Hi, I am looking for some advice as I am considering making a switch to become a Home care case manager RN. I am currently working in the ICU, and have been in the hospital for 7 years. I have a 1 1/2 year old, and both my husband and I are working shift work. My mother in law watches my daughter when we both work, but I am wanting more consistency in my schedule, like straight days, where I can have the option of finding a day care, even part time. I have asked a few people who work for this company (its a large health care organization) about the hours and nature of the work. I am hearing a lot on this thread about spending hours at home charting. How often/likely is it that I will bring home more than just a few loose ends to tie up? I'd like to think I have good time managment, but I am a realist and know how things go now at the hospital...things just happen and then you are stuck late dealing with them. I just want to feel like I won't have to bring work home with me very often. I would hate to leave my job just to be disappointed by how I really didn't understand what I was getting myself into with home care. I want the flexible schedule, more teaching/prevention, and day hours...but I don't want to feel like I am always bringing work home with me. Any thoughts are appreciated!
My mom started HH when my brother and I were school aged. She saw her pts while we were in school and did paperwork after school let out. As a kid, it was a great thing. She never missed practices or games/ meets. She might be in the stands doing her paperwork, but she was there. I also have memories of sitting at the kitchen table, doing my homework while she did paperwork. She was even able to attend things during the day, as she would schedule her pts around the event. It didn't always work out, but it definitely worked out the large majority of the time. She was a SAHM when we were younger, but I have to say that HH really gave her the flexibility to be there for us, especially since she was doing it as a single mom.
In homecare, you have to be prepared for taking work home with you. I've worked for 4 separate organizations and inevitably, I'm calling my patients at night until 7pm to plan my next day, completing paperwork at home and unfortunately so you provide good customer service you have to pray to god you don't do anything that potentially offends a patient because frankly competition out there is tough amongst companies and leadership does NOT want to hear that you upset a patient even if you are teaching them something they don't want to know about. I'm going back to the hospital because I am left bringing home work so often......I am also over the 5 day work week and want my 3 shifts back.
11-15 pts a day is 11-15 hours per day at my agency. 30min visit, 30 min charting and case managing. NOT counting if its a SOC, ROC etc. NOT counting any drive time. Thats impossible.
The hh agency I just got offered a job with were honest and said they recently had a high turnover due to paperwork. They made sure I was ok with it, which I am and they give you the option to do it at home. I chose this because my child is going into kindergarten and I want to be flexible for her.They nurses there said when u get your visits done, you can do paperwork at home and one nurse who was there for 20 years said this job was great to raise her kids. This place does 4 visits a day right now base although you carry 12-22 cases. Seems pretty good. Paper charting too, which I actually prefer!
I see 11-15 patients per day. The paperwork is demanding and time consuming. Takes up most of my afternoons evenings. I do have some flexibility, which is nice.
How much time on the average do you spend with each patient?
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My mom started HH when my brother and I were school aged. She saw her pts while we were in school and did paperwork after school let out. As a kid, it was a great thing. She never missed practices or games/ meets. She might be in the stands doing her paperwork, but she was there. I also have memories of sitting at the kitchen table, doing my homework while she did paperwork. She was even able to attend things during the day, as she would schedule her pts around the event. It didn't always work out, but it definitely worked out the large majority of the time. She was a SAHM when we were younger, but I have to say that HH really gave her the flexibility to be there for us, especially since she was doing it as a single mom.