Does everyone work 7 days a week in Home Health?

Specialties Home Health

Published

Hi everyone,

I am curious, is it normal to work 7 days a week in home health. This is my first nursing job as a HH RN and Im going on 5 month with a HH agency. I am grateful have an opportunity to get a nursing job as it has taken me years to find a position! But the only thing I am concerned is I never have any time off for me and my family. Is this normal in HH?

Specializes in Home Health.
So, if I understand correctly you have told them you do not want to work 7 days/week and they have essentially told you that as a per diem staff member you must be responsible for their inability to provide other nursing coverage for patient care; is that correct?

Since they don't have enough nurses (apparently) are you concerned that they are going to fire you if you refuse some of the work? Do you feel that you alone are responsible for the care of these home health patients? Have you reviewed your employment agreement with them? What does it say in there about the requirements of your job?

It sounds to me as if you are allowing the employer to take advantage of you and then allowing them to guilt you into continuing the pattern of abuse. Further, it seems that the agency is working per diem nurses as if they are full time but they do not have to provide health insurance benefits or paid vacation time. I bet you don't even make more $ per hour than the FTE nurses. How convenient for the employer.

I am not too concerned about getting fired, as this agency wont call back the nurse. I want to establish a good resume and perhaps even get a letter of recommendation, as I have reached out to other HH agencies with good reputations who have informed me that they want at least 1 yr exp, and 2 letters of recommendation.

As far as the guilt trip it is usually something to the effect that the agency just started receving referrals from large HH agency X and they( subcontractor) have already agreed to accept the patient and it would look bad if I didn't open the case/ follow up whatever and large HH provider wont send referrals their way. Or the patient is unhappy with their nurse and you are very professional with your care and teaching, communicating pls follow up. And yes as an RN BSN Im making far less than a FTE.

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Specializes in Home Health.
As others have said this is not at all normal. One of the main benefits about working PRN HH is that you set your own schedule. They don't tell you when you are going to work, your tell then when you are available to work

This company is taking advantage of you. The fact that they have no other nurses is their problem not yours

Review the agreement when you signed on with the company, some PRN positions do require you to work a minimum number of hours per week/month. Give them, in writing, the days that you can work. On your days off or that you do not want to work do not answer the phone when they call, they will just try to manipulate you and make you feel guilty.

Cant imagine they are gonna fire you if you are the only nurse. You actually putting your license at risk by working 7 days ( make mistakes because you are too tired and develop a bad attitude due to burnout ) and you cant dedicate time to your family

Good luck :)

The terms of the agreement simply state that I am a per diem employee and a 1099.And noted to be available for work on short notice, as well as agency guidelines for conduct and professionalism. What may have started all this is that I accepted my first patient outside of my designated area as the agency informed it was would be in my best interest to take the first patient to come my way as this would help me establish myself with the agency which is what I did.

I could use a few days off with my family now to neutralize the bad attitude I feel coming on.

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Specializes in Home Health.
The terms of the agreement simply state that I am a per diem employee and a 1099.And noted to be available for work on short notice, as well as agency guidelines for conduct and professionalism. What may have started all this is that I accepted my first patient outside of my designated area as the agency informed it was would be in my best interest to take the first patient to come my way as this would help me establish myself with the agency which is what I did.

I could use a few days off with my family now to neutralize the bad attitude I feel coming on.

I know Im not the only nurse as they hired 3 new recently licensed graduates, 1 that lasted a week, another is an LPN who has here plate full and another RN who is very new but not a lot of hands on.

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Specializes in Pedi.
I appreciate everyones comments. I approached managemnt about reducing my days and the response was that there are no other nurses available. I have a hard time believing that but as i mentioned on a previous post this is a first job in a long time, I had gone to medical sales for a few years and left, and my nursing experience was obsolete. Needless to say I am starting over, I sent resumes all over and the only response I got was from a craigslist ad. I was elated, well Im doing SOC, ROC, recerts, d/c, high tech wound care, IV, etc. The pay is terrible, and no mileage reimbursement,no benefits I am going into high crime areas to do pt care. I feel stuck Im only at 4.5 months, Im not sure I'll make it to a year , Im really trying. Also as far as the agency, I dont even know the DON, I only communicate with an administrator who is non medical, I have never even had a case conference meeting, and the nurses never communicate with each other.

How is that your problem? You are a per diem employee. You simply say "I am not available on X day(s)" and leave it at that. It's their responsibility to staff the visits after that.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
I am not too concerned about getting fired, as this agency wont call back the nurse. I want to establish a good resume and perhaps even get a letter of recommendation, as I have reached out to other HH agencies with good reputations who have informed me that they want at least 1 yr exp, and 2 letters of recommendation.

As far as the guilt trip it is usually something to the effect that the agency just started receving referrals from large HH agency X and they( subcontractor) have already agreed to accept the patient and it would look bad if I didn't open the case/ follow up whatever and large HH provider wont send referrals their way. Or the patient is unhappy with their nurse and you are very professional with your care and teaching, communicating pls follow up. And yes as an RN BSN Im making far less than a FTE.

Are you beginning to see that your employer is taking advantage of you?

You will be a better professional and will have a longer, happier, and more satisfying career when you learn how to develop strong professional boundaries which protect not only your patients but (just as importantly) protect you as well.

I encourage you to put your preferred schedule and availability in writing every week and refuse to be manipulated by the management.

Obtaining needed professional experience should not include experience in abuse.

I suspect there is a reason that the agency seems to prefer hiring nurses with little to no nursing work experience...

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OP .... I believe you stated you are in Florida. If you are wanting to make a change I might be able to help you out .... you can PM me

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
How is that your problem? You are a per diem employee. You simply say "I am not available on X day(s)" and leave it at that. It's their responsibility to staff the visits after that.

This.

As a 1099'er, I have NEVER allowed (yes allowed) someone to dictate my schedule...I am a subcontractor for a reason. I (emphatically on I) make my schedule. I staff MYSELF, not the agency. :no:

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Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

Try a couple different agencies. I have always heard it is much easier to get a job when you already have one. Have you thought about continuous care hospice?

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Specializes in Home Health.
OP .... I believe you stated you are in Florida. If you are wanting to make a change I might be able to help you out .... you can PM me

Thank you ,I'd like to PM you but I am unable to d/t not enough posts. Could you please email me? My addy is [email protected]

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Specializes in Home Health.
OP .... I believe you stated you are in Florida. If you are wanting to make a change I might be able to help you out .... you can PM me

Unfortunately I cannot PM as I do not have sufficient postings, I am certainly looking to make a change for the better. My email is [email protected]

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Specializes in Home Health.

So I spent most of last week notifying the agency I need a few days off. As I expected it fell on deaf ears, I was told that all of their nurses work 7 days wk, I informed them that I wanted at least 2 days off, they said that no nurses is going to work 2 days, well all of the back and forth I finally threw out my neck(some of my pts homes are not conducive for good body mechanics). I had enough, told them friday I need a couple of days off or I will take a month off. Come monday fridays conversation was forgotten. Anyway monday's conversation didnt go well either, the admin got vicious she threatened me with patient abandonment and slammed the phone on me (twice), I reminded her that I am perdiem, it seemed to go in one ear and out the other, long story short I notified the agency that I will not be available this week, but worked weekend and monday to show good faith and give them time to find coverage. Anyway after this event I may not come back to this agency. Its tuesday now and I am still getting calls to do ROC and follow up with patient!!! Im done!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
So I spent most of last week notifying the agency I need a few days off. As I expected it fell on deaf ears, I was told that all of their nurses work 7 days wk, I informed them that I wanted at least 2 days off, they said that no nurses is going to work 2 days, well all of the back and forth I finally threw out my neck(some of my pts homes are not conducive for good body mechanics). I had enough, told them friday I need a couple of days off or I will take a month off. Come monday fridays conversation was forgotten. Anyway monday's conversation didnt go well either, the admin got vicious she threatened me with patient abandonment and slammed the phone on me (twice), I reminded her that I am perdiem, it seemed to go in one ear and out the other, long story short I notified the agency that I will not be available this week, but worked weekend and monday to show good faith and give them time to find coverage. Anyway after this event I may not come back to this agency. Its tuesday now and I am still getting calls to do ROC and follow up with patient!!! Im done!

You are per diem and provided them with notice of your schedule.

The administrator is ignorant. You cannot be accused of pt abandonment under these circumstances.

You should run away from this employer and hope that they dissolve into their own mess before they harm someone seriously.

Go to the MD for your neck injury.

Contact the HR department of the agency relative to your worker's compensation benefits.

North Carolina Worker's Comp Attorney ¦Injured North Carolina Workers | Egerton Law

Good luck

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