Hate Home health job

Specialties Home Health

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I have been working at home health for 6 weeks and hate it. I feel that that all of the documentation I have to do at home is like having homework and that it is hanging over my head. The documentation is ridiculous and the wear and tear on the car is horrendous as well as the computer problems I have been having since day one. I actually think hospital nursing is better than this in a lot of ways. Home health seems more chaotic and unorganized. I do not think I am cut out for this and am seriously contemplating quitting. Maybe I should give it some more time. Does it get better?

I think the point system is insane and that is probably why so many people quit. They need to go by hours IMO. All that said I am unsure about it myself just d/t fact that they expect you to "stay productive" within the point system but they do not promise you guaranteed hours in return. Even when I worked 40+hours per week I did not get benefits or paid time off because I was technically part-time. They need to restructure the system if they want nurses to stay..just my opinion. :up:

OMG>>> YES!!!! I am constantly stressed out about the productivity points and stuff. I work so many hours, and my clients are sooo far out and rural that literally 5 or 6 clients can be over an 8 hour day when you include your driving time.

I have learned though.. I cannot do it all, and refuse to stress about it. if I dont get to it, I dont get to it and if they cannot see how much I really do drive and my times, that is on them, not me. my mileage alone should allow me to drop my points down to half time requirements.

As for home health? I do LOVE IT!!! I love making my own schedules, my own times, my own plans, etc.. I love most of my clients and I have fun seeing them and they enjoy it when I do come. I really enjoy being a fully encompassing nurse and addressing ALL their health care needs, and being that patient advocate I could never be when I worked the floor. often times its ME who sends them to the doctor, or orders the needed testing to see what is going on, and really just makes them safe to be at home. if you have a good crew.. nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and medical social workers.. the client gets great care and with the group I work with, we are all very much in contact with each other to fulfill all the needs of the client. IMO: recovery and management at home is the way to go and clients can recover better if they dont feel pressured to get out of the hospital or left to their own devices.

I learned this last one before I ever went to home health, when I was recovering from my own surgery and my surgeon ordered skilled nursing.

Again on this one: if you do not feel you can fully devote yourself to the job, then change jobs as the client will be able to sense it, if you are unhappy. remember, we are often their last line of communication. we will see stuff that they wont even tell their doctors, intervene when there is a problem socially, medically or even economically by helping bring in other disciplines and programs.

It definitely isnt for the faint at heart, and often you do have to really think on your feet. you are out there on your own, and besides calling 911, often help is not around.

1 Votes

Hey. I know my reply is late but i totally feel same way. I dont know how to chart and everytime i look at the doc/charting/teaching/assessment chart my brain does not to function very well.

So did you end up staying?

Great post and advise. I've done bedside nursing for four years and needed a change of pace. So I'm looking forward to home health.

So,min just wanted to chime in before I go to my next patient. I've been working for the HH agency I work for for almost 5 years now. It will be 5 years this October. I've been an RN for 18 years. I've done a wide variety of things in the hospital that I believe helped prepare me for this job, but anyone that says Home Health is easy is lying to you. It has it's good and it's bad.

My agency when we started we were charting on big clunky laptops. A couple years ago we went to iPads that have 4G LTE. Along with this came the fact that documentation was wanted almost immediately, although that ain't always the case.

Recently I have been going through something on my personal life that I need more money for. That and the fact that we just switched to a new software for charting in June meant that I had to sink or swim. I had to buckle down, get organized and compete my charting and not be on the bad-boy list of people with incomplete documentation. Documentation is a HUGE part of healthcare unfortunately and I hate it. Whomever created OASIS should be water boarded. LoL.

It helps to communicate with my manager and the person who assigns new patients. I keep in constant contact although most of our contact is through text messages or emails.

My agency is pretty family oriented. So they are pretty understanding if something comes up, they just want communication. They have been there for me in times of need.

Our agency does a lot of Medicare and Medicare replacement plan patients, so all care HAS to have a skilled need. Often times patients believe that home health will be permanent, or that we should stay in the home longer or be there 24/7. People have a misguided picture of what home health actually IS. I have had many ask me when someone was going to come clean thier house, or apartment. Like we are a maid service or something. I've had some tell me I need to come give them thier pills 4 times a day. I've had family members walk out and tell me I have to stay with the patient 24/7.

I thought I was going to go nuts a few weeks ago when I heard about the 5th patient say "I can't do that". I very much dislike the words I can't. I also dislike that most of my patients want to be seen from about 12-1pm. When I have a day with 8-10 visits there is no way that I can get it done without stating at a bare minimum of 8am. I get "THaTS to early, when I say I well be there between 9 and 10 about 20'times a week.

I drive a company car now. About $120 twice a month comes out of my paycheck but I never have to pay for gas or maintaining it. That's nice. To always have a reliable vehicle.

I also hate the fact that FAR too many patients are discharged from the hospital far too early, and far too often when people need a Skilled Nursing Facility or a rehab but either refuse to go to one, or cannot afford it, Home Health is ordered and seen as a viable alternative to 24hr care. It's also sad when so many family members simply refuse to help the patient or do anything, but want to collect mom or dads or grandmas monthly check to pay their rent.

It CAN be very rewarding. It is a,so very challenging. It took me years to get to this point, honestly. Your job is NEVER done. Always more tomorrow. LoL. But, that's the way it is.

My best advice is to be as organized as possible, remain somewhat flexible, try to tackle challenges, and do the best your can and always try to do what's right. I still get flustered when I plan out my whole day for the next day and then I'm given a SOC or something to throw in the mix. It's tough. I love my patients that let me come early, cherish them. I try to schedule my visits for 8-4pm. Sometimes I'm a little later. I try to get OASIS done IN the home, as well as meds entered. Our new software this can be done pretty quickly.

Sometimes getting calls back from Dr offices can be impossible. I simply chart whom I left a messege with. Google "Dr office not returning calls" or something like that. It's a challenge. poor VA patients seem to be left in the dust still. Things are only slightly better for them. We have very good PT and OT and Speech therapists and I love them all. Our a bath aids work hard too.

It's tough. But so is ANY nursing. Being an RN or LPN, I've never had or seen an EASY job or one without stress. This one you need to be able to be autonomous and get things done and treat it like a business in a way. In the moment with the patient, be a nurse, but always thinking ahead.

1 Votes

If you don't mind my asking, are you in F?

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I work for a Medicare based agency in Dallas, TX. My employer still would want to continue with paper documentation only, which makes it a lot difficult to turn the assessment in 24 hour time frame. For the most part, we do it in 48 hours. But, having a software for documentation could make it a little easier. I wonder, if still there are any agencies around working on paper documentation, other than the one I work for. One of my colleagues mentioned that there still is a significant portion of home health agencies, around the nation, that still do paper documentation. Is that right?

I have been new in this industry. Just 3 months ago, I took up my job in home health. This is my first job as RN. Documenting OASIS, literally is killing me. I really have had some tough time. Last week, our agency received a post card, with an advertisement of someone offering templates for OASIS documentation and some patient education material. My employer was not keen on buying that for the visiting staff. But, it was just for 5 bucks. As it is an expense I could easily afford, I went ahead and signed up for it. The site is worth the money I am paying.

I know this post was from over 2 years ago but I'm just seeing it now and would like to know what state you work in?

Long story short: For the vast majority, it does not get better. There are exceptions.

1 Votes
I have been new in this industry. Just 3 months ago, I took up my job in home health. This is my first job as RN. Documenting OASIS, literally is killing me. I really have had some tough time. Last week, our agency received a post card, with an advertisement of someone offering templates for OASIS documentation and some patient education material. My employer was not keen on buying that for the visiting staff. But, it was just for 5 bucks. As it is an expense I could easily afford, I went ahead and signed up for it. The site is worth the money I am paying.

Gan2017, please share what is the website? This would be a huge help to me. Thank you!

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