there was nothing I loved or felt called to like HH. Some people spend years trying to find their "niche" - if you know yours now, you are all the better for it. As far as not going to the hospital for that "year"..no, I don't think that will hurt you. I have learned SO much since getting out of school. The fact we teach so much, you have to know all the new meds, procedures, skills, diagnosis, surgeries. Because you will need to explain to the patient why/what/how about all these things. I find that I research things MORE than if I was in the hospital because of the emphasis on teaching. As far as skills - if it's done on a med-surg unit - you'll do it in the home. Wounds, catheters, ostomies, phlebotomy, IVs (esp central lines), staples/suture removal, mom/baby checks, NGs,etc.... so losing your skills should not be an issue. I think if you are happy with HH right out of school then don't second guess your decision...or let others question it. I can speak from experience...I have NO regrets. Good luck to you!! (You will find that the OASIS part of HH is a BIG change in HH in your new role as an RN)

Thanks for the encouragement - Am pretty familar with the OASIS reporting simply because I used to work in the office before I even got my LPN so I typed up the 485's and submitted the OASIS' to the state. I'm so excited to transition to the RN role! Thanks again :)

paradiseboundRN · Mar 9, 2009

I worked at the hospital the minimum amount of time before going to home care. I hated every minute of the hospital and couldn't imagine every going back!