Can you have a life AND do HH?

Specialties Home Health

Published

I am a previous hospital nurse who has been doing home health for about 2 months. So far it has been a nightmare! I am charting every night after I finish seeing patients and most of the weekend. We do computer charting which I am thankful for... but even so, it takes so much time! I am salary and it is a decent salary... unless you are working 12 hours Monday through Friday and all weekend. I have gotten faster since I started, but I just don't see how it is possible to see patients and get charting completed in a 40 hour week. As an RN I am primarily doing admissions, recerts, and ROCs all of which take some time at the patients home AND even more time charting. I am computer savvy and I type fast...so I don't know. They are always pushing you to stay caught up with your documentation and the only way I can do this is to document ALL THE TIME. Is this just the nature of home health?

I love the patients and I love the teaching aspect of the job. But I hate the endless hours. I also dislike the constantly changing schedule. I will think I have my day planned and then I will get a call that a someone has been added to my schedule.

Is this the way HH is...... or it is just me... or the agency? Any thoughts are appreciated.

HH is definitely mot for everyone. I absolutely love my job! It is a must however to chart in the home even if its just taking a few notes in the narrative section. Before I move onto the next pt I ensure I finish my note, make md call, etc... I keep a large post it for the day in my agenda/schedule book and keep a list of "to do" that I make sure is done prior to calling it a night such as PT/INR call backs etc... Organization is the key to HH; if you don't have it you will hate it.

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Specializes in ICU.

One and a half years of it and I had to get out. I was in bad shape. It was a 24/7 job when it wasn't supposed to be. I charted nearly everyday I was employed with them. On the weekends, before and free work, getting phone calls from docs at all hours. I was literally losing my mind.

I now have what I consider a dream nursing job. When I am done for the day I am done. I am not stressed, I have time for my kid, I have a social life, I actually sleep.

I would never never never go back to home health. I value my mental health and my life outside of work too much to do that to myself.

Plus the pay was not good. I think with all the hours I put in, I made like $10 and hour.

Perhaps my company stunk. But I'm not willing to try it again.

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I have a life working home health because I refuse to do visit work. My charting is done during my shift and when I am done, I am done.

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Specializes in Dialysis. OR, cardiac tell, homecare case managem.

That is the reality of home health, there are positives and negatives. I find that I am never done. I get so tired of it.

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Just following up since something came in my email from this thread. Above comments are right on: organization is key, having a system for keeping track of your to-do and done. Also, a key part of what you learn in the first year is what is the priority for the home health service. In other words, what are you going to do for THIS patient? You do not have to address every single comorbidity in your first cert. We have a meeting with all staff every week, and I pick the brains of the more experienced nurses on priorities. I think a key factor for the whole of nursing is us nurses need to set clear boundaries and stop overdoing. We need to speak up about the work load. I have begun doing so. There is definitely a way to get all the work done during the shift. I am getting closer. It takes practice. Keep trying!

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Specializes in Oncology.

Thanks for all the input. I am still working at the same HH agency, but definitely looking to get out. I have had a talk with my clinical director and branch manager and was basically told "this is the way of home health". All of the RNs have to document during off hours in order to keep up. I just don't accept that I am expected to work 12 hours a day and get paid for 8. Nor do I accept that I am expected to work on weekends for free. I agree that nurses need to stop overdoing. We just accept the massive responsibility and work load that is dumped onto us. So.... I am going to move on. I really love the patients, but I need my life back.

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I have been in HH 28 yrs, and my simple ans to this question is NO! If u cover all the bases this job is basically never ending, you r either finishing up today or preparing for tomorrow.

I literally have about 2 hrs of free time a day, HH has evolved so much over the yrs that it no longer lime it was, i nonestly sont see now any one with young children that require attention or rides here and there can do it.

Bless each and everyone of us!

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Specializes in Oncology.

Well.... I have answered my own question and the answer is ....... NO!! It is 11:00 AM Sunday morning and I have been documenting since 9AM and probably have about 2 more hours to go. But I am happy to say that in two more days, I will be done with HH documentation FOREVER! Lesson learned. I have a whole new respect for HH nurses and applaud your never ending dedication to the job. It is such a valuable service to patients and families. You guys rock!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/home health/pacu/cardiac icu.

I started HH 3 months ago and I got off Friday, charted 2 hrs., Sat in AM for 2 hrs., and have been charting for 3 hrs. today. It seems never ending. Then , there are the phone calls. I have pts. that have called me at 2 AM. I repeatedly tell them to call the office #, but they call my cell phone. (I don't give them my #, they have called ID which they seem to use very well, when I call to schedule my visit. Ugh! It is definitely an adjustment from hospital work.

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Specializes in Pedi.
I started HH 3 months ago and I got off Friday, charted 2 hrs., Sat in AM for 2 hrs., and have been charting for 3 hrs. today. It seems never ending. Then , there are the phone calls. I have pts. that have called me at 2 AM. I repeatedly tell them to call the office #, but they call my cell phone. (I don't give them my #, they have called ID which they seem to use very well, when I call to schedule my visit. Ugh! It is definitely an adjustment from hospital work.

Turn your phone off at night or don't answer when they call. I am fortunate that I have a separate work cell phone and it goes OFF at 4:30pm.

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Fulltime? No.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

Can anyone see the pattern of abuse?

Most of these HH employers are for-profit organizations. The profit of the owners comes before your professional and personal well-being and it shows in the expectations and treatment of the staff who insure that the owners actually achieve any profit.

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