Pay scales

This depends on your location. Be aware that most agencies use some leeway for negotiation. At least that is the way they tell it sometimes. Otherwise you may find that they give you one rate of pay and another nurse gets another rate of pay. It is wrong when they tell everyone that all people of the same classification get the same pay and then you find out that Suzie is getting several dollars an hour more than you and she has the same qualifications as you. I hated when my employer did that. Unethical to outright lie to workers. If you give your location then perhaps some people will chime in with the rates there.

There are multiple ways that home care companies pay. You could be paid per visit. The average in Metro Detroit right now is $50 per routine visit, $85 for opening visit, plus mileage. The visit would include all your documentation and travel time. Meetings and inservices are paid extra. Some companies pay per hour. Or you could get paid a salary and you would get paid the same amount no matter how many patients you see. But they will have a quota for you to fulfill. The average for salary is about $60,000. Which is the best? The forums have discussed this constantly and I think it really comes out about the same. If you are new to home care you won't have much to negotiate with at this point. The best you can do is compare benefits, your service area, training, and the amount of weekends and on call you have to do.