New HH Gig.. Semi unsure...

Specialties Home Health

Published

So I was just hired on by a small HH agency last week, and a few things seem off to me... They make me slightly uneasy about accepting the position, so I thought I'd get your opinions on it.

1. The interview -- Not really an interview. When I spoke with the woman on the phone, she asked me about my past experience and was most interested in if I had done peds HH before. I have, and she asked me to come in for an in-person interview. When I got to the office, I filled out an app and then met with the interviewer. She proceeded to tell me about the case I'd be working on. The hours, pay rate, the child's condition, ect.... After hearing all of it, she asked if I was interested. I said yes, and she hired me on the spot. She didn't once ask me about myself, my work ethic, background, ect. I found that unsettling.

2. The hours -- I'd be working 3-4 10's. Which is fine. But they had a statement in their paperwork saying that they didn't pay overtime. Isn't that illegal? And we have to take on the clock meal breaks... which is understandable seeing as how I'd be the only nurse there. But I have worked for another company (non-nursing) in which management was basically forced to give up their rights for meal breaks. The company ended up being sued, even though the managers signed away this right, and they had to pay for all the missed meal breaks. Makes me wonder, is not being paid overtime/skipping meal breaks illegal? And what would the future repercussions be?

3. Orientation -- Orientation is in a few days, but its an un-paid orientation. I have NEVER worked for a company that has an un-paid orientation. Again, illegal?

4. Training -- I understand that as an LVN I've already received tons of training in school, but my other LVN jobs have provided pretty extensive on the job training. The other HH place I worked for had me out with a RN and then a LVN for 2 weeks before they allowed me to start going out on my own. And the SNF I worked at had be training for 2 weeks. Their training? 2 hours. I get that my case is pretty simple, but 2 hours? Seems very short...

What are your thoughts?

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

Nothing in your post is unusual. However, it paints a not very pretty picture of your employer. You will find that maybe 2 out of 100 hh employers are of the category we would call "excellent". All the rest employ some, if not all, of the practices you wrote about. As for the overtime, one way to get around that is to not be "available" for cases over 8 hours. Otherwise, you will have to choose between your job and a complaint with the Labor Board. Since the orientation is unpaid, you can request longer than two hours, but you will probably find out that it is not necessary. (Remember, since unpaid and not assigned yet, do not touch the patient, just ask questions of the nurse on duty and watch procedures). Make certain to get a copy of the 485 to go over on your own. Good luck.

ItsTheDude

621 Posts

1. they just want a warm body so they can bill, make money off your work.

2. what they say and what the law requires are 2 differ things.

3. if it's required, then see #2 above.

4. refer to #1 above.

as the other poster stated, hh isn't a model for excellence.

This maybe a silly question but what is a 485?? :confused: Thanks.... By the way I look all nurses I have learned so much from this site in the last few years (and will continue to learn).

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

The CMS-485 is the Dept of Health and Human Svcs, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Svcs form titled "Home Health Certification and Plan of Care". It basically is the plan of care for the homecare patient that, when signed by the certifying physician, forms the basis for the care provided by the home health nurses. Home health nurses are required to read and follow this plan of care each time they make a visit or work a shift in the home. Their documentation must reflect that they followed the plan of care, same as in any facility where a plan of care is used for patients.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, Peds, Pediatraic Home Care, Infusion.

This is typical HH. You are expected to have experience and if you do have experience you do not need much orientation as these are stable home care patients and if they are not then they belong in the hospital.

You are taking your lunch in the home during your paid time.

You only have one patient.

Some companies let you know right off how they are going to treat you. Some are just awful but if your only contact with them is during the initial orientation then you decide if the case is worth it.

No over time is typical. Working in hospitals I do not get over time until after forty hours even is I work a fifteen hour shift.

You have to weigh the good verses the bad and then make you decision based on your results.

HH verses Hospitals= both are trying to get as much blood as possible without compensating you for the blood loss.

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