trying to find my niche in nursing....

HH_RN13, ASN, RN · Aug 2, 2013

I'm a new grad and I've been doing HH for the past 5 months! I love the job, I like the hours and the pay. I mostly have a flexible schedule( unless the patient really needs to be seen at a specific time that's not exactly convenient for me, which happens sometimes). I like interacting with patients, I like the variety of conditions I come across, I still get to practice my nursing skills. What I DON'T like is the paperwork. For a new case it is 26 pages at least per person. And if you fall behind on paperwork, it's difficult to catch up. I don't like that I have to do the paperwork on my own time at home... I try to do as much as I can at the patient's house, but if it is a busy day, I make quick notes and fill out the rest at home. I have a 2.5 year old and it works out pretty well. I'm also a single mom, so I drop her off at daycare, go see my patients and stop work around 4pm to pick up my daughter.

I would suggest signing up with an agency and trying it out part time just to see if it is something you'd like. At my agency I can tell them what days I'm available for work and my hours and they will call if they have a patient for me to see.

DLStango, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2013

So, I just typed out a whole long post and my lap top deleted it! UGH!
Let's try this again....
I've been a nurse for almost 2 years. For the last 16mos I've been working in the hospital on a telemetry until. In March I dropped my status to PRN and accepted a school nurse job.
I'm at a total loss for what I'm looking for in nursing.
I love the problem solving/critical thinking at the hospital. I hate the long hours, and the mandatory OT. Staffing has not gotten any better in 16mos, they can not keep nurses.
I love my hours and the low stress at the school, but I dislike that I am SO sedentary at that job. I sit on my butt most of the day!! I also don't love working 5 days/week. The pay is very low as well.
I was chit-chatting w/a friend from nursing school the other day, she has been doing HH for most of the time we've been out of school, and she just raved about it. She loves her job. She makes more then I do at the hospital and double what I make at the school. So now I'm considering looking into HH.
I'm going to be honest. I don't know what I'm looking for in nursing. The "ideal" job that doesn't exist? I have 3, young, school-aged children, my priority is to be w/my family as much as I can. I'm not the bread winner in my household so I have flexibility to work part-time and to find what I really want (if I could figure out what that was!) My husband is very supportive, but is getting to the point of asking me what it is I'm looking for. He wants me to do whatever will make me happy. I want to do what is best for our family.
So, I guess I'm looking for the good, the bad, and the ugly of HH. I've been browsing your forum, and seen lots of things that look promising.
And if any one has any words of wisdom, or can relate to, this feeling of being lost in nursing, I'd appreciate hearing that as well!
Thanks everyone!

Hello,

I work in HH as a staff educator for a mid sized agency. I work mainly with nurses new to home care. I have worked full time as a field nurse for about 3 years. I love HH because it gives you an opportunity to have a very significant impact on people's lives once they are out of the hospital.

The good...flexible hours, ability to spend more or less time with patients as needed, autonomy, satisfaction of working with patients and family to make life better for them, ability to teach.

The bad...paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. Medicare requires a lot of paperwork. Many agencies are on electronic record so it is easier. If your agency is on electronic documents and you are not computer literate, will be very difficult.

The ugly...driving in all sort of weather, people who don't put away dogs or cats, people sometimes are not interested in helping themselves and can make the environment of care frustrating at times...

I have worked in both the hospital and the field and, hands down, believe HH is a very good field to be in. If you have different obligations, I would recommend that you try it as a Fee-for-service nurse. There is even more flexibility there and, most likely, you will not have to Case Manage. Case Management carries some additional requirements with paperwork. If you wanted to test the waters, working fee for service is probably your best bet.

Good luck!

Dave

Morganalefey · Aug 4, 2013

Thank you both so much for your input! Those are exactly the kinds of things I'm looking for.

I didn't even think about the driving in the weather. I live in the 'burbs of Chicago, and we only have 2 seasons here. Winter, and construction :roflmao: But I'm used to driving in that, so I think I could deal w/it.

I figured paperwork was one of the biggest downsides.

I'm going to go on TUE and fill out an applications and speak w/the manager. My friend who works there already spoke to them about me,a nd they think I would be a good fit. Apparently, they have several pt's in my area, and no nurses very close to me to take them. I really want to quit my school job. I hate to say that, but it's the truth.

Thanks, everyone!