Finally starting my new job as a HH nurse!

[JJsMama79]

Hello all,I finally start my new job as a home health nurse on Thursday, Jan. 2. I would appreciate any last minute tips/advice on how to be successful. I've been reading all these threads and some of it's a little confusing...different abbreviations and nicknames...but I'll learn what all those mean :). I'm nervous, since I've been in the hospital setting on inpatients floors since I've become a nurse (almost 10 years now.) Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated, many some funny stories too? :). Thanks.

[DavidDudley]

Try to stay on top of the paperwork as much as possible, otherwise you will drown in it. Just like how I am right now.

[RNDixiechick]

I started home health in June and I have learned so much! I have been an RN x 20 years, mostly management. This is an entirely different world! The paperwork is astonishing. Everything is time dependent and it matters! A couple of weeks ago I forgot to do a transfer on a pt that was admitted to a hospital. Medicare asked to see the chart and we were dinged for not having appropriate order of the pts care. On the other hand, our small agency, was just named in the top 100 agencies in the nation. Everyone at work is telling me it takes at least a year or more to grasp the whole concept. I am having a difficult time figuring out what situations/diagnosis meet the criteria to be admitted or continued. Take lots of notes and ask questions. Don't get frustrated!! Good luck!