How long are your visits in the home?

mc3, ASN, RN · Apr 17, 2008

You're right - it does vary from case to case. A follow up visit can take me 1/2 hr, or a Crisis Care patient can take 4 hours. And those don't include charting. I usually put 45 min to 1 hr for f/u visits (30 min c patient, 30 min to talk to caregivers, do charting). For full visits, especially if patient is new, I put 1.5 hrs. Keep in mind, though, my days don't usually go as planned!! Thanks one of the many great things about hospice. I can schedule - or reschedule myself later in the day or week - if needed.

mc3:nurse:

curiousauntie · Apr 17, 2008

Hi,
You guys may think my questions are silly, but I am trying to get all the information I can about hospice nursing I can before I make my decision whether I want to take the job or not. So please bear with me!
How many hours do you spend in a home with a pt? I'm sure that depends on the pt and the pt needs, but what is the average time. In home care nursing we spend no more than 1hr tops in a home unless there is a specific need (IV infusion). Just curious.
Thanks
Chrissy

I have 18 patients right now, 5 of them in assisted living facilities on dementia units. With these 5 patients there is not much I can talk to them about, a lot of the visit is talking with the facility staff, reviewing the charts, checking weights and talking to my CHHA who spends her entire shift in that facility. Then I call the family as needed after the visit. For the home patients I usually spend 1 to 1.5 hours with each patient, talking, assessing and talking to the family or caregiver. I do the assessment form while I am talking to the patient so I am sure I don't forget to ask about something. Phone calls to MDs, pharmacy, DME, lab, etc are usually done in the car after the visit. I have a couple of patients that get 1.5 to 2 hours, but both are very alert, oriented, live alone and are very lonely. I tend to give them the last visit of the day so I can spend as much time with them as they need.

I could do the visits in 45 minutes if I needed to, but I feel I am cheating the patient when I do that as most of the visit is "so how are your bowels", check on the form, "how is your pain", write on the form. To me this is too clinical and I like to have a bit more of a personal relationship with my patients and family members.

AtlantaRN, RN · Apr 17, 2008

45 minutes to 3 hours for a regular visit. It depends on the situation and how receptive patient, caregiver is to information.

linda

dailysong · Apr 24, 2008

I think the 45 minutes to 3 hours is very close to what you need to know. The point? There's a wide variety of needs. With new admissions, you can take three hours just getting meds organized and teaching. Remember, Hospice has a lot of teaching and that's going to vary according to the patient/family's "teachable" moments. I love Hospice and would not consider doing Home Care since it is completely different (haven't done it; friends have and tell me).

Good Luck

rnboysmom · Apr 26, 2008

Chrissy

I agree with dailysong-there is a wide variance of time you need to be on a visit, best answer is until you are comfortable that the patient is comfortable/assessed and the family is comfortable with instructions/disease progression. Better question is, does the company you are considering taking a position with ALLOW you to do it right? Do they have backup for you if you get caught up in a situation in a home that involves extra time and education or are you still expected to see your other five patients when you walk out of the home at 4pm. What is the philosophy of the company?

caliotter3 · Apr 26, 2008

Chrissy
I agree with dailysong-there is a wide variance of time you need to be on a visit, best answer is until you are comfortable that the patient is comfortable/assessed and the family is comfortable with instructions/disease progression. Better question is, does the company you are considering taking a position with ALLOW you to do it right? Do they have backup for you if you get caught up in a situation in a home that involves extra time and education or are you still expected to see your other five patients when you walk out of the home at 4pm. What is the philosophy of the company?

I do shift work rather than visits because the way I work, I am sure that they would be pushing me to get more done than I would be comfortable with. I like the fact that I have eight or more hours to get my work and charting completed and I can devote myself to providing proper care rather than rushing to get from house to house like it was factory work. So far I've never been pressured to do visits rather than shifts. I like it that way.

Passion for the Job · May 24, 2008

I'd say a total of 45 minutes (average). that doesn't include the follow up or phone calls.

Allow Mystery · May 25, 2008

40-90 minutes/visit; 2.5 hours/admit

does not include paperwork

Best wishes!

momtotwo · May 26, 2008

Home pt get atleast an hour 2 times a week. The admit process for home is usually 1-2 hours and then 2-3 for paperwork.

GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN · May 27, 2008

Roughly 1 hr for a f/u visit, 1.5-2.5 hrs for an admission, charting not included, computer charting I do partial in home on return visit and at least 1.5 hrs on an admission, some crisis visits can run 1.5 - 2hrs, it varies