Advice from the wise: New grad thinking of HH

[MPWifeRN04]

Hi there everyone, I am stuck in a predicament. I am a recent new graduate and working in a typical Med/Surg floor on night shift. I love working patients, but do not have adequate time to take care of each of them. On an average night during my shift I have 7-8 PATIENTS:uhoh3: to take care of and often we work with NO techs or CNA getting VS and weights. I find myself at a crossroad and need some advice. I have been reading all of your threads and still am not sure if I should go into HH.

I have a toddler and my husband works odd shifts in the military so I don't see them much. I am losing my night time babysitter because she is relocating. I don't know anyone in the area because we just moved here and I know that no one wants a new nurse for a day shift in a hospital.

I am looking for flexbility and love educating and caring for patients. I am unsure on whether to take the plunge though. Is the pay better or worse in HH care? I don't mind paperwork, but how much time at home does it take to do it. It seems thats all I do during the nights with charting, MAR checks and 24 hour chart checks. This coupled with completed days unfinished business and patient care is rough on a new nurse. From the first day I have been taking 6 + patients and we are the only floor that takes isolation patietns in the hospital.

I have working for this hospital for almost 3 months and they are pressuring me to start charging because the night supervisor doesn't like working weekend (and I don't blame her). I feel rushed and frazzled every morning I struggle to stay awake driving home. A co-worker of mine is facing the same problem but she is already burnt out and wants out. We both are looking around, but HH seems like the best option so far. Primarily days, autonomy and one on one care seems great. Any advise for this new grad? Good and bad is appreciated. THANKS!!

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

7-8 patients seems like heaven. In sub-acute care, and many of them are as acute as the hospital patients and those nurses have 20+patients. The paper work of home care might make you long for the days of the hospital.