home health nursing job

[ffliper2777]

Hi

I just passed my NCLEX and received my license. I have a question. A friend of mine is recommending me to apply at a home health co. because they are desperately in need of new nurses. I have a basic understanding of what home health is, but can someone tell me in more detail what a HH nurse does? Also, how much could I expect to make as a HH nurse? and last question, do most HH companies hire nurses as independent contractors? or as direct employees? Any information would be greatly appreciated

[Hena]

I am a new grad (LVN) and just got hired by a HH agency..Im anxious because i have never done this before, but i am so lucky i got hired because it's so difficult to get a job with no experience right now. Although i rather have actual hospital experience first, that's not really an option b/c mostly all require experience. Any ideas on what i should do? should i stick with the job? This is definitely stressful!!!!

[ontwosides]

You must of received your HH job with MGA? If so, bad choice. Try another. Trust me.

[AMN74]

Most home health agencies require at least 2 years of acute care hospital experience. It is scary to think a new grad is out in the field without experience because you are the ONLY set of eyes and ears at that particular visit. I have walked into homes where the people do not speak english and the patient is having seizures. I have pulled into a driveway of a patient home and while talking on the phone before I got out of the car a little kid came running down to the car saying, "Momma says you need to hurry up something is wrong with Grandma" and when I got into the house the patient was laying prone on the floor and not breathing. I had an instance where I called the patient, got no answer, felt uneasy and finally went to her house. No answer to the door, door unlocked, I went in yelling "hello", and found patient dead in bathtub. I have seen scary wounds that would need careful attention and skill to know how to monitor. I give IV medications that need monitoring and teaching and careful assessment. You have to be good at starting IVs and drawing blood. There are just so many things that a home health nurse does that requires experience. I would strongly encourage you to get hospital experience FIRST.

Now with that being said, we did have a new BSN grad that had some "nsg school experience" at our agency and she knew she wanted to be a home health nurse, and that's all she wanted to do. Our company did hire her as a new grad, but she spent 6 months in orientation wiht several different nurses. And now 5 years later she is a darn good home health nurse! It was a good situation, she was smart, she had great assessment skills and at the time our agency was willing to put the "investment" into her for a great orientation. If you get hired right out of nursing school into home health and you do not have a LONG orientation process, you will probably fail. I may be wrong, but that's just how I see it after 15+ years of doing home health.

Good luck!

[frodo-dog]

I both passed the NCLEX RN and started in Home health 8 weeks ago, since then I have experienced vents, trachs, G\J tubes, Ostomys, wound care, blood sugars\insulin, foleys\catheterizations, ID, SQ, IM.... a lot of skills. My home health \ home visit companies have been really good at ensuring that I succeed. I had paid vent training. I think that companies are now realizing that the market is open with new grads and are working to accommodate them. I have gone into homes for a stasis ulcer and found a huge stage IV pressure ulcer under the pt that no one had previously noticed!!! Seizures, pt that was feverish and shivering that I had to call the doctor on and get an ER admit. I love the autonomy and believe that I can be successful and I get to see my husband at nights and weekends.

MGA is the worst of the agencies, look elsewhere.

[NRSNFL]

I would be hesitant to work for a home health company that doesn't require a year of acute care experience. Honestly that is where you hone in your skills and when you are in home health...you don't have a supervisor right there to call if you need another set of eyes, and venipunctures you do out the gate and well as alot more acute care than you'd think these days. I wish you luck and urge you to get into a setting that develops your newly found skills before you venture out on your own.