Thinking of moving from LTC to Private Duty....wise decision?

[catnip3]

Your input is all appreciated, so bring it on! I'm a nurse for 25 years, and have had only 3 jobs- 5 years in a hospital, 12 years for a home health agency, and nearly 9 years at the nursing home I now work at. I am at a point in my career of 25 years where I am feeling burnout. I am an MDS Coordinator at the LTC facility, and have held that position since I've started there. I'll try to be brief without it turning into a venting session. I used to LOVE the position, worked 32 hours a week with flexible hours, and it was great. Over the past several months, MANY big changes have been made corporate-wide, really affecting my job. I now work 36-50 hours a week, and with the changes, I no longer feel like a nurse, more like 90% secretary/billing clerk and 10% nurse. I really need a change. I would consider going back to home health but I've been there/done that with on-call and miles of travelling. I miss patient contact and patient care- I no longer have an opportunity for that in the nursing home due to my job changes, and I don't want an 11-7 floor nurse or supervisor position there, all that's ever available. I am seriously considering private duty. There is a Bayada agency close by and I have heard mostly very good things about them. I have been reading though the posts here. I already anticipate that I'd have to take a pay cut, and health insurance will take more out of our budget if I have to go on my husband's. Do any of you do private duty as your primary job? Since I haven't done hands-on patient care in nearly 9 years, I fear being totally lost. I've had trach experience and was comfortable with it, no vent experience, and as for peds, probably the last time I've cared for a child was my nephew, who is now 22! I'd like to work 32 hours a week, day shift, and a very occasional 3-11 or weekend. Am I living in a dream world? Would it be a wise move to consider?

[Elektra6, ASN, BSN, RN]

I work for Bayada after working full-time in LTC. I'm only a nurse for a few years though. I wanted to work for the pediatric part but I had no experience with vent/trachs or peds. I attended Bayada's 2-day pediatric workshop (good even if you don't end up working there) and their vent/trach workshop (eligible for continuing ed credits). So, I started in the adult division and working with trachs and ventilator patients. I stayed in adults because I like my clients but I guess now I would be eligible for working with pediatric patients.

As an LPN, my pay was higher than the LTC (they got me cheap because I was a new grad!) There is a lot of opportunity for OT. I do work every weekend because that's where most of the shifts were available. My health insurance costs are a little high.

I would suggest you sign on with them while you are doing your regular job (that's what I did) and try a few shifts and see if its for you. Best of luck

[caliotter3]

I have done shift work in home health for years. The major drawback is that recently there have been less cases available in an area where the agencies have also chosen to decrease their pay rate. Lower pay I can live with. I don't like going for months without work and I don't want to look for work in other areas of nursing. So that leaves me with lots of vacation!