Beginning Home Health Visits

[NURSET2007]

when you start with a home health company full time, how do they go about giving you patients? all at once, a few at a time? my company is not a good example since i may get 1 patient every 2 weeks if im lucky. also if you start a new company should there be an "orientation visit" to acclimate your self to the company or is it all the same? any tips or additional info is welcome. thanx!

[caliotter3]

I do extended care. When a nurse starts on a new case, they are given a copy of the 485 to review. If one reads that it does not seem to be the kind of case that one wants, it can be rejected right away. Otherwise, you look stuff up and ask questions. The supervisor or primary nurse will provide an overview then an appointment is set up to go to the home for one to four hours usually. If things look ok, then the nurse starts on the case or they decline the case. With intermittent visits, orientation is pretty individual to the company as to how long you do ride alongs and how you mesh in with doing visits on your own before you take a full case load.