Home Health not what I thought it would be advice, anyone???

Specialties Home Health

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I was an LPN for 7 years working in LTC and medical clinics. I went to RN school to work in acute care. What was I thinking, going into Home Health??? Please, someone kick me.

I took the job right out of RN school last October. I just couldnt get past the huge paycheck (average 75,000 a year) so I jumped on the offer. The only problem is,,,, it reminds me too much of long-term care. I feel like I'm not really doing anything to help people sometimes. I guess I'm just burnt out. Plus the company I work for is great and all, but when an RN takes call (every 3rd weekend) you have to work 12 days straight. That really sucks!!! I went to RN school to work less, not more.

plus, its like,,,,, so hard to keep up with whats going on with all of my patients in home care. the doctors never call back like they say they will,,,,, the patients are so non compliant, people refuse visits or are never at home. its like i feel like i cant do this job another day, but im not one to quit without giving a 2 week or more notice. after all, the company was nice enough to hire me as a new RN with only LPN experience.

I applied for a few jobs (ER MED SURG PCU) and it kinda looks like ill be taking a med surg job, due to not having ACLS or code experience. Which is fine with me, but im just worried if ill be able to handle 6 or 7 med surg patients on a medical floor night shift. does that ratio sounds pretty safe?? im not a newbie, have been an LPN for 7 years and an RN for 9 months. so any advice would be much appreciated. i just hope i make the right decision,,, as im not one to job hop. thnx,,,,,, johnny

p.s plus the saying the more you make the more they take is TRUE... i made 3,200 dollars these last 2 weeks and only took home 2400 of it!!!:o im just SOOOO unhappy!!!

"I feel like I'm not really doing anything to help people sometimes. I guess I'm just burnt out"

If you want a reason to beleive what you're doing is helping people, here I am. I'm the grandaughter of an elderly man who has always sacraficed for his family and offered a joke and smile to cheer everyone and never with one complaint. Now he is much older, very thin, frail, and weak. He will hardly eat, can't stand on his own, nor dress/bathe/or use the restroom. My family needs a home health nurse...more like a live in nurse to keep him home these last days/weeks/months of his life. My Grandma can't lift him on her own. So, though your job title may be slightly different, please know that every part of his health helps not only him but the whole family. We need him around for as long as possible. And people like you help make that happen. THANK YOU. We appreciate you.

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Specializes in ICU.

I just started working for a home health agency that is not MediCare based, just private pay. So that means no Oasis forms, and reasonable amounts of charting.

Overall, the patients and families have been nice, and I have to say I'm really starting to enjoy my work with the agency, although I do sometimes feel like the hired help. :)

There must be different kinds of home health agencies out there. I'm not really encountering some of the issues mentioned in this thread.

4Grandpa, that was a nice note. I wish you luck in finding care for your grandfather.

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Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.

I'm already looking for another job after only a week into my position as a supervisor for a home care agency who contracts with our local AAA to provide PCA's for elderly clients....as is the nurse who started working only two days ago. We are seriously out of compliance with the state regs, as nobody in the Corporate office seems to have a clue (or care, for that matter), that the visit forms we use must meet our State's rigid documentation guidelines. The Office Manager is equally hapless, with my new nurse reporting to me yesterday that she was actually told that she expects her to give her guidance as to how our State's tax forms should be completed.

What????

"This is really disturbing", my nurse told me, "And I'd better start looking for another job, too, before the State comes in here, shuts the doors and I wind up out of work for another four months". I responded that I didn't blame her. I had a feeling that something was seriously wrong when I was offered the position, for the Office Manager desperately needed a nurse to complete supervisory visits and reassessments...many of which were already past due. I took the job because nothing else was available at the time...and I was desperate for a paycheck. I have already burned up $30 worth of gas in less than two days, my gas tank is on empty (again), and I have two more supervisory visits due first thing Monday morning. The up-front costs of this job have become staggering with the rising costs of fuel, which I simply CANNOT afford, and I am just praying that Recruiter calls me next week and offers me that CM position.

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

Moving to our HH forum for best advice.

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You mentioned that you found it difficult to keep up with all of your patients. I do shift work in home health rather than visits. It is easy to keep up with one or two patients. Easier to establish rapport and continuity of care. One of the biggest advantages of home health is to cut your workload down to one patient. Personally, I get a lot of personal satisfaction in being able to devote my efforts to one or two patients. I welcomed one patient after being responsible for up to 80 residents in LTC. I find it hard to think about going back to the large numbers. Just my viewpoint. Again, good luck with whatever path you take.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

You became an RN to work LESS not MORE? Please don't ever apply for a job where I work.

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CCM

If it was my post you were referring to, then don't criticize when you don't know the whole story. I'm one hell of a worker, thank you very much.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
CCM

If it was my post you were referring to, then don't criticize when you don't know the whole story. I'm one hell of a worker, thank you very much.

No, it was not YOUR post. Reread the original poster's posting. He states he went to RN school to work less.

I wouldn't comment on your work habits, caliotter since I have no clue if you work hard or not. I was commenting on his statement.

Most of the RNs I know in LTC work very hard every day. If they want to work less hard they'll go work in an office.

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i think mermaid has taken "i went to RN school to work less, not more" out of context. i meant, work less days as an RN to be able to afford to live..... in other words,,,,, i went to RN school to work three days a week, NOT 12 days straight.... geez. i think ALL nurses work their asses off, LPNs RNs, its all work. i am not afraid of working i prefer to be busy. hell, this home health job is easy work (too easy in fact) if i were lazy id just LOVE sitting in a car all day or sitting in patients homes. i just hate working 12 days in a row, 2 days off, then 12 days all over again. sorry for the misunderstanding :lol2:

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