Calling all HH Nurses, roll call

Specialties Home Health

Published

Hi, as a newly appointed moderator, I want to live this forum up a bit. I just resigned my position as a HH supervisor, to go back to the field.

I have been a nurse 20 years, 17 in critical care, mostly cardiac critical care, and the last 2.5 years in HH, or asthma disease management , which I also had to leave because I hated to be in a cube farm all day.

I still love HH, even though PPS is the pits, even though the OASIS would make good kindling for a massive bonfire, and even with all the rest of the paperwork, it is the most rewarding nursing I have ever done!!

PS, I went back to my former VNA who is now paying $30/hr, yes, you read that right, to work 3 out of 4 weekends. Since weekends work well for me, it's a good deal.

Let's hear from all the HH nurses out there. Out of all those registered members, there's got to be plenty of us on this BB!! :D

I just accepted a HH Case Manager job today and will be startign in 2 weeks. I think I will enjoy it! Nice to meet you all.

Specializes in LTC/hospital, home health (VNA).

CONGRATULATIONS!:yeah: Hope it works out for you!

Specializes in med-surg, MICU/SICU, Csurg ICU, HH.

I started HH 2 weeks ago after spending the past 11 years of my career in acute care doing med-surg, MICU, SICU, and csurg ICU. I am really enjoying it so far! It's a really nice change from the chaos of an ICU, and it's so much more flexible!

Specializes in Med/Surg,OR,Pain Management,Home Health.

Hey everyone,

Well, I am still hanging in there, I'm up to seeing 8-9.5 patients a day. The part I HATE is doing 5-6, or 8 hours of paperwork for all of these patients. Today for instance, I have 4 regular visits, and 3 oasis, all 3 seem to be recerts which I don't mind too terribly. I finally get to go to week-ends since I survived my "trial by fire", I call it, I volunteered to work memorial day week-end, they said, you have 4 patients, which actually, I had 2 reg, and 2 oasis. Well, the phone started ringing at 7:20 and they said, 1 of the nurses called in sick, can you take some more? I didn't know any better, and by the time I got 2 more phone calls, I had 9.5 equivalents. I worked until 8:00 that evening, so tired, went to bed. Got up sunday and worked 8 hours on paperwork.That is RIDICULOUS. So......I am praying this will get better? If it doesn't, what will I do?

Love and prayers,

Yogalover

Specializes in hospice, rehab, insurance CM.

Hi, Ladies:

I am getting really upset about some of the happenings in our agency. We have an LPN who is now (thankfully )on probation because she visited numerous pts once monthly put documented and was pd for wkly visits. I also reported on her for injecting SQ Procrit in the pt's deltoids with an insulin syrings. She tried to BS her way out of both of these things.

A HHA comes and goes in the house all in five minutes in my presence. The people who own the agency are very ethical and do not tolerate this lack of care not to mention fradulant practice. I am the one who has blown the horn on both of these ladies. However, I I am still stuck with them. In our labor market jobs are a dime a dozen. Does this kind of junk go on in your agencies?

Thanks,

Eileen

:nurse:

Specializes in Wound Care, Infusion, ER, HH.

Hello yogalova47, I hate to break the bad news to ya, but it sounds as though you may have signed on to a HHA that will "suck the life" out of you... if they do that to you on a holiday weekend, trust me they will have even MORE in store for you on a regualr weekend. I've worked for a couple of HHA's that did that, and had to quit to save my sanity. Now I work at a wonderful agency where they respect the field staff as much as they respect and give the best care the the patients.

Specializes in Med/Surg,OR,Pain Management,Home Health.

Hey kc319,

Wow am I ever seeing what you mean. I have gotten sick from the stress. Well, I tried to find the VNA in my area, no such luck. So....stuck here for a while, hubby says, you need to stay there for a year, he has NO IDEA WHAT NURSING IF LIKE, LET ALONE NURSING FOR BAD COMPANY. Maybe I can take it for a while. Anyway, any advice about how to look out for myself, 'cause HONEY THEY SURE AREN'T GOING TO LOOK OUT FOR ME, LOL. There are 3 of us new nurses, and all 3 are having second thoughts. But, I am too old and tired of hospital. And by the way, what EXACTLY do clinical managers do? When I asked if I could train one day to see how they chart, etc. They said "oh there isn't time for that" Hm.....makes me think they don't want me to know? I know when I was doing education in the conference room they talked A LOT. And when I politely asked one of the office staff "How often do ya'll update these patient information books?" She snapped at me, " When we have time!". Well, she was sitting down for about an hour gossiping while I was searching for information. GEESH, what a witch. Ha ha ha gotta laugh to keep from crying. HELP! Oh and the one who called in has called in every other week-end since I got there in February. Poor management?

Thanks for letting me SCREAM! LOL

love and prayers,

yogalover47

Specializes in Wound Care, Infusion, ER, HH.

Hi yogalover47, unless your hubby wants to live with a totally stressed out spouse, he won't have you "put up with it" for a year. Trust me, "been there, done that". Won't do it again! Nursing is too wonderful a profession to have your current job make you so stressed that you start resenting not only your job, but your pt's, co-workers, family and everything. When I was going thru it, I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't the pt's fault, it was the company's. The pt was usually terrific and then I felt bad for feeling so stressed. So I got out. But my advice, keep your eyes and ears open for another Home Health Agency (even if it's a samll company) it took me 3 tries before I found a REALLY GOOD company to work for.

Specializes in Med/Surg,OR,Pain Management,Home Health.

Thanks kc319,

yeah, he is starting to get frustrated with me, cause I have been sick. But gosh, its the stress, ok thanks for the wonderful advice, in the meantime, I will work week-ends, and NO extra work, right? And keep learning, listening, and keep my mouth shut, lol. Oh and by the way, the patients are really wonderful yes, it's not their fault.

love and prayers,

yogalover47

Hello everyone. Home Health nurse in SC. Hope everyone is doing well.

Specializes in Med Surg, Respiratory and Mother Baby.

Hello all. I have just ventured into the world of HH. I have gone from Med/Surg, Mother/Baby to now HH. I am looking forward to growing as an RN in this rewarding role and hope to have many, many years as a HH nurse.

Specializes in Med/Surg,OR,Pain Management,Home Health.

:D Hello everyone, welcome to those of you who are new. Well, now that I am on the week-ends, GOSH, is it a relief!! Now I can catch my breath. I am getting more organized, and now I am learning my way around the county too! I think I really am going to enjoy this, wow, I had my moments though. Most of the patients are a joy to see. Of course, as with all people some are a little trying, but I just trudge on, lol. My health has gotten so much better too, WAY TOO MUCH STRESS THERE AT FIRST!

So, now I have a question, what all can we deduct on our taxes? I am saving all gas, oil change, etc, reciept, but since we use our home office as well, don't we get to claim some compensation? Or should I just look for a good accountant? Thanks for the advice!! Hope everyone is doing well!:loveya: I also found a used copy of "Tips and Timesavers for Home Health Nurses", a very good reference book, only cost me like $2.39, lol. Well, gotta run, gotta do some yoga!!

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