Home Health--Does this sound right

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello,

I just got back from an interview for a Home Health position. It sounded great as far the actual job is concerned and I'm very excited.

In the past I've read numerous posts on the Home Health section of Allnurses and know there are various ways in which the visits can be set up and also in the way you will be paid.

At this company, for full time, you have to do 30 units per week. Each regular visit is considered 1 unit and takes about 45 minutes. If it's for a new patrient or re-certification for continued visits it will count as 2 units. I would be assigned a zip code and the vast majority of my visits would be in that zipcode. When on call (I didn't think to ask how often I would be on call) I would have to go to whatever zip code I'm needed at.

They pay .41 cents for mileage. The pay for entry level is $28-28.50 per visit (I have 3 years experience so my pay would be higher, but she didn't know exactly what it would be).

Charting is done on paper and then, when needed, a clerical person in the office enters everything into the computer system. They would want me to come into the office about 3 days per week (to get new assignments, turn in paperwork, etc.). I should have asked more about this part; I'm not sure how much time I would actually be in the office and what all I would be doing during that time.

All visits, except some that are done when all call, will be between the hours of 8:30 - 5:00.

Does this sound good? Is this the best way to go as far as hourly vs per visit vs salary? It seems pretty good to me (assuming the pay rate is a few dollars more) but I know from reading Allnurses that Home Health can be a bit tricky and I want to be sure this is considered normal or standard.

Thanks for any replies.

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Specializes in neurology, cardiology, ED.

It sounds pretty reasonable to me. I don't do HH, but I know a couple of nurses who do it on the side. Their per visit rate is a little lower, but their mileage is more. I would just clarify with them about the on call time, and the office time: are you paid for it, does it count towards your 30 required "units" for full time, etc.

Good luck!

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Are you a RN or LVN?

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I'm an RN.

Toronado--I don't think the office time counts towards my 30 units or that I would be paid for it. It is one of the things I would need to clarify if I am offered the position. I'm thinking that even if it doesn't it may still work out OK pay wise as long as the hourly rate is a few dollars more. I want away from the bed-side so am willing to take a bit of a pay cut to do so; I just have to make sure it works out to be enough.

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Also sounds reasonable to me. Just clarify those areas where you have questions. Don't think your office time will count toward the 30 units.

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It sounds kind of low to me. I'm a home care RN, and I get paid $55 for revisits (the one unit you were talking about) and $85 for initial visits (the 2 units). No milage reinbursment though, but no oncall either. But don't forget , when they pay you per visit that means the paperwork that goes with it, (which takes a while, esp the initial visits).

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

I'm not too crazy about being paid per visit. Being paid a salary is preferable, especially if you have to go into the office to get your assignments rather than by lap top computer furnished by your employer. I often spent a couple of hours in the office. It really cut into my visit time requiring me to reschedule. What if you get cancellations or no one's home? It happens. Sometimes you run into a situation that requires more of your time than what you intended and you have to rearrange your schedule. No, I would avoid per visit pay if at all possible.

When on call I got paid per visit; $65 for an open and $40 for a revisit. That was a couple of years ago and it was low. I think it depends on the area's cost of living. Truthfully, I think you're being taken advantage of. Look elsewhere.

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Actually, if this is a benefitted position, this sounds about right. The mileage is a bit low, but so many agencies don't pay the government rate. Don't let anyone tell you that you can take the difference of on your taxes; it would have to be over a certain percentage of your wages before you could claim it.

HH never pays as well as hospital nursing. Ask what you are paid for your office time - there will be 'mandatory' time that WILL count in with your units. Ask them to give you details about your oncall. Overall beeper-time, visit pay, etc. Most places pay a premiuim for after-hours visits.

I don't know where you live, but the visit pay sounds about right for my part of the country!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.
Actually, if this is a benefitted position, this sounds about right. The mileage is a bit low, but so many agencies don't pay the government rate. Don't let anyone tell you that you can take the difference of on your taxes; it would have to be over a certain percentage of your wages before you could claim it.

HH never pays as well as hospital nursing. Ask what you are paid for your office time - there will be 'mandatory' time that WILL count in with your units. Ask them to give you details about your oncall. Overall beeper-time, visit pay, etc. Most places pay a premiuim for after-hours visits.

I don't know where you live, but the visit pay sounds about right for my part of the country!

I beg to differ...I went from floor nursing to homehealth and I make double what I made at the hospital. And my hours are flexible. If my daughter has an event at her school, I can schedule my patients around it so I an attend.

Now, getting paid by the visit can be great, I love it. You actually get paid for your hard work. With salary, you get paid the same regardless if you see 40 patients or 10 patients for the week. At least you get PAID for the hard work you do...the more you do the more you get paid. If you need extra money, then you can expand your case load.

I make $34.00 per visit...55 for an admission, 75 for after hours admission (this is the cheapest paying city in the US for hospital work so Im shocked at what homehealth pays). If a visit takes over an hour, then they pay me extra. They supply me with a company car and gas (they gave me a gas card). Before I got my company car, they paid me .42 cents per mile for use of my personal vehicle.

I get paid 2.00 every hour that I carry a beeper plus then I get paid for any visit I have to do (55 for an afterhour/weekend visit)

Is the OP a RN or LPN? Our homehealth agency doesnt hire LPNs

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The quoted rate seems a little low to me also, but I have only done home health in the northeast. I got paid $47.50 for a revisit, $60.00 for recert/resumption/opening. Mileage was .55 cents a mile. It depends a lot on where you live, just do some comparison shopping with other agencies in your area. I loved the flexibility of home health nursing, beats shift work any day. Good Luck with your decision

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Thanks for the responses.

I'm getting the impression this company operates in a standard manner; I just wanted to be sure there wasn't some loophole I wasn't catching.

If they want to move forward with me I think I am going to take it (assuming the few things I still need to check are OK).

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

Good luck! :)

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