Is it the weather?

Specialties Private Duty

Published

Crazy week! Client 1) Mom misunderstand a procedure. RN on duty not confident enough to explain. So, calls supervisor. Who instead of standing by standard procedure, humors parent and calls old RN from hospital to find out how she did it?! So, in the end it was all six and one half dozen of another, because it was different but ultimately the same. In walks me, who knows nothing and I get cold shoulder for most of the day. I am thinking, well this job just turned uncomfortable. Finally, the dam breaks and parent confronts me with her concerns. I validate them, then explain the procedure and show her where all the documentation for it can be found. The rest of the shift is better. I still have to be very stand off'ish with this one, which is fine.

Go to Client 2) See some new book. Contains useful info about the food likes and dislikes. Cool! Turn page and there's a "To Do" list. Vacuum?! Do dishes?! Now, I am a mom, so my personal thing is any dishes *I* use for the patients, I wash immediately. But, when I come in to work and there is a sink full of morning dishes waiting for me that includes last nights bottles, no. I call supervisor who will check with the other nurses? I don't care if they agree. I am not. If it's an issue, let me know. I'll find a different case. I am there for the children. If the parents are sick then they need to be added to my client list and I need to get paid for them. ARGH. If I spill cheerios on the floor, I will vacuum it. But, I am not doing that just because I am there. And, if I have down time because of naps, well I eat and chart. ARGH. Just argh.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.

I read this PDN section regularly. I say KUDOS for your right-off-the start position re client #2 and the household chores.

I've not responded before to similar posts because I don't do PDN, but I am NOT a maid, neither are you. You guys and I went to Nursing school, not Merry Maid school. I do my own household stuff only out of necessity! So forget about someone else's. (Your pt's OK.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

i'm not sure i understand #1

as far as #2 is concerned,

we all have a "To Do" list

it's called 485

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I just got pulled from a case where Mom kept cancelling shifts at the last minute. I've been on it since July, and it has been a rocky road since I started. Mom and her girlfriend don't get along, and Girlfriend hates me. Out of 9 potential shifts this month, Mom cancelled 7 in a row, including today's. I worked one shift at the beginning of the month, and had to call off one because of medical appointments out of town.

I like private duty, but it's becoming harder and harder to pay my bills. I worked 45 hours last week, and I'll be working 5 this week. With the case I'm picking up next week, I'll be working just enough hours to keep my expensive health insurance. I checked out Obamacare, but my job's cheapest single plan (with bare bones coverage and a $10,000 deductible) is considered affordable, so I don't qualify for a subsidy, so it wouldn't be any cheaper. I'm also 7 months pregnant, not exactly in a position to job hunt.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I just got pulled from a case where Mom kept cancelling shifts at the last minute. I've been on it since July, and it has been a rocky road since I started. Mom and her girlfriend don't get along, and Girlfriend hates me. Out of 9 potential shifts this month, Mom cancelled 7 in a row, including today's. I worked one shift at the beginning of the month, and had to call off one because of medical appointments out of town.

I like private duty, but it's becoming harder and harder to pay my bills. I worked 45 hours last week, and I'll be working 5 this week. With the case I'm picking up next week, I'll be working just enough hours to keep my expensive health insurance. I checked out Obamacare, but my job's cheapest single plan (with bare bones coverage and a $10,000 deductible) is considered affordable, so I don't qualify for a subsidy, so it wouldn't be any cheaper. I'm also 7 months pregnant, not exactly in a position to job hunt.

Similar problems minus the pregnancy. Any excuse, or no excuse, will do with my agencies. One staffing coordinator gave me info on five possible cases for available shifts. The other staffing coordinator interrupted her conversation with me and said, "no" when we were discussing one of them. Yes, that is why the shifts were still showing as "open" on the computer. And lo and behold, I never got called back on the other four. When I asked about it the next time I came into the office, I got that "dumb cow" stare. This scenario, or one like it, "I want Spanish-speaking nurses, (even though I've been speaking English for the entire time you've staffed my case)", can only be repeated so many times across so many agencies. Unfortunately, other employment avenues are few and far between, and come with their own pitfalls. We can't always be members of the "ethnicity of hiring" everywhere we apply. I wish someone had told me this is what nursing is about before I started down this path.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

a question:

don't your agencies have a minimum amount of hours

you need to work to retain insurance, and if you fall

below, you get cancelled which would make you eligible

for a subsidy?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Something is not right. If you applied on line, try to apply again with a helper. It's income based, not based on the insurance you already have. A lot of the online applications got messed up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I hear, you all, about the hours. When you don't work, you don't get paid, which just really sucks when it's not in your control. My advice is to sign up for more agencies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment