new HH RN and i feel the OASIS is tough

Cattitude · Jan 23, 2007

hello, everyone. i recently graduated rn school and took a job with a local hh agency. i am pretty good with the visits (routine visits, that is) but the oasis seems very involved, confusing, and frustrating. i feel like i cant really focus on what the questions are really asking, or when a patient might need a pt referral. i mean, if a patient has dementia and lower extremity weakness, i really dont see how he/she will be able to follow pt exercises. i have always excelled in my other nursing positions as an lpn (acute care, long term care, clinics, surgery) but i really feel frustrated with this oasis tool. i have only done one oasis and that was last week. will this oasis make any sense in the coming weeks or months? i just hate to quit and give up, as i broke my 1 year scholarship with the local hospital, paid it off with a bank loan (3,000 dollars) and really need the nice salary home health offered me, to help pay the loan off. any advice would be much appreciated. thanks!!!:uhoh21:

first, congrats on your rn degree:balloons: . now, don't let the oasis get you flustered, especially only doing one. they are a pita but it does get much easier with practice. i don't think twice about recerts now. i still hate roc and soc but thats only because it takes so darn long:uhoh3:

so don't give up due to oasos, they are just another piece of nursing that you have to get used to.

think back on any first nursing task that made you nervous that you now do with ease. see? same thing.

good luck and :welcome: to hh!

Freebird · Jan 23, 2007

Welcome to HH Nursing. I hope you love it as much as I do. Believe it or not the OASIS does get easier with practice. I start gathering the OASIS data with the first phone call noting if the patient can carry a conversation, are they HOH?, do they give directions well?, are they SOB talking on the phone?

Then I start my observations at the door noting ambulation, use of assistive devices, breathing pattern, etc. I focus my conversation around the OASIS questions such as, tell me about your pain..... When actually answering the questions I think can the patient SAFELY bathe self in shower or safely dress himself, etc. I always recommend a PT evaluation for any patient with impaired mobility, history of falls, Dx of weakness, or noncompliance with activity restrictions. Hope this helps.

jotoRN · Jan 24, 2007

Hi there -

I'm also an RN x2 1/2 yrs exp in LTC and OR, just joined HH 2 weeks ago, and COMPLETELY understand how you feel-my first OASIS is this week, and it looks daunting to say the least. They tell me it will come in time... I agree, the Case Management aspect of HH is unlike most anything school tries to prepare you for - evaluating when therapies necessary and changes in POC are little nerve-wracking right now. Putting it all together, like anything takes time and practice application - they told me give it at least 6 months before threatening to quit over paperwork

Best of luck in your endeavors-perhaps soon we will share tips as well as concerns.

JO