Does pdn count in the "real" nursing world?

[rnrg]

So the quotations are because I honestly feel like many of the situations we encounter require skills that facility nursing staff couldn't dream about.

Main question: why is it that whenever I read posts or comments on acute care blogs etc do I see many people mentioning that homecare doesn't count? I manage some pretty chronically acute little ones. Serious stuff. And this doesn't count?! Im an ASN RN a few semesters shy of my BSN. Im ready to transition to a hospital or facility but always feel self conscious when I apply because I've only done homecare.

Ideas/input?

[ceebeejay]

I believe that home care is not considered acute, because acute is sudden in onset and new. In home care most patients have had their illness for 6 months or more, therefore are not acute but chronic.

[rnrg]

agreed. however exacerbations or new diagnosis classified as change in status, how does that measure up? @ceebeejay I think I have read somewhere else you are close to NJ?

[rnrg]

also when I use the broad term "count" I simply mean as clinical experience in general.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

It certainly 'counts ' as experience, but when hospitals say 'experience' they usually mean 'hospital experience'. Sad reality.

I was fortunate to transition from home care to inpatient PICU several years ago; HOWEVER, I had previous hospital ICU experience. I would say just keep plugging away- that BSN will make you more marketable. You need a really strong resume' highlighting the variety of clients you've cared for and your critical thinking.

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

I think it depends on how you sell yourself...

The way I see it, PDN / home health involves being autonomous and having critical thinking skills.

We have to be able to Macgyver things together to get the job done.

We can't rely on someone else picking up the slack -- there IS nobody else.

We have to be PTs and RTs and OTs and CNAs and SWs and Case Managers and nurses, all rolled into one.

We have excellent assessment skills.

We have excellent people skills.

We may not be skilled at putting in IVs or running a Pyxis machine, but any monkey can learn how to do that. We can THINK, and that's what should be important to any good nurse recruiter.

[ceebeejay]

I believe it's how you word it in your resume. The first test is to get through the computer screening for key words and phrases (after you get through the credential match and education match). If you put "home care" but don't elaborate on how that translates into what the job poster is asking for, then it will get passed by. I am in NY. I can't get through because I am an ADN nurse, so when I submit on the hospital websites I automatically get bumped out if they are "BSN required / preferred" in the job description. However, as time goes by and I get more skills and experience under my belt, I throw it in my resume. I get more calls (not from hospitals) than I did before. The cumulative experience will add up. So, while home care will not pass as acute care experience, you can add those emergent situations to your resume or cover letter to make them stand out.

[SDALPN]

Since when do we not do acute care? I've cared for kids who have developed problems during their home care. I've cared for fresh post op patients in the home when the parents didn't want the child to stay in the hospital because they have nurses at home. We deal with acute problems as well as chronic.

I've worked in the hospital...in NICU/PICU/ICU. We deal with similar complexities at times. We are capable of dealing with difficult personalities in small spaces. At a hospital we can walk away or vent to another nurse about the nutty family. In the home, we suck it up til we leave and can't walk away for a breather. We don't have a team of staff to question or help us, we do it all. When the weird stuff comes up with no solution, we (and to give parents credit)...and the parents come up with solutions. We know how to work without the supplies we need. Working in a hospital is luxury compared to some homes! We use critical thinking, time management skills, and can prove we can function independently. No new grad can prove that. We are valuable. The only ones that judge us are the ones that have never done our job or have heard about how home care used to be. We have more complex patients than before coming home with more advanced equipment than before. Its their loss without us. I can run circles around any new grad going into the hospital. (however a well experienced nurse and I could trade some interesting stories and experiences!)

And I still remember pyxis...that's not difficult to learn. Same with the computerized charting and barcode scanners. Basic computer experience is good enough for that. IV skills are no different than any other skill. Every new job requires new skills. Every skill must be learned and practiced.

[rnrg]

SDALPN I think you and I have similar POV. Thank you for your post!

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I think it depends on how you sell yourself...

The way I see it, PDN / home health involves being autonomous and having critical thinking skills.

We have to be able to Macgyver things together to get the job done.

We can't rely on someone else picking up the slack -- there IS nobody else.

We have to be PTs and RTs and OTs and CNAs and SWs and Case Managers and nurses, all rolled into one.

We have excellent assessment skills.

We have excellent people skills.

We may not be skilled at putting in IVs or running a Pyxis machine, but any monkey can learn how to do that. We can THINK, and that's what should be important to any good nurse recruiter.

This.

That alone secured me a nursing job, and continues to; and I am in the northeast in a major metro area.

Sell yourself, network, and add CEUs such as ACLS , PALS, PEARS, and BLS instructor, and even an peripheral IV course if need be, if it gets to that point. (it didn't get to that point for me, btw, but just in case...)

[mluvsgnc]

I agree that it is how you market yourself/skills. You could say, "I only had one patient but he had a trach and GT..."

-OR-

You could say, "My pt. required 24 hr skilled nursing care and I have handled an emergency trach change and changed out his GT..."

The same thing is being said in both sentences, but one is presented better. Even if other people perceive PDN as something "less," a positive attitude about it from YOU can make a difference. Plus having a positive attitude about anything you do makes people want to be around (aka hire) you :)

[smartnurse1982]

As i was told by to me by my nursing instructor,no.

She said we do not have a concept of time management.

We also do not have to supervise anyone,so i do think leadership would be an issue.