HH Offer Need Advise please!!

[kwagner_51]

I have been offered a HH visit RN job and am seriously thinking about going for it. Here is their offer:

40 hr week, no w/e, pd holidays benefits including 2x my yrly gross life ins paid by the co. Health, dental, and vision. 2 weeks pd vacation after 1 yr + 1 week personal time. Retirement plan starting day 1 vested after 5 yrs. Very flexible on time, meaning I can take kids to school in between visits. I get travel time + milage, quarterly bonus, a laptop, on call q6w.

This sounds way to good to be true. It would be in the county I live in. My experience: I wrked 89 days in rehab, a yr in LTC and 1 yr+ in Peds--> Head Start and 3 months + in HH shift work.

I haven't started an IV since nursing school. I did lots of dressing changes including wound vac. I am eager to learn and need at least 19.00 a hr.

Do I even have a chance at this job?

Thanks!!

[TazziRN, RN]

The LTC experience will help, because most home care pts are elderly. Sure you have a chance, go for it!!!

[COOPERSMOMMY]

i say go for it as well, find out how much orientation they give you, that may make you feel better.

good luck

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

I'd love a 40 hr salaried visit position. No admissions? sounds good. Lots of HH agencies contract out for IVs. Not everyone is good at it and not every patient is going to require IV access. I see mainly foleys and vac dressings as the upper limits of my required tasks.

[caliotter3]

Some hh agencies hire new grads right out of school. Your qualifications are good enough. If you were going to do shift work, I would give you the same advice I give all new to hh: ask for a good orientation to the case. A good orientation, whether to a single case, or to your duties as a visit nurse, will determine how comfortable you will feel. Don't be afraid to ask questions as they arise, and ask for guidance from your immediate supervisor. If they are serious about keeping you, they will see that your questions are answered and you get any help you need. As for the IV skills: most of the IV situations I've seen in the home have been handled by a separate IV infusion company, and all the homecare nurse is responsible for is monitoring, etc. The IV company is available as a resource if there are any problems. If this is not the case at your company, it would not hurt to take an IV cert class as a refresher for yourself. Good luck.