I can't believe it. I thought I never would, but this past week, I have really been missing working back at the hospital. I worked in hospitals for 10 years (5 of them as a nurse), and it's still in my blood, I guess! I'm pretty new to home health, only been in it for about 5 months now, and the paperwork and phone calls are REALLY getting to me now.
I do really like certain aspects of home health, like being able to really talk with my patients and time flexibiity, but I don't like that there's no closure to work... and I HATE Oasis, having to be knowledgeable about insurance and reimbursements and things I never had to worry about in the hospital.
There's also a part of me that is sad that I never did ICU. That was my big goal when I graduated nrsg school. I worked tele and stepdown but could never find that open ICU training spot. I did travel, too.
I know I am glorifying the hospital because I'm not in it now. I do remember the poop, anxiety, codes, being micro managed by managers and patients' families, and dealing with horribly arrogant MDs, but when I was done, I was done.. and had 4 days off.
Anyone else feel like this or even gone back to the hospital?
How long does it take to get a hang of the paperwork ie Oasis? I am new to HH and tried my first Oasis last week. Well today(Sat) my nurse manager called me and we went over it for an hour. She said she wants to sit down with me to go over my other notes too but she is so busy that we never have time. I have been on my own this past week filling in for a part time nurse who is on vacation for 2 weeks. She has been in HH for years so she is great at it. I don't mind doing some work at home BUT not hours and hours on the weekend and my first check was not very much. I know it will be awhile for me to work up my own pts and I hope my pay will improve. Hope I made a good decision, I was working 5 nights a week and rarely had 2 nights off in a row. Maybe I should go back to the VA and try to get 12hr shifts. Not sure what to do.
I've been doing HH since May so no expert advice here, just my opinion. My DON, who is fabulous by the way, said it took her a good 2 years before she really had a handle on all the paperwork. I have found, again just my opinion, that even though you might only be on the road and have patient visits that I have anywhere from 2-3 hours a night of paperwork and phone calls to set up the next days visits. The Oasis SOC's are especially time consuming. I try to fill out as much as I can in the pts home without asking every question verbatim but I still have to go over it once I get home because inevitably there's something I missed during the visit. I try to be thorough but I loathe getting paperwork back days after the fact.
The day is definitely less stressful than the hospital environment, but I work a heck of a lot more. Probably 50-60 hours a week but only get paid for 40. I am considering going Per Diem and picking up a few hospital shifts. I plan to weigh the pros and cons of that today. IE..would I lose income doing it that way. Don't get me wrong, its not about the money, just need to make sure going per diem allows me to handle my financial obligations.
I too am a new nurse with a little over a year under my belt. Med/Surg to ED to HH and still trying to find my "bliss" with nursing. Oh bliss and balance where art thou?:redpinkhe
I have only been doing this for 2 weeks. I know I have to do homework, but as long as it is not taking over my life I don't mind. I think as time goes by and I keep doing the paperwork things SHOULD get a little better. I know there is not a perfect job. I just want to find my niche I always thought it was home health. I have worked in LTC and med surg. As you said HH is LESS stressful than the hospital BUT when you are home you don't have homework. So what is better, the stress of the hospital with no homework OR a job with homework?
I also worked at a VA near my home but worked 5 nites a week and that was too hard on my body and I was ALWAYS very tired. Now I can sleep and have weekends off even though I still have a few hours of paperwork during those 2 days.
Tweedledee, I really see myself going back to some type of hospital nursing eventually. I really think home health is less stressful than acute care, but you pay for it in that it takes over your life, not to mention your CAR.
I have been doing home health for 6 years. You can't beat the flexability but it is like it NEVER ENDS. Time at home is spent on paperwork and case management means many hours doing things you don't get paid to do. Seriously thinking about going prn with 2 agencies which would mean no case management and no call. Just concerned about census drops.
Yeah, it never ends!! I am actually giving my notice tomorrow to go PRN. I honestly think PRN is the way to go in Home Health. If not, for some reason you are expected to work 24/7. You better not say no to a new pt. unless you want to get "punished". I am going to give rehab nursing a try. I miss the hospital. Started in the OR, went to HH because I thought the $$ was better, but when I calculate it out by the hr. It averages out to about what I made at the hospital. I've never worked the floor before. I am looking forward to being done with work at the end of the day and not have to feel like the second I wake up, get out of the shower etc.. I must check my phone. God forbid the office can't get a hold of me:uhoh3:
Specializes in Pain Management, RN experience was in ER.
I'm at the point where I hate coming home, because during the day I see my patients, and when I'm home I have to chart until my eyes burn at 2am. Speaking of which... I've got 9 Oasis's to chart r/t my computer being out and getting 3 oasis's a day along with multiple sups and routines... Super.
How funny. I JUST now finished all my charting. Started at 730 this a.m. I'm working 12 hr shifts anyway but not getting paid for it. the only way they approve overtime is if we've had an extraordinary number of points ("8 points or more, I can understand overtime, but otherwise...").
I'm sick to death of this now. I'm supposed to go on vacation for a few days, and I'm worried sick about what is going to happen to my caseload while I'm gone. I have REALLY been missing the hospital lately and plan on going back as soon as I can. This is not the lifestyle I want. I never exercise or take my dog to the park anymore. It's absolutely ridiculous. It's like you get behind just ONE day, and you are so screwed. I feel like such a fool. Hospitals are hell, but at least I can have a LIFE.
Uggh. Im 1 week into a new agency after 6 years at another..... and Im seriously wondering if I need my head examined. I feel no energy or excitement for starting this new job and am struggling to keep that hidden.
Change makes me re-evaluate all the big questions- why am I here? what am I hoping to accomplish? WHY have we (professionals supposedly) allowed our profession to be hijacked and ruined by useless never ending paperwork???? They made me watch all the usual orientation videos- I was curious to see how these would validate idiotic things like OASIS to me, now that I really know what one is. You know what the number one reason they gave as to why we have to do an OASIS? "Because it's the rule" I literally groaned out loud.
Love the patients; really really loathe the bureaucracy that has ruined my profession.
I couldn't agree more. It is really nice to know that you all feel the same way I do. It's terrible. I love the patients hate all the B.S. i normally go to Starbucks to finish my paper work because it has gotten to the point where I associate home with work....... I don't like it.
twokidsmom,rn
198 Posts
How long does it take to get a hang of the paperwork ie Oasis? I am new to HH and tried my first Oasis last week. Well today(Sat) my nurse manager called me and we went over it for an hour. She said she wants to sit down with me to go over my other notes too but she is so busy that we never have time. I have been on my own this past week filling in for a part time nurse who is on vacation for 2 weeks. She has been in HH for years so she is great at it. I don't mind doing some work at home BUT not hours and hours on the weekend and my first check was not very much. I know it will be awhile for me to work up my own pts and I hope my pay will improve. Hope I made a good decision, I was working 5 nights a week and rarely had 2 nights off in a row. Maybe I should go back to the VA and try to get 12hr shifts. Not sure what to do.
Any advise would help.