Home Health Company Dilemma

Specialties Home Health

Published

Specializes in Med/surg, Geriatrics, Home Health, LTC.

I am a LVN who has journeyed out to the world of home health! I love the flexibility, and autonomy, but dislike the paperwork. But anyway I left the hospital because I could not do the 12 hr shifts anymore due to my kids. I am with a company and I have only 3 patients, averaging 7-9 visits per week, And I am supposed to be full time! So I applied to another agency elsewhere and its like they have a problem with it, saying things like well you agreed to be fulltime, even though I was passed up on numerous occasions to get new patients. I have been with them over 2 months. Should I try and stick it out with this company or go elsewhere?

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

If your first agency is unable to provide you with enough business for FT work after 2 months, you need to be able to obtain work to live on!

Some agencies paperwork has "no compete" clause, restricting you to work for their agency or within 75-100 mile radius. Others don't care if staff work 2 agencies. If there is no signed compete clause, I'd sign up for part time with second agency to see how they work. Some nurses work for several agencies.

Often its wiser not to let the first agency know your seeking employment elsewhere... if you've made it known need more work and they did come through for you, feel free to let your feet walk.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Geriatrics, Home Health, LTC.

Thank You for that, I did not sign any such claus. I just didn't know if 2 months + was ample time to "build my patients up" as they put it.

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

I don't get it,"well you agreed to be fulltime", duh, you signed on elsewhere, because they failed to give you fulltime. Two months is much longer than I would wait. You go where they give you the hours you need. If they have a problem with that, kindly remind them that your kids are hungry. BTW, what's not to like about the paperwork? It's bound to be sustantially less ...

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I signed up with two home health agencies five months ago and have yet to work one shift for either of them. I do not consider myself their employee until they start providing me with work, although I believe that after five months, they have no intention of finding work for me. My other agency has not provided me with work in eight months. And my fifth agency has not provided me work in a year. Only one agency out of five is bothering to look for work for me at this time. I believe that they have conveniently "forgotten" me although I have kept them apprised of my availability. I intend to find another agency for my backup and will not expect anything from the employers that are not bothering with me now. You have every right to pay your rent or mortgage, pay your other living expenses and provide for your family. If, after two months the agency is not giving you full time hours, then you have a right to seek those hours elsewhere. You should have started looking about the third week.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Geriatrics, Home Health, LTC.

Thanx guys for all your input. I guess that I was just trying to be too nice, and now that I am sick of it, its all a big shock! But your right kids gotta get fed. :wink2:

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