info re: Gentiva in FL/Hospice of Dothan, AL

[paulamac]

Hi.

I am gathering information about two potential employers: Hospice out of Dothan, AL (I live in Pensacola, FL and they have an office here as well) and Gentiva Home Health. Does anybody have experience with either of these? If so, please tell me how it is to work for them, the pay rate, schedule the patient load, etc. Also, what kinds of skills are used in this type of nursing? I'm a new nurse, second career, with nearly a year of experience working nights on a med-surg floor at a local hospital. I like the work but 8-9 patients is not do-able and I can't keep up with the stress of it longterm. I don't feel safe or that I'm doing a very good job of caring for patients, so I'm outta there asap, although I hate to leave the support of great friends I've made in other RNs. Please advise if you know anything about either of these two agencies. Thanks.

PM

[katwoman7755]

Depends on which hospice you might be referring to....I used to live in ft walton beach, and the hospice I worked for also had a branch in dothan, yet i know there are probably several. Just curious if you want to name the agency.

Kathryn

[paulamac]

The one I'm talking about is Emerald Coast Hospice. It's relatively new, I think.

[katwoman7755]

I am fairly familiar with them....I lived in FWB for 2 years....did not work for hospice of the emerald coast, but the other in town. I know they are a bigger entity in alabama, but also growing in florida. I don't think I've really heard anything bad about them....I know that they are really part of a larger corporation that bought hospice of the emerald coast, but kept the name. I think this company has numerous agencies, including home health and DME. As far as Gentiva, I would guess it's just pretty much standard home health stuff....guess it depends on what you want to do....hospice or home health. I've done both...but have their pros and cons. Think you would be ok with either of those companies.

Kathryn

[katwoman7755]

I just reread your original post and realized you were in pensacola....have you looked into Covenant hospice? That's where I worked in FWB...the corporate office is based out of pensacola. They have their regular office there where all regular field visits originate from, but they also have an inpatient residence and they have a new unit in west fla hospital...they have a website that posts available job openings. Just a thought.

Kathryn