What are the pros/cons of HH

cinnyluvscats · Feb 16, 2006

I was a home health nurse for all of 2.5 months, but had to leave due to getting both of my knees replaced. (permanent restrictions basically ended that position.)

If the agency's staffing is decent, you should be done during regular "business hours". I was almost to the point of seeing 4 patients/day, but the charting was a headache! Admissions take FOREVER. One of our "managers" had an arbitrary standard of 5 patients/day, but she didn't take into account any driving or case managing.

Be prepared to put lots of miles on your car if you live in a rural area. Suburbs or urban areas don't have the miles, but you can get into some sticky situations. Never go out for visits on less than 1/2 tank of gas and get really good directions to the home!

The independence is really nice, you can really sharpen your skills, and unless you get stuck with alot of "on call" time, it can work nicely with kids.

Pay sounds about right, especially if this is an independent agency.

Hope all this helps and good luck during the ride-along! :nurse:

Cindy

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 19, 2006

Hi to all. I have read most of the posts on the HH roll call. I went for an interview with a HH agency last week and I am scheduled to do a "ride along" with a HH nurse on Friday to see what I think. I'm really looking forward to doing this, but I want some experienced ppl to give me some advice on what questions I should be asking. For example, when you all talk about how many patients you see a day - what do you think is reasonable and what's not?

I have been doing HH for 4 months. I work only in my local area. I spend about $30/week on gas. Car gets 36 mi per gallon. I get $60.00 per visit. I feel very fortunate to be with the company I am with. I don't take call. I'm free to schedule myself. Paperwork doesn't bother me. The only thing that is irritating to me is faxing all the doctors orders and med changes and such.

steelcityrn, RN · Feb 19, 2006

The pro's to me are not being in a hospital, the cons are dealing with some of these horrible PCH's that are not taking care of their residents. My shift friday ended with trying to explain to a pch administrater who has a high school education, why its not appropriate to let a man with a acute gout episode to sit out in the lobby stuck in a wheelchair all day , wet and dirty and about to be pushed into a room of demented patients crammed around tables to eat liver for dinner, and only after he eats can he have his pain medication.

ISITFRIDAYYET · Feb 23, 2006

the pro's to me are not being in a hospital, the cons are dealing with some of these horrible pch's that are not taking care of their residents. my shift friday ended with trying to explain to a pch administrater who has a high school education, why its not appropriate to let a man with a acute gout episode to sit out in the lobby stuck in a wheelchair all day , wet and dirty and about to be pushed into a room of demented patients crammed around tables to eat liver for dinner, and only after he eats can he have his pain medication.

geez,,,,,,,what an image