Advice for NG starting in HH?

caliotter3 · Feb 10, 2010

I prefer extended care instead of intermittent visits myself. One patient, one note, that is it. No driving all over creation, no hours doing documentation on your kitchen table, no oncall. Just make certain that they are aware that you expect a thorough orientation no matter what your duties are. Don't let them throw you out on your own unless you feel ready and don't be bashful about asking for more orientation or asking questions when you need to. You will be fine. Hope it works out for you.

Sarahtonin · Feb 10, 2010

I just started home health a few months ago, only after being a nurse for about 4 months. I was in LTC and fed up with having 31 patients with all their meds, treatments, charting, etc.

I totally love my job. Work is work, but it's as flexible as any job could possibly be. I see 4-7 patients a day. I usually have to drive 10-20 minutes between their homes, but nothing crazy. I'm usually done by 1-2pm and finish up my paperwork on the company laptop they gave me by 5pm. I only work Mon.-Fri. and I'm on call one weekend a month... not bad! It's a great schedule, especially for a nurse!

If you're worried you might not be prepared to do home health, just make sure the orientation program they have at your job is satisfactory. I shadowed another nurse for a full 2 weeks, all day, everyday. I really got a sense of what to do, but you'll find things that work for you that the other nurse might not have shown you. Like anything else, you learn on the job.

And don't be afraid to ask questions. I call the office all the time to ask questions about what tube to use for bloodwork, how to fill out a certain part of a lab slip, how to access a certain part of a chart on the computer. If it's a good company, they'll have no problems helping you, and will appreciate your questions because knowledge just makes you a better nurse all around!

Also, from my experience, HH patients aren't critical. Most of their issues are chronic and are maintained. I do a lot of wound care, bloodwork (which the company trained me to do), diabetic education, regular check ups (vital signs, ''are you having any pain?'', ''when's your next MD appt?'', etc). If a patient codes at home, you call 911, so don't freak yourself out.

Good luck!! Don't think you can't do it! You're a trained professional, and you will learn and adapt as needed!

JenniferSews · Feb 10, 2010

And don't be afraid to ask questions. I call the office all the time to ask questions about what tube to use for bloodwork, how to fill out a certain part of a lab slip, how to access a certain part of a chart on the computer. If it's a good company, they'll have no problems helping you, and will appreciate your questions because knowledge just makes you a better nurse all around!

Thank you! They made it pretty clear that my "orientation" would be pretty non existent. BUT they sounded like there would be people available to answer questions by phone and they didn't seem like they'd be upset I was asking questions. I don't have a problem asking questions and am pretty good at finding a way to do so that doesn't annoy the hell out of people. Even if it does, I don't care that much about other people, I just want to be safe.

I really did get a good feeling about the job, and don't feel like I can't do it. But I keep reading here posts about GN in HH and it makes me nervous. When I did HH as an aide I got a whopping 1 day orientation. :lol2: Not the same but I'm good at learning on the fly. My only complaint so far is that charting is all on paper and AAACK! that's a lot of writing. I type sooooo much faster.