Weekends and Holidays?

[mimi1]

Do you have to work weekends and holidays at most home health companies? What is the norm? Do you usually have to work every other or every third? How many holidays a year?

Is there such thing as no weekends and holidays as a hh nurse?

Thanks!

mimi1

[renerian, BSN, RN]

In home health I worked alot of weekends, nights and holidays. Much more than when I worked at the hospital.

renerian

[caliotter3]

Whether or not you work weekends or holidays in home health depends entirely upon the schedule you set up with you employer when you are hired and thereafter. If you are doing strictly patient care (shift work) rather than visits, you tell them when you are available, then they fit you where they need you on cases that have open shifts. Most people who work home health and do patient care are working around their regular jobs and schedules, so they will have a certain availability to give to the hh agency and that is that. Those who work full time for the hh agency in a different capacity will not have the same kind of flexibility. These people usually do visits or are nurse supervisors. Normally they will have a commitment that might include on call and/or weekends. Otherwise, you pick the days and shifts that you want to work. As long as the agency has open cases for those days and shifts, you are good to go. As far as holidays are concerned, like any other shift, you have the right to tell them that you are not going to work a certain holiday. Remember, that the person who presents the most availability, is going to get the most case work and will be called ahead of the person who is only available, here and there, and/or calls off often. They soon learn who not to rely on. HTH.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Full time HH. Salaried. I'm back up on call one day every weekend. Usually though it's the DOCS who goes out. We get notified the night before whether we will be needed. As for holidays, we bid for them. They come out of our PTO. So, no paid holidays.

[mimi1]

Thanks for your replies! I was so hoping I wouldnt have to do as many weekends. But I guess it comes with the territory. Thanks again!

[Kirsti1181]

I really think it depends on the agency you are working for. I have to take call about once a month and we don't have paid holidays, but unless you are on call, you don't have to see patients on the holidays. I know some agencies around here have people who only do weekend call so those nurses don't work any weeknds. HTH!