HHC if your other job is SAHM?

[Atownshend]

I've transferred to the ER last May after working nightshift on a cardiovascular PCU for 5 years. I really love the change of pace. It's super crazy but in so many ways less stressful than the floor because you don't know what's coming... you deal with it as it comes rather than carrying tasks A-Z on your shoulders until they are done all 12 hours. For a while there I felt proud of my job for the first time in a long time. I have a 2 year old at home have been working per diem once a week so I can be a stay at home mom while still keeping my skills and make enough to pay the mortgage every month. I don't want to work more than I have to until I have another child and both children are in school, at which point I was thinking of moving over to HHC nursing.

Recently, though, I was pulled into the office for a sit down with my supervisor who made me sign an action plan committing to working 2 days a week for the next 6 weeks to "increase my exposure to certain patient populations" and "reduce my dependence on ancillary staff" and then meet again to see how things are going. This presumably coming up because the medic for our team was taken for triage for the day and I had a patient that needed an IV that I had stuck twice (our hospital policy is each person only gets two tries). All the nurses on our team were in rooms and it was a ghost town so I called our charge 3 times regarding the IV which she said she would get taken care of and never did, and then went to the supervisor with concerns that I couldn't handle my team. I can't really argue with some of their logic, I don't work very often so I don't get much exposure to stroke alerts, STEMI alerts, or codes. I pull my weight on most days but on days like that one I get behind and struggle a bit, and if I feel really in the weeds I ask for help, but I do try to help others whenever I feel ahead of the game to balance things out. I had put the struggling times down to growing pains and figured that it may take me a little longer than if I was working full time but eventually I would get there. Seems like they need an accelerated timetable...I feel like they would like me to work more on a more permanent basis and that will be the conclusion of this little exercise. I know I shouldn't reduce it to this level but the bottom line of what I'm hearing from them is "work harder and faster and don't ask for help".

Sooo, I was looking into home healthcare sooner than I would have previously because I'm afraid I may be forced into it, or rather forced to either work more or quit where I am now.

Is home health care nursing suited to my current life as a stay at home mom? Can I work one day a week with my current skills as an RN and feel competent? Is the pay in HHC comparable to what I would make as a hospital per diem RN? I dont' need benefits (we have them through my husband). I need about 325-350 dollars a week. Any insights on things I may be missing or that I should consider?

[joy09]

I live in Pa suburbs and get paid by the visit. I don't get travel time, just mileage. I take four patients a day and clear around $950 biweekly. I get $35 per visit. I do a little better if I do 2 admisiions at $75 each. I can do my visits anytime. I put in 6-7 hours to get that accomplished. I review charts, set up appointments, travel, visit and finish documentation at home. I give myself one hour for each visit, two for an admission door to door.

[Holisticlifern]

I work per diem in home health. I only do 1-2 days week and usually seen between 3-5 patients a day. We are paid per visit $48 and $78 for admission. Home health is very flexible and as long as you have care for your child during the day you will be fine. I however think it's hard to make money just working 1 day a week in home care especially per diem because if the census is low the full time staff has to take all the patients.... Which leaves the perdiem nurse with only a couple patients and eventually a small paycheck. I usually average around $380 biweekly but again I only see probably 6 patients we pay period. Also you may run into the same problem your having in the ER as far as not seeing enough. working per diem in home care it's been a little hard for me to get used to paperwork, policy's, procedures, and such. I often still have to ask questions everyday I work. Lucky for me the staff and managers are very helpful and don't mind.

Whatever you decide I wish you well :)