HH hadd on young mom...

[erika.RN]

I have beem doing HH for a year now & already I feel burnt to a crisp. The corrections are horrendous/petty & all I can think when doing them is, "I am not getting paid for this." SOC/ROC's and anything OASIS makes me want to scream. I get sick of daily wound pts & their non-compliance. It really irritates me. However, I also wonder if I am doing any good with just teaching.

I have a young child (18 months) & another on the way. My day starts at 8 am. I drive 150 miles a day & get back around 4-4:30. I then have so much charting to do.. I pick little one up at daycare. DH gets home at 5:30-6, we do supper & he does bath. We get little one to bed & then we go our separate ways so I can chart until 11 pm. He cleans up kitchen & goes to bed around 10, he gets up & leaves at 4:30 so I don't see him in a.m. he sometimes works 90+ hrs a week...so its been very wearing.

It really is wearing on me. I explained to my supervisor that I am unsure I will be able to do this job with 2 kids under 2 & asked to go part time. She said unless another PT nurse goes full time I can't.

Is this everyone's norm? I am not naturally an organized person and don't do well without structure. Maybe my personality just isn't right for HH? Maybe my family situation isn't right?

Any advice or help?? I had an interview on a skilled nursing unit (long term care is my passion) for 3/12's. I am not sure what to do now, just to add fuel to the fire...ugh hate decisions & being burnt out.

[tktjRN]

Home health is a very demanding job. Paperwork is endless and no you're not the only one whose doing paperwork, until 11pm at night.. I'm with you, on the daily wound care patients, they drive me nuts!! If I was in your situation ( my kids are older now) I wound take the LTC job. Do your 12 and go home. Granted, you might have to stay over to finish some charting, but at least you'll get paid for it. Home health nurses work 24/7, no matter what anyone says. There's no point in taking a day off, because the follow up needed, on a patient, is there for you to do, the next day.

Everything you said in you're post is accurate. Corrections, missed visits, SOC/ROC, transfers etc..Paperwork never ends. I've been doing home health for 6 years. I stay with it because of the flexibility with my kids. Picking them up, activities, helping with school functions etc. I can't believe they won't let you go to part time. You might want to check with human resources or review your employee hand book.. That doesn't sound right to me. Enjoy your kids while their little and spend quality time with your spouse. You'll feel a huge weight off your shoulders!! And ask yourself what are you going to do with all the extra time.. Good luck!!