Bayada Nurses or PSA Healthcare

caliotter3 · Jun 18, 2009

Have read positive comments about Bayada on this site. However, PSA has a bad reputation. In my area they were known for having legal problems and hiring brand new nurses with no experience. Have read other negative comments about them. I would put them at the bottom of my list, along with Maxim Healthcare Services.

ArwenEvenstar · Jun 18, 2009

I have interviews next week with Bayada Nurses and PSA Healthcare and would like any and all feedback anyone has on either of these companies. What is the interview like? Is the company flexible? How is the pay rate? Basically, would you recommend working for them and why or why not? Also, if you work for another pediatric private duty nursing company that you really like, what is the name of that company? I am from Pennsylvania, but would like to receive feedback from anyone who has information.
Thank you SO MUCH for your help!!!

I have no familiarity with Bayada. PSA has a bad reputation in general around the USA. My personal knowledge: a local PSA nurse we knew was accused of medicaid fraud because PSA improperly took care of the paperwork. She had to hire her own lawyer to fight it! However, I also know another local nurse at PSA who likes it and has no problems so far, BUT the pay is the worst I have ever heard of for RN private duty. She gets $18/hr. (I am in the Southeast USA.)

I have mixed feelings about Maxim. Basically my experience with them has been good, except for the "office guys" who do the scheduling are VERY incompetent! I worked for a mom and pop agency that had a wonderful personal touch and concern for their nurses, but unfortunately the owners retired and sold to a big national company (Southern Home) and things changed.

Sadly, my interviews at private duty agencies were not even really interviews. Basically, if you had a heartbeat, a RN license, and passed the background check - the only question was "when can you start?". I say sadly, because you are going into private homes and the cases are typically pediatric. There should be more personal assessment of the nurses working these cases! Are they professional? Does their personality match peds? Etc.

In theory, doing private duty through an agency is suppose to be very flexible! Flexibility, in fact, is often promoted as a benefit by these companies. But that has not been my personal experience. The families of these pts can be very "needy" and can freak out when you need time off. Then if your agency is not good at finding back up help to cover you when you need off, the family is left high and dry. The family is ultimately responsible for their loved one, but this can put pressure on the nurse. Both the family and agency can be manipulative - by that I mean begging and pleading you to work. You can find yourself working more than you'd like too unless you have backbone and self-assertiveness. Perhaps this is not typical, but it has been my experience. I have recently switched to prn/perdiem status because I needed flexibility that I was not getting when I was consistently assigned to work one case.

**Elektra6, ASN, BSN, RN** · Jun 26, 2009

I work for Bayada for 2 years now and love it. They are VERY professional and I was given all the orientation time I needed. The pay is fair. They are good about resolving issues and listening to you too. Try them!

freedomfriend · Jun 26, 2009

My experience is that Bayada does not pay there nurses what they are owed, promises one thing and then pays another, very bad reputation in Florida market for that, several nurses have quit because of pay issues.

Suichi · Jun 27, 2009

Hi rdw17603!

How were your interviews? I have an interview next week with PSA but I'm not sure anymore if I should work for them after I read all the negative posts. My nursing background is NICU but it has been four years since I last worked as a nurse. Please let me know how you decided and if you can give me any information on the interview questions.

Thanks!!!

BabyNurseBecky · Jun 28, 2009

I only had the interview at PSA so far. My Bayada interview is being rescheduled because of an audit or something. The PSA interview went well and the manager I met with was very nice. I am just waiting to hear back that my criminal history check came back negative (which it will - it's just a technicality). The test at PSA wasn't bad and they said it was no pressure because it is simply a way to tell where each applicant is with regard to their knowledge.

However, in the meantime, my dream job came open and I interviewed for that position on Friday. I am really hoping I get that one. I would be so happy!!

Suichi · Jun 28, 2009

That is wonderful - good luck regarding your dream job!!! I applied at Bayada too but they were looking for nurses with recent nursing experience.

PSA didn't inform me about a test - should I brush up on specific meds and calculations? Any information would be helpful...

Thank you

BabyNurseBecky · Jun 29, 2009

My test didn't have any math questions. Honestly, the questions were, for the most part, common sense. There were matching and true and false. There were a few that threw me, but overall, they really weren't bad. I have been out of nursing for more than a year and didn't find them all that challenging. Good luck!!

Suichi · Jul 1, 2009

I had my Interview on Monday with PSA (don't ask me where the time went but the whole Interview process took 2 1/2 hours). You were right about the test but I did have some medication and calculation questions. They were all very friendly and I too have to wait now for my Criminal Background Check. I also got an offer from another company but I am very torn because neither one of them is actually my dream job right now. I'll keep you posted!

Any updates on your job search?

BabyNurseBecky · Jul 1, 2009

Thanks for continuing to check in. It is nice to know that other people are in the same boat . . . I am still waiting to hear back about my criminal background check. They did tell me it could take a while. I am still waiting to hear about my dream job . . . Friday will be a week since my interview. I think I am going to call tomorrow because I can't stand the suspense any longer. I want this job SO BAD!! I will definitely let you know what happens. Let me know what you decide to do too!

QueenCityNurse · Jul 2, 2009

I have been in home care(private duty) for a little over 5 years now and I have been with Bayada for almost 3 years. Of all of the home care companies that I have worked for, Bayada is really the best. Although the pay isn't that great(Charlotte area.....$21/hr during week and $23./hr weekends), I can honestly say that for the most part, "I love" working for them. Just recently I quit my hospital job and switched from prn to full-time with Bayada and so far, I have no regrets.