Homecare Ontario

linzz · Jul 13, 2009

Hello Dez.in.ON: I wonder if you could help me out: How much work are you getting on average? Do you feel that you will be able to continue in homecare?

I see a lot of help wanted ads for homecare, is that because people don't do it for long or other reasons?

Thank you

Dez.in.ON · Jul 13, 2009

Hi Linzz,

I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can.

First, I will clarify that I am now working 'part time' by choice. My visits 'right now' are less than twenty/wk. Before last Christmas, they were closer to 35-40/wk.

Visits are down, which could be due to numerous reasons. There seems to always be a seasonal slow time. First, this time of year, many surgeons and people are vacationing, therefore people may be putting off elective surgeries until after the summer. Many of the cases that we see are for wound care, new diabetics, ostomy care...people who are discharged from hospital.

Our role as nurses in the community is to 'teach and reduce' which can be done in most cases. Because the clinics are relatively new in this area, it is hard to determine how much of a difference this is making with the reduction of in home calls. Clients may get one or two visits from a visiting nurse and be sent to the clinics for their treatment. Of course there will always be clients that are unable to get to a clinic for treatment and status quo will remain.

My personal feeling is that the implementation of clinics is going to make a huge difference in our caseloads.

Many of our 'casual' nurses have a second job. Nurses that are classified as 'full time' may in fact not be getting full time hours...there are no minimums and no guarantees...that is the difficult part.

Linzz, the ads do seem to be out there, you're correct. My 'guess' is that it is probably difficult to keep nurses on staff if/when they find an income that they can budget on. This (agency) would suit someone with younger children (because you can often work around family needs), who is wanting to suppplement another income.

I hope to continue with homecare on a part time basis.

Bye the way, I read in one of the former posts that VON is a private agency and unionized. VON (as far as I know) is not a private agency, but it is unionized.

linzz · Jul 13, 2009

Thank you for your response. I hope that you are able to continue getting the hours that you want as you sound like a very devoted nurse.

Fiona59 · Jul 13, 2009

When it comes to VON, union status may depend on the province it's located in.

It's also considered a charitable agency, so, in theory, non profit

http://www.von.ca/en/about/history.aspx

misyan · Jan 7, 2011

Hi, I just got an interview with VON as a support worker. And I am a health science student. It says on my job duty that I will be providing support to children with disabilities and will be matched on a part time contracted basis. So I guess this is similar to being a personal support worker? I didn't really expected a reply when I applied. Is this a good beginner job as a Health Sci student? Thanks for the advice.

Trishrpn80 · Jan 19, 2011

Hi,

I work at ST. Elizabeth in a rural area. I make good money per yr actually more in 2010 doing only homecare then in 2009 where i worked the hospital and homecare.

Bnefits:

No shift work ( not a morning person)

Basically 9-5

Work every other weekend

My days off are my own - no call ins

Schedule fits my life

Able to write off my car, gas, office supplies on taxes

Cons:

Lower wages than hospital per hr but has been made up in other areas

Doing paperwork in the evening sometimes

Some days u can b slow and others busy

Can have slow times at certain times but with hosp bed shortages the community is getting busier almost yr round

Need to have a certain personality for it.

If u want any other info just pm me.

I have been in the community almost 2 yrs and love it!!!