considering home health -- please help!

[flmomrn]

I have found this forum to be so informative as someone who is considering home health!! I do have a few questions, though, and any additional input would be really appreciated! I'm now considering home health because I have 2 little ones and my husband travels alot for his job, so 12 hour hospital shifts are just difficult to fit into my life! My questions are: can I work PRN with my background (1 year on an ICU stepdown unit and 1 year at an urgent care center)? How flexible are the hours? Is it realistic to think I could work 2 days a week? Are weekends usually required? Am I better off going through a temp agency to get the flexibilty I need? Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Traveler]

I have worked prn in home health for 2.5 years now and I love it (most days). The flexiblility all depends upon who you work for. I have been fortunate in that I work with a great group of people. I basically cover for vacations and when we are really busy.

I usually call in at least once a week and tell them when I am available. On many visits they can switch them around a day or two if needed. I initially was on call one weekend a month. I found that it was getting very intense since our coverage area is so spread out and we were getting more IV and BID visits. It wasn't unusual to drive 500 miles plus on a weekend. We now have a nurse who is the primary call and we take secondary call. I have to make sure that my DH is home then so he can be with the kids because I have found I have to go out at all hours.

Home health is one of those things you either love or hate I have found. You just have to try it and see where you fit. Your experience should be fine for home health. Again, you just kind of have to try it and see.

You never know what your day is going to be like. In the middle it can go to he** in a handbasket or it can be very smooth. But, I have found that I can usually drop the kids off at school and pick them up in the afternoon.

Your needs sound similar to mine. I work the way I do so I can be there for the kids. I am not guaranteed hours and therefore pay and have no benefits. I had major surgery last year and that meant I was just out of work and a paycheck for 3 months. But, my benefits are that I can be there for all of the school programs, etc. and that's worth it to me.

Ann

[NURSEKECK]

I am a Nurse educator for a hhagency, I teach lpns & rns for entry into peds..you can work as much or as little as you want. the biggest thing in Home Care now is peds. trach/vent, because and insurance can reunite the child with the family and safely maintain him at home. Vents sound scary, I know, but they have ltvs now:laptop vents. Very user friendly. you can begin to feel comfortable after 2-4 shifts of preceptorship. good luck!

[flmomrn]

Thanks for taking the time to respond -- I appreciate your help. Sounds like it could be what I need right now, so we'll see!