Frustrations of home health nurse

Goal_NP · Oct 20, 2014

Home health is awesome!
your not overworked, understaffed, and you dont have to accept clients if you dont want to.

While this is true, How do you get along with families, For me, on my professional level, I don't mend things in their personal business, While the time I am there, I observe that some families do fraud to healthcare? I mean how do u afford house? nice car? when both the parents are not working, yet they love to go out on weekends...want me cover for them till 2am.. Impossible i say no anyways...

so Idk.. I am little confuse.. this is my 2nd year working as home health.

bluevett · Oct 29, 2014

Having worked two years in home health I can tell you that experience is the key to making or breaking you while you are providing patient care. It's very important to have excellent communications with your team leader and lead RN involved in the cases you are assigned to. I was put on a team that worked a great deal with post operative wound care and wound vac's. This is my forte and I enjoy it greatly.. It's important to let your lead RN know what you feel the most comfortable with so that if you are not as proficient in another field of care you can work on it with the RN and increase your skill level. Remember never show inability to take care of a patient. Kindly excuse yourself and call your lead RN and get some input and if that means asking the client if you can return at different time then ask. Remember it's always ok to say you do not feel comfortable working a certain case at this time. Just let your supervisor know you want to learn more so you can become more of an asset. Always have a positive outlook on all the skills you do have. Make it known that you are a nurse that wants to always learn new skills. Remember nursing can be difficult at times, but this can also make you stronger nurse/caretaker. Keep a positive note at the end of each day. Remember something that made you feel like you provided something special. This will get you through each day. Remember, none of us, no matter how many years experience we have we always have room to learn something new.

Good luck to all the nurse in home health. I hope this helps.

caliotter3 · Oct 29, 2014

I used to find it somewhat vexing that individuals getting total assistance from the government were driving new cars, living in nice homes, and always going to the grocery store while I didn't have the means to find $10 to put gas in my car for the minimum of $20 of gas I would need to drive to their home for 2 shifts in a row. And when my refrigerator is empty, and looking out at outstanding medical bills, and no dental care for almost two years, yes, it can be quite vexing. But then I remind myself that it is none of my business, but I had better pay my taxes for this to continue.

Goal_NP · Oct 30, 2014

I totally Agree, I think I need new case, Because it's frustrating to be there, it's unfair in so many levels that these kind of people take advantage of the government, but I am still new Nurse, I have lot to learn or because I been independent since, I was 17.

CMarie_ · Nov 14, 2018

In homehealth has anyone had patient's parents act like they own you? Judging you for getting a second job or acting rude because you have a second job and can no longer cater to their fluctuations of always changing the schedule? Or when you take a sick day you inform the office and family but the family stalks you and calls incessantly acting like you owe them an explanation for needing 1 day off in 6 months.