CNA new to home health -- unsure of new job

[Get2theChoppa]

I am a CNA who is new to home health and have accepted a job with a home health agency in California. They are fully licensed and I am covered for liability within the client’s home.

Because I am new I have a few concerns about the nature of care-taking in the home, but perhaps a few seasoned veterans of home health care can answer my questions.

1. The agency told me that because the nature of this work is “fast-paced” I may be working for a new client whom the agency has no information on. This concerns me. What if my client is diabetic? Has late stage Alzheimer’s? Am I literally showing up at the door and just “finding out” on my own the health/condition/limitations of the client? Is that typical? That just seems unsafe. What if the client is disoriented/can’t communicate his or her needs? Is this the nature of home health care?

2. When I went in for my interview at the home health care agency I told them my availability was 7 am – 7 pm FRI-SUN. I thought the agency would schedule me an 8-hour shift between those hours. However, they want me to work 10-12 hours shifts with no pay for overtime.

Because I am new to this field, I thought my interview was like any other interview for a job. I tell the employer my hours of availability and the employer schedules me within that time frame, NOT the ENTIRE time frame. My previous shift at an LTC was 8 hours and that’s what I assumed was the case here. Clearly there was a misunderstanding. I don’t want to work 3 12-hour shifts because I am also taking two hard core math and science classes for nursing school. However, I am willing to negotiate with my employer on this point, maybe one 12-hour shift, but not three days’ worth. I won’t have any study time on the weekend otherwise! Is there a way to broach this problem with the employer without sounding indecisive and incompetent?

So, what are normal working hours in home health care? Is there generally no overtime pay? (These questions may be specific to CA state law.) It just doesn't seem worth it -- working 12 hours with no added benefits.

Thank you for your time. I'd appreciate your advice and wisdom!

[mvm2]

1. HAving you agency go to a clients home without knowing anything about the client seems totally irregular. Our company would never have that done! I believe that before we take on their care each client is seen by a person from human resource, and a nurse. They have a meeting with client and family members to discuss everything. Then we get a call and are given a sheet that tells everything from there medical dignosis, to what needs to be done. Including what house hold chores, when garbage day is. There is no surprises at all for us!

2. We are not paid any overtime till after working 40 hours a week. We do get paid more for weekend and Holidays. Working for clients the hours can vary a lot. Some clients you are working for only 2 to 3 or 4 hours a day. I personally have 2 clients that I am with them for only 2 to 3 hours for a shift, but there is a morning shift and an evening shift with them. there are then 8 and 12 hour shifts also.

I think there is no problem with explaining to your employer what hours you can work, and that you would rather perfer not working 12 hour shifts. They simply would probably just put you on a different case that only would have a 2 to 8 hour windows. That is the beauty of working in home health. My company works around our lives. I tell them what I can do, and they find the right clients that would meet all our needs. Hours in home health can be a little screwy sometimes. It is not always so cut and dry like it is in a nursing home. One day you might be with two diffrent clients working 4 hour shifts, then the next day work a 2 hour shift then the next 8 hour shift. I also have had as many as 5 different clients I work with within a month, and each month can be a little different then the next at what my schedule looks like. I basically have to go day by day to know what days I work and what my hours are for that day. Just be patient as well with your employer about your schedule. Sometimes it is not always going to be the best schedule in the world, and sometimes you need time to build up your hours and client base. You might start out working only 12 hours a week, but slowly they will add more clients and time to your week till you get to where you want to be. Trust me there might come a time where they might beg you to take on another client or more hours and then you will have to turn them down.

Hope I helped here. Good Luck I hope it all goes well for you

[LightX]

It has been my experience that the home care agencies will use you as much as and in any way possible. They will probably send you out of your radius of where you are willing to travel "just this once" then soon you will find it happening more often.

Give an inch and they'll take a mile.

You can add to your availability that you can NOT do 12 hours shifts.

It is odd that the agency knows NOTHING about a client before sending you in. I've never heard of that. All the agencies I've worked for have always had a nurse go in first and write up a care plan, which basically tells you what is expected of you when you get there. (bathe the client, do laundry, feed etc). You may not have this info BEFORE you arrive, but it should be there for you to review when u do get there.

btw, you can also tell the agency if you are not comfortable going into certain neighborhoods.

I believe you have more say about how, where and when you can work with homecare than LTC. Don't be afraid to speak up.

[Get2theChoppa]

Thank you all for your advice. I was able to get a really nice 7 hour shift for the weekends. I start tomorrow. The hours work really well with my school schedule.

The agency was just so intimidating before, more corporate and sterile than other home health agencies I've seen.

Thank you again. Best to all of you!