new to home health and well really.

[pebbles049]

Oh my I do not know what to say except oh my. I have been an lpn for the past 18 years in long term care and went on for my rn. I am official as an rn. I dont want to work in the same place as i have been for the past 16 years now in long term care and I am burnt out. Long story there. Husband works there and work constantly comes up. We feed off of each other. I went per diem in the ltc place where I am and took an agency job. I got talked into going out on the soc , sup visits and recert cases. They are hiring another nurse for the area thank goodness. Did my first soc on friday and it took forever. The agency that I am doing this through gave me an unpaid orientation. I probally am getting taken in fact i am. I honestly dont think they pay enough 50.00 per soc . I am kind of taking what i can get since i need a check coming in. I am old and places see 16 years in same spot and realize i am old. I just want to learn the paper work and move on to another higher paying agency. I was told it would take an hour or two. Well ok really. I got a chatty cathy on friday. i have to direct the convo i guess and move on . I guess I really need to know any tips suggestions. I am afraid I screwed everything up on friday in regards to soc. I am gonna call one of the nurses at the agency and ask some questions tommorow. Thank you.

[MauraRN]

Are you doing SOC on paper or computer? Home care can be a tough gig, it is not just zooming around to see the patients and then home. You are not too old. I am 57 and just decided no more home care for me, I can't outrun the crazies or the muggers anymore. Oasis documentation takes a little time to master, you don't have to do the whole thing in Chatty Cathy's apartment. $50 for SOC is standard or even a little better than the norm.

[pebbles049]

Thank you Maura. I think once I get the hang of paper work and organized I might like it. Its a matter of getting confidence I am only a fill in. The Oasis is all on paper. I was reading that people were actually getting more for soc's . It is a small agency. The agency told me about an hour or hour and half of paper work. I knew it was more than that meaning just not saying hi to patient and wam bam done. If i am supposed to be doing something than I am gonna do it. Thats probally why I cant get out on the regular floor on time, I'm gonna do it and conquer all. LOL. .0 I am driving out of my way for these but am taking an oppurtunity to learn. I do feel old compared to the kids out there. LOL . Thanks again and good luck yourself in your ventures.

[LaRN]

i make a quick list of the info i will need to finish the admit, ie weight/vs, allergies, equipment, bowel bladder, all meds, last md appt, surgeries....etc and tell them before starting that this takes a while and i will need them to very very briefly answer each question and we move on to the next one. at the end we can go back to the problem areas. and when they trail off and start telling stories, I tell them lets get back on track. most all of them dont mind this too much.

and yes, the agency you are working for sounds like a rat hole. unbelievable you aren't getting paid for orientation. before you leave there, tell them you want to be paid for those hours otherwise you will go to the labor board.

[MauraRN]

i make a quick list of the info i will need to finish the admit, ie weight/vs, allergies, equipment, bowel bladder, all meds, last md appt, surgeries....etc and tell them before starting that this takes a while and i will need them to very very briefly answer each question and we move on to the next one. at the end we can go back to the problem areas. and when they trail off and start telling stories, I tell them lets get back on track. most all of them dont mind this too much.

and yes, the agency you are working for sounds like a rat hole. unbelievable you aren't getting paid for orientation. before you leave there, tell them you want to be paid for those hours otherwise you will go to the labor board.

this....

Try to get all of the referral info that you can, a lot of that will answer some OASIS questions. Learning OASIS on paper can actually be helpful because you are not trying to learn the software at the same time.