I need advice. I work PRN for a Home Health Company who has not been able to make payroll on time twice now. What should I do?

Specialties Home Health

Updated:   Published

Any advice welcome and appreciated. I have had a difficult time finding a nursing job I enjoyed. I recently found my nursing happy spot in home health. I enjoy the independence, the flexibility and the one on one with the patients. I finally feel like I am really helping people. Now for the zinger! My company has been late with paychecks twice in a row. What should I do? Can I just quit? Should I quit? My patients depend on me; but, I can not afford to see them for free. Some of my patients are as far as 65 miles from my house. That is a lot of gas and mileage. Last pay period our checks were 4 days late with no prior notice. I didn't know I didn't get paid until my car payment declined. This week I have not gotten paid yet. Do I give 2 weeks notice and continue to drive around at my own expense? Do I tell my employer I can't afford to see patients until I am paid? What happens if no one sees my patients? How should I handle this?

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Get a new job. A hh agency to this day owes me close to a thousand dollars. I only followed up once and allowed them to get away with it. Another agency reported income to who know who that they never paid me. Who do you think suffered from all of this? You need to take care of you. You can’t do your job and also manage payroll. Find the new job and then give notice.

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Thanks Caliotter3. You're right. I am concerned about what will happen to my patients but my caseload is low right now so why add to it.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

I tend to believe that ANY employer that has those problems of LATE payrolls is an 'agency in crisis'. As in financial troubles, legal troubles, poor income NOT matching outpaying debts, internal funds embezzlement, etc.

I suspect they may soon be going 'belly up' or going out of business.

I doubt you have any sway or hold over them that would allow you to NOT have to see your pts until they clear up their problems. You just couldn't do a work stoppage and expect them to still employ you.

But you do have the option of seeking another job and quitting AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

If they're not paying you, makes me think, what else are they not paying? Malpractice insurances, banked employee benefits, auto insurances???

You might just show up at the bldg. ine day and find the doors LOCKED and a sign on the door.

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Specializes in ICU/ER/Med-Surg/Case Management/Manageme.

I appreciate and respect your desire to care for your patients and not wanting to leave them in a lurch. I suspect we've all been through those feelings at various times - in the hospital, HH, even tele-nursing. However, regardless of how benevolent you may be, you need to be able to pay your bills in order to ultimately care for those patients. And, speaking for myself, I chose nursing as a job, much like any other profession, but with the human/caring/kind aspect. I want my money. Your patients have the option of choosing another agency and they will as soon as HH providers don't show.

One other thing...when you make the change, DO NOT tell your patients or families why you are leaving. When asked, just the standard "job with better fit," etc. It will be tempting to tell them or to tell them to locate another agency ASAP but don' do it. Maintain your professionalism. Always.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

As a nurse you have a skill that is in high demand and you need to leverage that for better pay. You should think about leaving home health and working in a hospital where you have better earning potential. I bet you could double your annual income in a couple years if you get acute care experience. Nurses should stop selling themselves short and optimize their income by leveraging their skills.

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Get a new job ASAP, your employer is going bankrupt.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Home Health, Corrections, School Nurse.

The ONE time I continued working for an agency that was late with payment I got totally screwed. They went out of business and I never got a dime. Don't do it.

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I worked for a HH agency like this and it is NOT worth it. Find another job. There are plenty out there.

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13 hours ago, CardioNeuroNurse said:

As a nurse you have a skill that is in high demand and you need to leverage that for better pay. You should think about leaving home health and working in a hospital where you have better earning potential. I bet you could double your annual income in a couple years if you get acute care experience. Nurses should stop selling themselves short and optimize their income by leveraging their skills.

Not true. I left the hospital for a pay increase.

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I bet we work for the same company. I personally have multiple jobs so I'm not hurting but this is totally ridiculous to me. I'm silently looking for a different part time/prn job. I like what I do and its really a perfect fit for me but this financial situation is very concerning to me and I think it will possibly get worse. I think there are things we are not being told. The input from others has really put it in perspective.

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Specializes in ICU/ER/Med-Surg/Case Management/Manageme.
14 hours ago, CardioNeuroNurse said:

As a nurse you have a skill that is in high demand and you need to leverage that for better pay. You should think about leaving home health and working in a hospital where you have better earning potential. I bet you could double your annual income in a couple years if you get acute care experience. Nurses should stop selling themselves short and optimize their income by leveraging their skills.

This is certainly ill-advised advice. First, many have found great satisfaction in HH nursing and other areas of nursing, e.g., school nursing, telenursing...so many areas.

Second, earning potential isn't necessarily better in a hospital. Many factors to consider. After many years of hospital nursing, I left that arena, took a very small pay cut, but no longer worked holidays, nights, weekends...wasn't bombarded with constant calls from nursing supervisors trying to staff. (And the main difference in pay was attributable to the shift diffs, w/e diffs, etc. but it was so nice knowing I was going to have holidays and weekends and home with friends/family). In my opinion, hospital nurses are going to be in less demand in years to come as healthcare delivery systems change. Already, we see insurance companies covering virtual doctor visits.

Third, you sound like someone with limited nursing experience. I have years of experience in critical care, case management, ER, telephonic, clinic (everything except peds and women's health) and I can assure you every area has skill sets in high demand.

Finally, I can assure you a moderately experienced HH nurse would never double her/his annual salary in a hospital. However, I do know several HH nurses who have come close to doubling their prior hospital salaries. They work hard, lots of hours but hospital nurses do, too.

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