Home health vs. acute care

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Just a question. I have noticed that frequently when someone is sharing how burnt out they are in acute care, posters recommend home health as being lower stress. Like many of you I have done both. I found home health to be less stressful in terms of being able to focus on one thing at a time and the friendliness of family members. However, for me this was more than offset by the lack of resources, both material and co-workers to help and bounce things off of. I went back to acute care after about a year. I found I actually needed to know more and be more creative in home health; it didn't feel easier at all. What is your experience between the two types of nursing?

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after nursing for 13 years in acute care, mostly Emerg & CCU/Transplant, I too felt burnt out. The politics & stress were making me dread going to work, not to mention the long stretch of 12 hour day/nights because we were short staffed. I switched to homecare on the advice of a friend. I love it! Yes it can be stressful but I'm amazed at the depth & scope of knowledge I have developed as well as super organizational skills. I don't know where you did Homecare but here in Ontario if I need supplies one phone call & I have them next day, same day if it an emergency. I develop wonderful relationships with my patients & feel I truly practice holistic nursing. I always have a collegue or supervisor at the other end of the phone if I have a problem. With the advent of cell phones that double as cameras, I have on one or two occasions taken a picture of a wound e-mailed to our wound care nurse & had an answer in less than 5 minutes! Yes I work 1 in 3 weekends & yes I may have to do 1,2 or 3 evenings a month but our shifts are 8hrs. sometimes less & evenings start at 1 end at 9 & on call is from 9 to 10pm. Politics? Smaller team less politics. Do your job well, get the paperwork in on time leave a good report & there are no problems. Would I go back to hospital? Never! Hope that answers your question.:up::nurse:

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Specializes in ED/trauma.
Just a question. I have noticed that frequently when someone is sharing how burnt out they are in acute care, posters recommend home health as being lower stress. Like many of you I have done both. I found home health to be less stressful in terms of being able to focus on one thing at a time and the friendliness of family members. However, for me this was more than offset by the lack of resources, both material and co-workers to help and bounce things off of. I went back to acute care after about a year. I found I actually needed to know more and be more creative in home health; it didn't feel easier at all. What is your experience between the two types of nursing?

I do both (FT at hospital & per diem at HH).

I find that HH is a sort of respite for me from the stressors of acute care, while acute care keeps me on my toes for the assessment skills I need to survive on my own in HH. One of my biggest stressors is that I'm an introvert at heart, so working TWELVE hours with LOTS of people is a big emotional stressor. Working HH with ONE patient, and maybe a/some family member(s), still allows me to be a nurse but is less emotionally demanding at the same time.

Ideally (which I will do in the future!), I would work per diem for hospital and HH.

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I work for a company that does both home health and hospice. I hope I never have to go back to the hospital! I have wonderful resources. Supplies can sometime be a challenge but co-worker support is awesome. I know that I can call any one of the nurses (management or not) and get the support I need. Anytime day or night. I think it all depends on the agency and your coworkers. My agency is state wide and I know our branch is unique. I have helped out in several of the other branches and could not wait to get back home!

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I could say ditto to most of what's been said sofar. I switched from working in a hospital to home care and never regretted the move. I remember how I felt the last two years in a hospital setting...frustrated, confused, stupid, used, misunderstood helpless..and so on. Now after being in home care for 8 years or so I feel secure, confident, respected, motivated and professional. This will sound corny, but home nursing really has shown me that I was meant to be a nurse. I love having to be creative and resourceful. I enjoy working between doctors, thearapists, pharmacists and medical supply firms. I like being the coordinator for a new palliative care patient and getting everything arranged so that he or she can come home and experience his last days in peace and comfort with family and loved ones. I can really make a difference in my little corner of the world in home care nursing. I can also say after all this that I don't regret my years as a hospital nurse. Everyone should put in some time there to experience the system and learn the basics. What I learned there was critical for my confidence and decision making ability in home care.:prdnrs:

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I've only done home care. I've just been so happy I've never wanted to go to a hospital. I love my patience and would miss caring for them.

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