New nice car

Specialties Home Health

Published

Any of you hesitate to buy a new nice car because you work in home health? And have any nurses who drive newer nice cars had any problems when going into the rougher neighborhoods?

Just make sure that you have AAA and car rental insurance. I know some nurses that have a regular "family" car or SUV and use a beater for home care visits. I have ended up in snowbanks because the city doesn't plow and the residents don't know how to drive in snow. I don't worry about a few scrapes and dings as long as the car keeps on going!

Specializes in ER, Forensic Nurse, SANE.

I agree with susan317. "Its my office and I deserve it".....Being in my car for almost 8 hrs a day and driving 80-100 miles a day, I want to be comfortable and excited about going to work in a nice "ride". My car is my office and my image of professionalism. Plus I need a great GPS and stereo (with Jimmy Buffet or Tony Robbins CD's Most of the time). Most important, I need something VERY reliable. Even though I get paid for milage, I do consider gas milage. I wouldnt by a Hummer. My car is insured I dont worry about driving in bad areas. I do worry about the paperwork and supplies I have in the car. If someone took my paperwork they would have a lot of personal infomation. I only carry the bear minimum. That is my main concern. I used to drive a mercedez (before kids) now I drive a Honda Mini Van. 17 MPG. Nothing fancy, but new with a great sunroof. Have fun with your job and enjoy. I love Home Health, hate the paperwork, but I love my job.

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Specializes in Home Health, MS, Oncology, Case Manageme.

I leased a Lincoln MKZ (cheapest Lincoln) a couple of years ago and although it was never stolen or vandalized, it did get a lot of attention from my male clients. They made comments like "is that your Lincoln?" "I didn't think nurses made that much money". "How's that Lincoln drive?". One elderly man that I saw off and on called me "the Lincoln girl". I think it was that the Lincoln brand was something that they recognized and thought it was a luxury car while they probably wouldn't even recognize an Audi or something. And I do live in Metro Detroit, so some of my patients worked in the car factories before they retired. Now, I have a silver Buick Regal which blends in more.

I wouldn't want to drive an expensive car for home health.....running over objects in the road......hitting the door against curbs when parking in cramped spots......having to park on the ROAD because families dont want you to block them in. getting nails and other sharp objects in the tires when traveling to crappy places. getting in and out of the car when its raining ALL DAY....tracks mud ..no way to avoid that ...spilling food and drinks all over the place trying to drive and eat at same time. stupid supplies and miscellaneous papers trashing it up...........and ONCE i found an old vial of blood wedged in between my car seat and console.

Maybe get a small used car like a Yaris, Ford Focus, or Honda with really great gas mileage, is cheap, low maintenance, and inconspicious. Then buy a nice car for your husband/weekends. It's a bonus to have a small car cause you can fit in tight spots and maneuver down difficult driveways and it won't matter if you run into a rock wall or something. Also, you wouldn't want to flaunt the money that you have going to patients' homes. They want to know you are doing it to take care of them, not for the $$. I would not want a luxury car for home health. You are in your car all day, at the end of the day you won't want to get in it whether it's a junker or a Bentley. You'll spill coffee, lunches, water, etc and will need a car that doesn't mind getting messy. Plus, you don't want to go someplace nice, open the trunk of your BMW only to find a whole bunch of catheters and bedpans! LOL!!

Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

When I worked in Home Health I drove a company car!

In hospice I have preferred to drive used cars that are reliable...

and as a previous poster stated...I drive it until it is undriveable.

If you have patient information in your vehicle it should be secured in a locking file box locked in your trunk when you are not in the vehicle. Please don't ever leave loose papers with patient identifiers in your car...

You probably already knew those things...

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