Calling all HH Nurses, roll call

[hoolahan]

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!!

[RNKITTY04]

Hello, I have been a RN since 2004 and recently (NOV) started work in HH.

I am still working at the hospital so juggling both jobs has been a challange, but the pay has been great.

I like the flexibility of HH but the paperwork is insane. Not sure where my nitch is yet but do agree with other posters that by getting out of the structured setting of the hospital was good for me in that I have no back up, and have developed new skills and self confidence I probaly would not have gotten at the hospital. ie... wound vacs etc....... All in all its been interesting.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Count me in as on of the family !

Just completed my first week out on my own in HH. Loving every minute of it! A true breath of fresh air! Love the autonomy, the freedom, the solitude once out on the road... love my patients who are genuinely grateful to have a nurse come by. There is such a NEED out there...and I feel honoured to be able to meet that need.

Love being able to stop here and there and run an errand if I need to, not having a "fixed" schedule of lunch or potty times .... can even pack a pic-nic lunch and sit by the creek or river enroute to my next visit if I choose. Can drink my coffee, listen to my music, enjoy the scenery all around me as I drive leisurely through the country side... and above all, love not having the rush, the stress, the chaos, and the CONFINEMENT of hospital or dialysis unit nursing.

We do the 485's on admission, and the 486's, but those are the only OASIS we field nurses do. Plan of care, ICD9 coding, and case management are all done in the agency by the administrative staff. Woohooooooo !!!

We aren't all swamped with admissions each day, either.. they are evenly divided amongst us. We might get one admission, and the rest regular visits.. and the admits are triple pay. Or we might get a post hospital and a follow-up, plus 2 or three regular visits. Some days there are no admissions at all. (I have yet to do an admission, as I'm still VERY new.)

Our paperwork, too, is minimal... thank goodness.

So far, I'm absolutely LOVING it. Should have done this a long, long time ago. I consider it a PRIVILEGE, not a "job".

Now THAT is a GOOD feeling!!!

[Blessings2u]

Hi! I have been in home health for 12 years and I love it! It's not for everyone, but I love the flexibility that I have, plus the additional quality time I have to spend with my patients. It has truly been the best area in the nursing field for me.

[Blessings2u]

[blessings2u]hi! i have been in home health for 12 years and i love it! it's not for everyone, but i love the flexibility that i have, plus the additional quality time i have to spend with my patients. it has truly been the best area in the nursing field for me.

"envision what you want to be, then be it"............................god bless you!

[dhennie]

Hi to all!!! I'm with a home care agency for 4 years and i've been thru many positions... ie nurse trainee, CNA, HHA and now i'm in medical records. All I can say is that, in HH setting your schedules are flexible no need to rush (well, except when you have an admission, recert, resump of care) in terms of the paperwork. The only thing that is you have to be on time on submitting your paperworks.

[4valeri]

Hello All

Just spent the last few hours reading all the postings from this thread!! Well the hubby and son are screaming at the basketball game on tv......that leaves me to reading!! Anyway, have been LPN for 8yrs......1st year med/surg.....YUCK!! Learned some good skills though. Have been in HH/Private Duty ever since.........absolutely no desire to go back to 1:8/10 ratios when I can do 1:1....and I might add for way more money!! VArying ways of HH here.......I have always done staff HH with an agencys.....8hr shifts each day 5days a week/maybe at 2 separate cases, and just a daily nurses note that gets haned in once a week!! Don't quite understand the nurses doing the 5-8 visits each day traveling lots of miles and all the paperwork that i'm reading about. Are you guys running your own agencies? As far as I'm concerned staff is easier.....especially when it comes to the paperwork. At present( well the past 4yrs) I have been a self employed Private duty Nurse FT with a now 6yr old boy....go to school qday when in session.Also PT with another 7yr/boy. PAy with NY medicaid for LPn is 21.63/hr...but taxes are on me!! At this point I wouldn't trade it for the world!! Now hubby and I want to move to Florida in a couple years......not sure how Private duty works in that state? May just do HH staff work......not sure I want to deal with any more paperwork........even though it seems like a walk in the park to what some of you are talking about!! This forum is AWESOME!!

Time for the family!!

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

I've been doing HH for about 5 months now and really enjoying the change after 30 years of med/surg. I feel as though I have really lucked out with the company I am with. I work only in the area where I live so gas is not much of an issue. I don't have to take any call because I cannot drive at night. Rare are the visits made at night. So far I know of only two that have been made over the past 5 months that were after 7:00 pm. I do help out on the weekends. The pay is excellent. The freedom to schedule myself is awesome!!

[adarajoye]

hi was wondering if you have a cheat sheet that would help me out since i am a new HH nurse. A cheat sheet explaining the resert dates and what paperwork to fill out and when? things like that or any info would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

laura degnan, RN

[Mijourney]

hi was wondering if you have a cheat sheet that would help me out since i am a new HH nurse. A cheat sheet explaining the resert dates and what paperwork to fill out and when? things like that or any info would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

laura degnan, RN

I don't know if this is what you're asking for, but I used a day planner to record all my home health activities. Plus, my supervisor had a master calendar with everything on it. The day planner was handy for me and I still use one for my case management.

[chl73]

hello! im an RN and works full time in ICU. But ive been doing home health too for almost a year now.On my days off or after i get off from my hospital job, I look forward to seeing my home health patients.i had one scary, and the rest are rewarding experiences in home health.Im enjoying it a lot.

I just have a question, since im not working full time with the home health agency and i get no benefits at all, can i change my status as independent contractor instead of as an employee?

[AmerDutch]

Hi--

I'm a HH nurse in Amsterdam, Netherlands. I love the flexibility, as well as being able both to see patients in their own homes, and develop a long term relationship with them.

We don't seem to be paid as much as you all get in America (and are taxed quite a bit more), but we get a lot of vacation to compensate for it. I have 11 weeks vacation this year, and had 9 last year. I don't think I would want to go back to hospital work.

[AZHHRN]

Do any of you home health nurses know of any PDA/Blackberry technology in use for inputing oasis data and care plans?