Changing clients

[remched]

I am a new LPN. I graduated a year ago. I work LTC, and still do per diem. I wanted to try something new, so I am also doing home care. The problem is, I am having trouble finding my niche. I am doing one case, which I love, but it's only one day a week. I want to pick up one more. I have tried two, and neither was a good fit for me. One, because of the family dynamics, and the other was night shift, and I am not a daytime sleeper. Is it normal to "float" around in HH when you just start?? When I told my supervisor I didn't want the second client (and mind you I let them know after the first visit, because I don't want to string the family along thinking I am staying with the case) she said ,"It's ashame we oriented you, and you aren't staying." Shouldn't it be a good match???? Any experienced advise would be helpful. I am getting discouraged to continue HH. Thanks!

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Your agency nurses must do case management. Far different than where I work. I guess with case amnagement you might "float" ? Can't really answer that for you as I have no experience with this type of HH nursing.

Where I work, we all have about 6-8 pts. daily, and we don't stay for any "shift"... just do the home visit and on to the next ones.

I have heard of shift work in HH before, but it's not anything I've seen done around here.

Hope you can find what you like. Have you checked other HH agencies in your area to se what they offer and how they do things? :)

[caliotter3]

One of the catch phrases of home health and staffing agencies is "flexibility", in scheduling as well as nurses being able to find the work situation that is best for them. That is one of the big reasons people go into or stay in hh. Your agency personnel should not hold it against you if you say that you do not feel that a certain case is not "right" for you. They should use a minimum of persuasion in trying to get you to go outside of your comfort zone. This is in the best interest of all involved. It helps prevents problems down the road if you find out early on whether or not you are compatible with your client, the family, or anything else about the case. And this also goes for anytime that you are on a case. Either you or the client (or those responsible for the client) always have the option to ask for a change for any reason. It should only be held against you if you did something that is clearly wrong.

However, you must be aware that if you are hard to place, after awhile, your agency may lose interest in working with you. They want to staff their cases and keep them staffed with as little disruption as possible.

If you can not find a compatible case with your present agency, or they do not have enough openings to offer you something suitable, then explore options with other agencies. Many hh nurses are signed on with more than one agency and some work multiple cases with multiple agencies at the same time. Do not become discouraged. Eventually, you will find the case that you are satisfied with, hopefully with an agency that works well with you.