Gentiva job offer, but lots of bad reviews from nurses. What do I do?

bizzymum2 · Aug 9, 2012

I have gotten a very nice offer from my local Gentiva HH. I currently work as an RN at a local hospital but I am not happy at all. The problem I have is all of the company reviews I have found are horrid. They range from unimaginable paperwork, to no home life bc of the paper work or being on call, to just being plain mean to the nursing staff. I want to leave my current job d/t the new job having better hours (day shift) and closer to home. But if the reviews are true then why would I leave my current job only to be hounded with sooo much work, on calls, and micromanaging that I am again unhappy?Do I need to address these acquations with the manager before accepting the job? Or do I need to turn it down all together? Or go into it and find out on my own?Does anyone on here have any experience with Gentiva HH? Any advice would be great because I am sick with worry that I am leaving a stable job I know for one I don't! One evil for another, u know!

I am in the same boat. I was also offered a great position with Gentiva in the Seattle area and I plan to move from Nova Scotia to Washington in October. I think the best thing is to see for oneself. I work at a place where people are complaining left right and centre about the conditions of the facility, but I find it not as bad as many other places I have worked before. Gentiva is HUGE and each office can vary. I wonder if the bad reviews are in a particular area, or office? That can make a difference.

joy09 · Aug 11, 2012

I don't know about Gentiva but I just left a fulltime job at another company because I was documenting until 8 or 9 oclock at night and still not finishing. The patient load was only going to get worse. There was no on call but it was eating, breathing and sleeping home care documentation once I saw the patients. I would believe what you read about the documentation and not being able to have a life. I believe home health is notorious for that. I would definitely talk to the person hiring you before taking the job. The person I interviewed with told me one of the dissatisfiers of the job was "the work day doesn't end at five." I got paid a salary for 8:30-5. I figured maybe 6 or 6:30 would be what it would be like but I was working 12 hour days. The thing about the salary is they can overwork you and never give you a break with lighter days. I am currently thinking of doing per diem so I can call the shots when it comes to the number of patients I will take. I still have to take call one weekend a month and one night a week as well as two holidays a year. I have heard that homecare is the most abusive specialty in nursing and I'm afraid I believe it. Another pet peeve is you may get cents per each mile and visit pay but if you sit in traffic, that's on you're own time. I hope the answers here help you out. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but it's a reality check.

nursecrankenstein · Aug 13, 2012

I have always worked as a trauma nurse and ER manager. I went to work for Gentiva in March and can honestly say I love my job and Gentiva. The office I work for in Virginia has the most cohesive environment I have ever worked in. Yes, there is a lot of paperwork but if you are good at organizing and time management it isn't too bad. I see approximately 40-45 pts a week and do almost all of my charting in home. I make incredible money, work with a great group of nurses, therapists and office staff that are always available to help when needed. If you love people and teaching then go for it. I read the reviews too but knew I had to find out for myself and am happy I took the chance. Not everyone has the caseload I do as I am over the assisted living facilities as well as home visits. I hope this helps. You are welcome to pm me for more info. Good luck!

krittiebrn · Aug 14, 2012

I agree with above post. I have been in HH for 6 years. Could not have been any less interested when they offered me the job. I just knew I had to get out of where I was. It turned out to be a hidden blessing! I LOVE to go to work everyday. I do not work for Gentiva. I LOVE my coworkers, administrators and company. It has been the most satisfying job in my life. Every job has bad apples. Charting is all going electronic now (Medicare guideline) I love the constant change of scenery, making my own hours and lots more family time.

KateRN1 · Aug 14, 2012

Be aware that Gentiva is a national company which is under investigation for Medicare fraud. They have already paid a large amount in fines.

paradiseboundRN · Aug 20, 2012

Where did you see the negative reviews for Gentiva? BTW, I agree with them. Here in Michigan, they shut down the home care agencies due to fraud and only have hospice now. Wondering if you saw any reviews somewhere else?

TrueAtHart · Apr 7, 2015

They are committing Fraud over here in Washington. I have seen it first hand

Tampa121 · Apr 10, 2015

Well said and extremely truthful! I just left a FT position with a HC company after 6 wks. I was miserable. call pay every 3rd wkend 30.00 a day and no extra pay for wkend visits. And, always Sat. I had 2-3 SOC,ROC's d/t hospital dcing Friday after 4pm, plus covered 3 counties. During the week, I put an average of 125 miles daily! No mileage for traveling to first vs which is normal during week, BUT wkends, when office is closed!!! Not good for me if 1st pt is 65 miles away. No cell phone, I have to use my cell. I call my pts to schedule vs, that's all. I have a company tablet to take wd pix and start note in home. with 3 SOC's somedays, I spend all day Sat, completing OASIS's, visit notes. So much computer time-I have head drop!!Micro-managed-big time. Not paid to case manage, call MD's, POA, our office to give DON report, other clinicians involved in pt care. Mid 50k salary- underpaid in my mind.MY pts were PICC pts with 1-2 IV meds, Vanco, Cefepime. Lab wk workly and all MDs wanted troughs done on Monday, then if a PT/INR or BS out of range, then extended visit. I did T/T cg's to administer the IV meds and they did well. So, my advice to all nurses starting HC, discuss company expectations, caseload, non visit case management time and your expectations, your training needed to make transition in to HC. Yes, Gentiva pays well, but how well is relative to FT Case management. Please, do not entertain the idea of a 40hr work week!! It will be many more hours. I know many RNs who are leaving HC and LPN's who tell me they would never do it if they had their RN. I went back to Per diem, so I can decide my workload and have a life! I love HC per diem, not FT in Florida. Good Luck!! Stay safe driving if you take the position. I would start Per diem, and test the waters!.

babynurse73 · Apr 10, 2015

I have always worked as a trauma nurse and ER manager. I went to work for Gentiva in March and can honestly say I love my job and Gentiva. The office I work for in Virginia has the most cohesive environment I have ever worked in. Yes, there is a lot of paperwork but if you are good at organizing and time management it isn't too bad. I see approximately 40-45 pts a week and do almost all of my charting in home. I make incredible money, work with a great group of nurses, therapists and office staff that are always available to help when needed. If you love people and teaching then go for it. I read the reviews too but knew I had to find out for myself and am happy I took the chance. Not everyone has the caseload I do as I am over the assisted living facilities as well as home visits. I hope this helps. You are welcome to pm me for more info. Good luck!

Are you able to see that many patients because of assisted-living? They are all in one building? I am starting a home care position with Masonic care, my caseload will be 26 patients per week. I am told weekends call is about every six week. It goes from Friday to Friday, $25 a day, and there are two nurses, one triage and one visit as I understand it. I'm still a little bit unclear about how the call works. They offer 55 cents a mile, have a cell phone stipend, admissions are $90 and they have productivity bonuses. My salary is in the high 70s. Does this sound good for homecare? First time and I'm nervousðŸ˜³

PS.....I couldn't start per DM with this company having no Homecare experience. Wanted to get out of the hospital in a big way and thought this would be a good fit for me. So I am taking a huge leap of faith and I am hoping it works out. It sounds like many nurses love Homecare. I'm sorry your experience hasn't been great. Perhaps you can find a different company to work for. I've heard the agency makes all the difference!

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Wendy

babynurse73 · Apr 10, 2015

I just noticed that this thread started quite sometime ago. OP.....how did everything turn out for you?

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Wendy

Libby1987 · Apr 10, 2015

Are you able to see that many patients because of assisted-living? They are all in one building? I am starting a home care position with Masonic care, my caseload will be 26 patients per week. I am told weekends call is about every six week. It goes from Friday to Friday, $25 a day, and there are two nurses, one triage and one visit as I understand it. I'm still a little bit unclear about how the call works. They offer 55 cents a mile, have a cell phone stipend, admissions are $90 and they have productivity bonuses. My salary is in the high 70s. Does this sound good for homecare? First time and I'm nervousï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½
PS.....I couldn't start per DM with this company having no Homecare experience. Wanted to get out of the hospital in a big way and thought this would be a good fit for me. So I am taking a huge leap of faith and I am hoping it works out. It sounds like many nurses love Homecare. I'm sorry your experience hasn't been great. Perhaps you can find a different company to work for. I've heard the agency makes all the difference!
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Wendy

Your question re the 40-45 patients/week, wouldn't be possible to sustain (at least not M-F) where I work. We don't have any ALFA that would keep one nurse that busy. I don't know what they call a skilled visit but while some of our visits become more focused care, there are too many that are too comprehensive to fit in that many.

We've had PT's keep such workloads, should've gone to PT school..

Your set up sounds pretty reasonable. 26 visits/week is less than my average and very doable with experience, to expect you to that many right out of the gate would be unrealistic though.

ETA Our call, we're $50/12 hr shift, visit rate and mileage for any visits we make, which are rare and usually only for catheter patients for retention. And OT if it applies. Mostly it's easy money and the part time nurses will pick up extra days.