Discussion

Home is where my heart is

Aug 11, 200421 yr

Well, I have done home care for almost 15 yrs on and off, for the last 2 yrs as a supervisor. I had gotten to the point of complete burn out. I took a job at a nearby hospital doing PP and L&D. 7on/7off...... However, on my 7 off I have been doing prn home care for the agency I left full time. Today I saw patients for them, and every patient I saw reminded me of why I became a nurse and why I have done home care for so long.

It was sunny and only 82 degrees here today, and the drive was absolutely beautiful, the patients all wanted to talk about family, and I was able to teach each of them something new about their disease process. I finished my paperwork in the homes and when I got to the office I was there all of 20 minutes this afternoon and completely finished. And didnt have to worry about OASIS deadlines or what nurse was on the phone with a crisis. Picked my children up from their first day of school (cuz you know "its not cool for a 15 and 13 yr old to have to ride the bus home") :chuckle

Each one of the patients thanked me for taking care of them, and coming to see them and asked me when I would be back. Thats what nursing is all about. The simple thank yous

The director there keeps wanting me to come back full time as a field nurse, but I just dont know if I want to. Granted the hospital job hrs are 3-11, and this would be a day job. (hubby would be happy). I am currently working on my RN-BSN, and have been looking at MSN, and my thoughts always go to MSN in community health. Guess home care just kind of gets into your blood after awhile. You either love it or hate it. Guess I fell in love all those yrs ago.

Aug 12, 200421 yr

I can relate to everything you have said! I have to admit, being per diem is a whole lot more enjoyable than case managing! Since I used to CM there, I will follow through on labs etc... referrals, whatever, some per diems just leave a vm to the CM about what needs to be done, but I know if I was the CM I would appreciate every bit of help I could get.

And I was only a weekend coordinator, not a manager with a staff to evaluate etc..., but that alone was huge job, triage referrals, make assignments, re-do based on stat referrals and call-outs, calls from docs, hospitals, nurses in field, CHHA's w problems, and patients needing an urgent visit for this or that and staff stretched to the limit. And that wonderful beeper. Yeah, I'll take staff over that anyday. I just want to be a peon for a while now. I like being w the pt's one-on-one. Even though I do feel I have helped many people via phone, it is nice to have a great day like you did today, good weather, and time left for family.

Home IS where the heart is.

Aug 12, 200421 yr

Author

It was a really good day. When I did get back to the office this afternoon, the nurse that has been working as the supervisor had this reallllllllly stressed look on her face, the phone was ringing off the hook, and there were nurses standing at her desk as she was trying to work out tomorrows schedule. 32 visits, 4 admits, and 3 full time nurses, one of which has to be off tomorrow for some kind of appt. She had this look on her face like a scared child. I dont know how else to explain it. I dont miss any of that!

Working prn is good for me. My husband laughs and says that I go from one end of the life spectrum to the other every other week, but hey, least I have a little variety, and isnt variety the spice of life???