Hi, as a newly appointed moderator, I want to live this forum up a bit. I just resigned my position as a HH supervisor, to go back to the field.
I have been a nurse 20 years, 17 in critical care, mostly cardiac critical care, and the last 2.5 years in HH, or asthma disease management , which I also had to leave because I hated to be in a cube farm all day.
I still love HH, even though PPS is the pits, even though the OASIS would make good kindling for a massive bonfire, and even with all the rest of the paperwork, it is the most rewarding nursing I have ever done!!
PS, I went back to my former VNA who is now paying $30/hr, yes, you read that right, to work 3 out of 4 weekends. Since weekends work well for me, it's a good deal.
Let's hear from all the HH nurses out there. Out of all those registered members, there's got to be plenty of us on this BB!!
is it true that home health nurses have better pay than nurses in hospitals?...between the two, which is more preferred--a hospital nurse or a home health nurse?...
Specializes in Acute Rehab, Short stay obs, ICU, Home H.
The pay is almost always higher in the hospital compared to home health.. Also, you are usually paid by the client. I know that I am anyways. The hours are usually longer than the 8 hours that you are being paid for. I am paid for an 8 hour day by seeing 6 patients a day. By the time you drive to each patients house and do all of the required charting and phone calls. It turns out to almost always be alot more than 8 hours.
There are definate perks. You can make your own hours. You dont have the stress of the hospital setting. I work for a large hospital owned agency and I came from that hospital so my pay is pretty competitive with the hospital. I also live in California where the pay is much higher. I am paid $47.00 per client that I see and if it is an "open" where there is much more paperwork ie: oasis, then I am paid $57.00. Beleive me the $10.00 in no way makes up for all of the extra paperwork.
I hope this helps. I started doing home health about a month ago and so far I think the good outways the bad in this field.
thanks for the info ladydi!!!:) what a cool job....
my aunt in la will have her own home health facility...i think it will be opened by next month...
the pay is almost always higher in the hospital compared to home health.. also, you are usually paid by the client. i know that i am anyways. the hours are usually longer than the 8 hours that you are being paid for. i am paid for an 8 hour day by seeing 6 patients a day. by the time you drive to each patients house and do all of the required charting and phone calls. it turns out to almost always be alot more than 8 hours.
there are definate perks. you can make your own hours. you dont have the stress of the hospital setting. i work for a large hospital owned agency and i came from that hospital so my pay is pretty competitive with the hospital. i also live in california where the pay is much higher. i am paid $47.00 per client that i see and if it is an "open" where there is much more paperwork ie: oasis, then i am paid $57.00. beleive me the $10.00 in no way makes up for all of the extra paperwork.
i hope this helps. i started doing home health about a month ago and so far i think the good outways the bad in this field.
HI! HH RN from South Carolina here! I must say HH keeps my life interesting. :chuckle
I've worked in the hospital and in an admin HH position. I prefer doing the visits myself. The flexibility can't be beat and the pay isn't bad either. Let's not talk about the paperwork.
Specializes in home health, peds, case management.
Hellooo...I am a Private Duty Nurse working in the Chicago suburbs for an agency that specializes in pediatric LTC. I am currently team leader for one client, but i reserve one shift a week to "float" to other clients houses to keep on my toes and to see all that i can see. I am planning to get my ANCC Peds cert next spring, then plan to jump on the ADN to MSN bus...last stop PNP!!!!! I have been an active RN for 5 years, and have worked exclusively in home health.
I dream of adding skilled nursing vistis to my repertoire, and did a few visits with another agency, but it was not the best experience, so i hesitate to try it again. Any adivice would be welcome!!
Specializes in home health, peds, case management.
Hellooo...I am a Private Duty Nurse working in the Chicago suburbs for an agency that specializes in pediatric LTC. I am currently team leader for one client, but i reserve one shift a week to "float" to other clients houses to keep on my toes and to see all that i can see. I am planning to get my ANCC Peds cert next spring, then plan to jump on the ADN to MSN bus...last stop PNP!!!!! I have been an active RN for 5 years, and have worked exclusively in home health.
I dream of adding skilled nursing vistis to my repertoire, and did a few visits with another agency, but it was not the best experience, so i hesitate to try it again. Any adivice would be welcome!!
Specializes in home health, peds, case management.
is it true that home health nurses have better pay than nurses in hospitals?...between the two, which is more preferred--a hospital nurse or a home health nurse?...
ur opinions are greatly appreciated...:)
i cant account for all the visiting nurses out there, but i do know that private duty nurses make more than entry level nurses in my area....$5-$10 per hour more. however, there are pros and cons to each position. if you are considering making a change, please follow your heart, not the dollar. following the dollar will only enrich your wallet...following your heart will enrich your soul!
Specializes in home health, peds, case management.
is it true that home health nurses have better pay than nurses in hospitals?...between the two, which is more preferred--a hospital nurse or a home health nurse?...
ur opinions are greatly appreciated...:)
i cant account for all the visiting nurses out there, but i do know that private duty nurses make more than entry level nurses in my area....$5-$10 per hour more. however, there are pros and cons to each position. if you are considering making a change, please follow your heart, not the dollar. following the dollar will only enrich your wallet...following your heart will enrich your soul!
Hi, I'm new to this site and was wondering if anyone here could help with some things that my employer was doing.
I work for a very prominent Home Care Agency and recently some fresh Business grads took over the office and have made all kinds of changes. They tell us that they are looking at it as a business venture and they are showing that they really don't care about the clients or the nurses. It is money, bottom line!
Recently they told us because of reimbersements being cut back this year, all Pedi Home Care Nurses had to take a cut in pay. This cut did not affect RN's just LVN's. It also did not change Staffing, or Elderly. We do home visits that are extended shifts - 6 to 12 hrs several days or all week. We also do not get to leave on our shifts, for lunch or breaks etc., like most hospital shifts, you at least get to go eat or leave the floor, do personal business or call home.
Now they are telling us that we can't make any cell phone calls, except in an Emerg.
I am very upset with this, as I try to check in with the kids, messages, personal stuff that comes up from time to time. The things you can't do after hours or on weekends.
When you already can't leave and you have to spend all day and half the night in someone's home, and you can't call anywhere, what are you supposed to do? I know that some perhaps have overused the policy and that is why the made changes.
Another thing they did is, If you miss any work, not only do you call them in advance (not a problem) but when you return, you have to put in writing why you missed and turn it in within 2 days then get counseling how not to let that happen again!
I am sorry, but some things do come up and they expect you to care for clients, but your own family doesn't count. I may miss 1 or 2 days all year. I should not have to answer to them "why I missed work". That's private!
It is amazing how 1 or 2 people can come in to a workplace and make everyone "jump thru hoops". About twice a year, they happen to lose all your credentials and you have to go in and redo all the tests and copy your cards etc.
I really don't know what to do, short of quitting. I love this job and Agency work is supposed to be flexable and you pick your own hours and days, the pay is top notch.
It is just the new boss....trying to run an office and without care to the people who do the work that pays their position. Most of the cases are on "auto pilot" and they just keep the paperwork and approvals.
Hi, I'm new to this site and was wondering if anyone here could help with some things that my employer was doing.
I work for a very prominent Home Care Agency and recently some fresh Business grads took over the office and have made all kinds of changes. They tell us that they are looking at it as a business venture and they are showing that they really don't care about the clients or the nurses. It is money, bottom line!
Recently they told us because of reimbersements being cut back this year, all Pedi Home Care Nurses had to take a cut in pay. This cut did not affect RN's just LVN's. It also did not change Staffing, or Elderly. We do home visits that are extended shifts - 6 to 12 hrs several days or all week. We also do not get to leave on our shifts, for lunch or breaks etc., like most hospital shifts, you at least get to go eat or leave the floor, do personal business or call home.
Now they are telling us that we can't make any cell phone calls, except in an Emerg.
I am very upset with this, as I try to check in with the kids, messages, personal stuff that comes up from time to time. The things you can't do after hours or on weekends.
When you already can't leave and you have to spend all day and half the night in someone's home, and you can't call anywhere, what are you supposed to do? I know that some perhaps have overused the policy and that is why the made changes.
Another thing they did is, If you miss any work, not only do you call them in advance (not a problem) but when you return, you have to put in writing why you missed and turn it in within 2 days then get counseling how not to let that happen again!
I am sorry, but some things do come up and they expect you to care for clients, but your own family doesn't count. I may miss 1 or 2 days all year. I should not have to answer to them "why I missed work". That's private!
It is amazing how 1 or 2 people can come in to a workplace and make everyone "jump thru hoops". About twice a year, they happen to lose all your credentials and you have to go in and redo all the tests and copy your cards etc.
I really don't know what to do, short of quitting. I love this job and Agency work is supposed to be flexable and you pick your own hours and days, the pay is top notch.
It is just the new boss....trying to run an office and without care to the people who do the work that pays their position. Most of the cases are on "auto pilot" and they just keep the paperwork and approvals.
Specializes in home health, peds, case management.
wow. what a mess. re:cut in pay. i didnt hear anything about cuts in reimbursements this year, but im "only" a field nurse and often miss these things unless they directly affect me. maybe someone in mgt or admin can help. i thought that even though the state reimburses for kids w/o private insurance, it was still part of the medicaid system, and subject to federal regulation. but as i said, i could be wrong. in IL, thry cut a lot of supplies that were avail, and oh boy did that make me maaaad. and just fyi, staffing wouldnt be cut because the agency negotiates a contract with them that stipulates the reimbursement rates, and the senior care is funded thru medicare and private insurance (more contracts) maybe they made the cuts to peds beause these poor little children cant vote! or maybe the agency is just making it up and passing the buck..."its not our fault its THEIRS." or perhaps the agencys pay scale was out of line for LVNs. however, if that were the case, i think the more appropriate remedy would have been to cut the pay for new hires only (but like i said, im "only" a field nurse!!!) i think the only thing you can do at this point is either eat it or hop to another agency that has a higher pay scale.
re personal time while on duty: like i said, there are disadvantages to home care, one of them being that you are always on duty. when youre giving 1:1 care, theres nobody to relieve you, and its unfair to expect the parents to tailor their schedule to meet your needs. thats why they have home care in the first place, so that they can lead a somewhat normal life and go about THEIR business. That being said, i can suggest some solutions. Try talking to the parents and see how they feel about it. I am able to run out for 15 min while on duty, pick up my lunch, and bring it back and eat in their home, while supervising the child. I've never had a problem making phone calls, but i truly keep it to a minimum, and dont have children to look after at home. Again, i suggest discussing it with the parents. Maybe this can be handled during naptime or during some other type of downtime. Make sure you are honest about how much time you think youll need during a shift so that they dont feel taken advantage of. After all, it is THEIR child, and you are taking time away from their care. If they are uncomfortable with these solutions, I must most politely suggest that perhaps homecare is not for you, or perhaps you could find another case that would better meet your needs.
re time off: I agree that everyone needs time off now and again. Whether its 2 days off a year or 20, if you request time off in a timely manner according to policy, thats YOUR business. Its not YOUR problem that THEY cant find a replacement for you on your days off. Dont let them tell you otherwise. You should not have to tell them exactly what you were doing and as for that written note, what are you in grade school??? Next time, just tell them it was for "personal reasons that i do not wish to discuss" If they continue to press, point out that you scheduled the time off according to policy, and that you do not ask what they do on their time off, so you would apprecite the same respect in return. Be professional about it, even though they are not.
re missing credential: they next time they bring you in to the office to renew your file, make sure you get paid. after all, youre missing time from work to take care of it. and when youre done, make a copy of everything thats in your file and keep it at home. Next time they lose it, just fax it over, and save yourself the aggravation. (i learned this one the hard way) and yes, even in private duty, i have found that a fax machine a good investment and can save many trips to the office.
Good luck and let me know how it all turns out, and im sorry to everyone else for such a long post!!!
hael171972
158 Posts
is it true that home health nurses have better pay than nurses in hospitals?...between the two, which is more preferred--a hospital nurse or a home health nurse?...
ur opinions are greatly appreciated...:)