Er nurse to hh...just got hired! Help!

[Nurcyn]

Hi all, I am a veteran (5+ years anyway) ER nurse. I have also done registry ICU and Telemetry and back before nursing school, worked in psych as a case manager. After realizing burnout from ER, (nights, increasingly dangerous patient loads, short-staffing) I just got hired for HH. I'm totally green as far as HH goes, but at least the skills will be (for the most part) comfortable for me and after doing both psych and ER, I'm not exactly ruffled by the unexpected. Any advice from HH vets??? I don't even know what HH nurses WEAR!!! Scrubs? Casual clothes? Is there mileage reimbursement from most places? Cell phone allowance? Is the laptop charting (like my company has) made the paperwork easier?? Just curious about your experience. THANKS!!

[caliotter3]

Do some reading in the hh forum and ask questions of your new supervisor. They will orient you to the job and their expectations. If you need more orientation than initially provided, make certain you ask for it. Don't be shy. What you wear is usually dictated by the agency. For shift work, people usually wear scrubs. Intermittent visits might require day business attire and a lab coat, if designated by your agency. However, you will find that with moving around and possibly getting down on the floor, you will probably be more comfortable in scrubs if you are allowed that option. Hope you like your new job.