Home Health Hours? Work 3-4 days a week F/T?

caliotter3 · Feb 22, 2011

The best way to get anywhere near what you are talking about is to do shift work. You can work anywhere from 4 to 16 hour shifts for as many days a week as you care to work. Shift work lends itself to the type of schedule you are talking about a lot better than intermittent visit work.

CloudySue · Feb 22, 2011

With home health, the possibilities are endless. If you find a place that will pay overtime, you can make a bundle. I work the overnight and some weeks I work 6 or 7 nights, at 8, 10, and 12 hour shifts. Last week I worked 66 hours. The beauty of home health is, you don't run yourself ragged on your feet and burn out quickly. You have one client, and often, especially on the overnight, you have a lot of down time. I use this time to watch movies, etc., catch up on my email and Facebook (including those stupid Zynga games) and this summer I plan to work on my RN. So then when you are home and off the clock, you have already done a lot of the things you would have done on your time off, thus saving you precious hours.

ws582 · Feb 22, 2011

CloudySue and caliotter3, thank you so much for answering so quickly. Sounds great, but I'm confused and I hope this doesn't sound stupid: Intermittent visit work is seeing multiple pts a day and shift work is working at one pt's home for a certain shift, is that right? I know you said the night shift pays more, but for days would you say the pay is similar to the hosital (I average approx $25 hour). Even if it's a bit less, I think a lower stress level mentally and physically would be worth it. Just wondering approximately how much less it is. I appreciate your time and hope I find my niche soon :) I absolutely love helping people, but the hecticness is taking its toll on me.

Oh, also, do home health agencies usually offer shift work and intermittent visits or is it two different type of companies? Thanks :)

caliotter3 · Feb 22, 2011

Yes, shift work is one patient for typically an 8 hour shift; intermittent visits, several visits per day, may be paid hourly or may be paid per visit. I usually work night shift and only was paid a night shift differential one time. That was when it was written into a union contract. Home health agencies may offer both types of work or they may only offer one or the other, depends on that particular agency, or agency office. In general, home health pays less than the hospital, tied to reimbursement rates from the payors (which the agency may exaggerate to explain their lowering of wages).

tdrynelle · Mar 11, 2011

WS582 - I work in home health and work mostly 4 days per week. Each RN case manager manages a case load of 45-55 clients and are required to do 25 visits per week. If we can get all the client visits done by Thursday, we do not have to go out on visits on Fridays. I know this schedule isn't true for a lot of home health agencies, but it is for some.

ws582 · Mar 11, 2011

tdrynelle, thank you for your response. I have a couple questions for you. Are the RNs at your company generally the case managers or do some of them do home visits only? Also, how many hours a week would you say you average? I have 6 months experience in STR/LTC and 1 1/2 years on a med/surg floor. Would you say that is enough to begin home health? It's scarey, because I have so much support on the floor and in home health you're on your own. I'm not sure if I'm ready. Thank you for your time :)

twokidsmom,rn · Mar 11, 2011

You guys work for a great company. I am a case manager see 6-10 pts a day 5 days a week and do case management for my pts too. I also see pts on a Sat if needed. My case load is 22 right now but I see most of them 2 times a week. I get paid $35 per visit and double that for opens. Wish I could have a Friday to followup and do paperwork and contact doc's and lab results and things like that would decrease some stress.

BrookeeLou_RN · Mar 12, 2011

Even when I worked 4 days it was 32 hr pay and I still case managed full time! I asked one company to let me do 4 -10's they could not stop laughing. Did work a place that had an afternoon nurse, he worked like noon to 10:30 p off Sat, Sun and mOn but was also on call. first call with RN backup every day he worked. And he had been there and done it for years. I know alot of agecies that will pay FT for Friday, Sat and sun or S, S and MOn with call included. I could do the work but hated the call, and you still had quota to meet.

I would love the place that lets one off on Friday if quota meet during the week.. What did you do for wound care, or wound vacs or IV's that needed a Friday nurse??