Frustrated...

I'm coming from LTC, Agency Nursing, and Hospice to HH so it's not as big of a shock. In LTC you're forced to learn to organize and roll with the punches or you won't get anything done in 8 hours. With agency, you're constantly bouncing to different facilities, so you're used to constant change. And Hospice got me comfortable with the home visits. I too am part time, and just started February 25th. I'm in orientation until June but am making visits on my days not in class orientation. Right now, the most I've seen is 3 in a day, and I'm typically done by lunch. (the visits). When off orientation, they want me to see 6 a day, which I hope I get b/c I'm pay per visit. I want part time, but need at least 18 points a week. The problem I am having is the darn computer. Everywhere else I've ever worked we were on paper. While I know in the long run, the laptop is so much better, right now I'm very frustrated. I'm done with the visit in 30 minutes, but then it takes me an hour to get the visit in, lol. I'm in OASIS training right now and I can only imagine how long that's gonna take!!!

As for not wanting to go back to the hospital, I'd say try to stick it out a little longer. The autonomy of HH is wonderful. However, as we were told in orientation, you either love HH or hate it. There's usually no in between. Our agency takes chances on lots of new HH nurses so they see lots of turnover from people who get into it and just hate it. At the end of the day, you've got to be happy where you are to be a good nurse. I'd say hang in there a little longer, and if you still don't like it after getting more comfortable, go elsewhere. That I'm learning is the wonderful part of nursing. There are just so many areas to try and learn what fits for you. Everyone has to find their niche in nursing. It took me 10 years!

As for not wanting to go back to the hospital, I'd say try to stick it out a little longer. The autonomy of HH is wonderful. However, as we were told in orientation, you either love HH or hate it. There's usually no in between. Our agency takes chances on lots of new HH nurses so they see lots of turnover from people who get into it and just hate it. At the end of the day, you've got to be happy where you are to be a good nurse. I'd say hang in there a little longer, and if you still don't like it after getting more comfortable, go elsewhere. That I'm learning is the wonderful part of nursing. There are just so many areas to try and learn what fits for you. Everyone has to find their niche in nursing. It took me 10 years!

Agree with the above statement.

The Autonomy is awesome. Give yourself time, maybe sit down with the NM at your HH and address your concerns.

This is one reason I love Hospice and our Laptops, all notes, faxing Drs or Pharmacies are done in the pts home so when we leave our work is done.

Gives the pts and families great impressions that you have taken care of all their needs while in the home.

Hang in there.

"just started February 25th. I'm in orientation until June"

Wow! What a marvelous orientation! I'm starting this Tuesday but have only 2 weeks, and I thought that was great! What organization do you work for?

Sue:yeah:

Re: Frustrated...

"just started February 25th. I'm in orientation until June"

Wow! What a marvelous orientation! I'm starting this Tuesday but have only 2 weeks, and I thought that was great! What organization do you work for?

Sue:yeah:

I work for a local/regional company here in NC. It's name is Home Health and Hospice (3HC for short). We have 16 offices I believe? Yeh, the orientation is amazing! I was shocked to find out how long it lasted. I can see that for someone coming from home health it could get very tedious and maybe a bit boring, but for me, new to it all, it is wonderful! I was really nervous about making the switch but now feel really prepared. On the days we're not in some sort of class, we're making a few visits. I graduated from simple incontinence care visits to CAP visits to labs to a wound assessment and now I'm all the way up to recerts lol. But the slow pace is fine for me. I wanna be good and comfortable before I'm thrown on an OASIS visit or chemo visit or whatever. There are days in orientation committed to just wound care, days for OASIS, case management, days for IV/Chemo, McKesson/computer training, you name it, we're being oriented on it. Started February 25th and will be done June 8th.

4-5 patients per day is already 5 hours hours not even counting your charting time. you are working a full-time load yet you say you're part-time? i would switch to 3 days a week. they may be taking advantage of you if they are in desperate need of help. you have to set the boundaries if you are part-time.

You might want to consider working for a company that uses laptops if that's not currently the case. It can be a time saver and contribute to autonomy.

I left HH for the very reasons you stated. We did not have laptops. I went back to hospital nursing and am happier for it overall but do so miss the autonomy.

You might want to consider working for a company that uses laptops if that's not currently the case. It can be a time saver and contribute to autonomy.

I left HH for the very reasons you stated. We did not have laptops. I went back to hospital nursing and am happier for it overall but do so miss the autonomy.

Yep so agree KittyKat,

Every RN Case Manager has a laptop purely so they can do their notes in the home, fax from the home, do med refills from the home etc IT IS AWESOME. BUT.... getting some staff to do this is like pulling teeth!!

4-5 patients per day is already 5 hours hours not even counting your charting time. you are working a full-time load yet you say you're part-time? i would switch to 3 days a week. they may be taking advantage of you if they are in desperate need of help. you have to set the boundaries if you are part-time.

the agency is very short staffed. i see anywhere from 3-5pts depending on what is needed (soc, revisits..). i am getting stuck late frequently and i took part time specifically because i have young kids. i have lots of work to do at home too. i do have a laptop but i dont chart in home because since i have limited time in the field and am afraid because you never know what you will find when you go to a home and schedules can change. i am off today, but am catching up on paperwork...dont know how long i can take anymore!!

I swore I'd never go back to hospital nursing. The politics, the backbiting, the personalities, the constant meetings about how we need to do better by our patients on shorter staff, etc. Who wants that? But on the other hand, I found it hard always having to tell my family I had paperwork to do and couldn't spend time with my grand children who were so disappointed that their beloved Nana wasn't any fun anymore. I was in a constant bad mood having to be indoors on sunny days when the rest of the world was at the park or barbecuing. I had to set my priorities, set limits with the agency and, if not respected move on.

Now I work in psych. I love it. I work five 8's that go by in a flash. When I go home, it's OVER. The grands have their Nana back and my mood has lifted. I broke my oath about going back to the hospital but changed my specialty. It has made all the difference.

You have to decide on your priorities.