Home Health Nursing?

Bala Shark · Aug 26, 2007

Hi I graduated last year..I like home health much better...I see 2 patents a day, one in the morning and one in the evening..I work 4 days a week and have 3 days off..The pace is a lot slower..I worked in LTC before where I was responsible for 25 residents and it was hectic..

My pay is lower than when I worked at LTC but the job duties are easier..I have to commute 60 miles one way for my clients..To sum it up, home health is nice..

pagandeva2000, LPN · Aug 27, 2007

I work in a hospital clinic, but did home care on the side for about 9 months on Saturdays.

I had one client that I stayed at the home for 10 hours; got $25 an hour. If I worked for three days, I would have gotten more than what I get paid for two weeks at my hospital job. But, there is no union.

Worked one day a week because I do have a full time job with union and medical benefits. I will get back to it again later when I get some med-surg experience.

There was a book in the house that had the care plan, MAR and timesheets. My client was a 5 year old trach patient that needed to be suctioned and have nebulizer treatments every 4-6 hours. Otherwise, it was like babysitting, really.

Home care for me was calmer, more flexible and relaxing. The negatives can be family dynamics, cleanliness of the home and possibly the lack of supplies. I do think I will get back to it, but what I worried about is that without med-surg experience, I would not always recognize if the patient is decompensating. In my area, home care usually seems to pay pretty well unless the client is accepting medicaid.

tiroka03, LPN · Aug 29, 2007

I only worked one day at home health. I showed up on time at the house, and saw the previous nurse standing outside by the mailbox, she waved at me, and sped off. Once I got in, I found the pt had died about 10 min before, and the wife was crying uncontrollably. I sat the woman down on the couch and when she calmed a bit, I called by agency, and they told me to tell her to call the funeral home and leave. I couldn't in good conscience do that, so I called the places that need to be called and stayed with here until the funeral home arrived. I didn't get paid for it, but that didn't matter. I decieded I didn't want any more suprises and didn't like how I was supposed to just leave this women alone.

erniebobernie · Sep 2, 2007

I only worked one day at home health. I showed up on time at the house, and saw the previous nurse standing outside by the mailbox, she waved at me, and sped off. Once I got in, I found the pt had died about 10 min before, and the wife was crying uncontrollably. I sat the woman down on the couch and when she calmed a bit, I called by agency, and they told me to tell her to call the funeral home and leave. I couldn't in good conscience do that, so I called the places that need to be called and stayed with here until the funeral home arrived. I didn't get paid for it, but that didn't matter. I decieded I didn't want any more suprises and didn't like how I was supposed to just leave this women alone.

That is so sad. I am sorry that happened to you.

I have considered doing home health as an LPN and I may down the road; I enjoyed it as a HHA. But, I am new to CO and would like to get some more acute care experience. I am finding that difficult to come by though...but that's for another thread.

bmoore1973 · Sep 3, 2007

i love home health! i just do per deium, i see between 10 and 15 patients a week, i usually spend about an hour or so with them, sometimes more sometimes less, just depends on what is going on. i see the same ones every week. i know the full time nurse sees probably double what i do, she works 5 days a week but she has the same patients most every week!!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Sep 4, 2007

I would have been saddened to see the client's wife sitting alone and dealing with the death of her spouse and would have remained as well for a while; at least until someone else from the family would be able to come. And, the previous nurse could have at least taken the time to enlighten you to the death, ya know??

**Elektra6, ASN, BSN, RN** · Sep 5, 2007

I do shift work, 8-12 hours in the home with a client. Pagandeva2000's comments are accurate regarding the pros and cons of being in a client's home. I like it. It's slower paced than long-term care.