Buy your own laptop?

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I just started with a new agency and they don't supply laptops. Is this typical? If I were to buy one I will only get a $300 reimbursement. It seems kind of skimpy to me. They don't supply phones either, just give you a stipend that doesn't even cover the monthly cell bill.

What's going on with you guys and gals in home health land?

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
I honestly would want them to supply my laptop but you can buy a good chrome book for around $150.00

Our cell provider has deals that a simple 8" tablet is free if you pay 10.00/month for 2 gigs of cell data; 24 month contract; tax deductible of course.

My Sweet Petunia is a home health PT and has gone rogue. After 20 years, she walked away from the BS of a full time employee at one company having multiple owners over the years and is now "self employed." She now works for several companies doing HH "contract/pay per visit." One company has a software program that is home based and they provide the device. The other companies use Kinnser software which is web based and do not supply a device; but her private device is used to access the web site only and no patient information is stored on it.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

Thanks for all of the input! My husband is a computer geek and has a nice Lenovo laptop laying around that he doesn't use much. It will be mine! I really appreciate all of your responses. Time will tell if this is a flaky organization but so far it is a vast improvement over my old agency.

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Specializes in Pedi.

No way. It's the agency's responsibility to provide you with the equipment you need to do the job.

I worked for a crappy home health agency and they still provided me with a laptop and a cell phone. When I was a liaison in home infusion, I got a laptop that I never once used, an iPad and a cell phone. In my current job, I have a company laptop and cell phone. I would NEVER use my personal cell phone to contact a patient- it's important to have boundaries and mine are 8:30-5. After that, call the on-call number.

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Specializes in ICU/ER/Med-Surg/Case Management/Manageme.
- it's important to have boundaries and mine are 8:30-5. After that, call the on-call number.

I so much agree with you. In my (now) former job, the unspoken "culture" dictated you took all call from your patients. The person that did my so-called training would go out at night, days off, weekends...didn't matter when...if a patient or facility called her. When I would ask why and say I didn't want to have to do that, her response would be, "Well, that's just the way I am". (She was being paid per visit. Wonder if she'd be that way if salaried.) I love nursing, I love patient care. However, I also love my time, my interest. Nursing is my job, not my life.

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