interviewing for a ft/rn hh position

[rward12]

Good afternoon, i am currently an rn w an ad working ft on a very busy med/surg unit in a large metro hosp in pgh. I am considering a ft position as a home health nurse working for the same organization which is the largest here in pgh. Im nervous about this potential switch. There r multiple reasons for considering this switch, many of which im sure most can relate. I would love to hear from all with experience in full time rn positions in home health. For instance, what should i b asking during the interview? What is ur day like? What is Oasis C? The hours r 8 to 430 mon thru fri. Is home health care nursing safe? Are there any helpful books available? I simply am burned out w med surg nursing, swinging shifts, having 9 patients and being in charge on night shift, often not having an aide, etc. Please help! I love what i do but hate the circumstances under which i have to work. Any advice is appreciated.

[caliotter3]

Any bad day in hh tends to be better than most days elsewhere. In one sentence you are going to find it difficult to beat caring for only one patient at a time.

[rward12]

thank you....i think at this point, i'm going to go on this interview, find out what it's all about and make an informed, intelligent decision. wish me luck...just feeling really burned out with med/surg and unfortunately some cut throat nurses

[caliotter3]

Home health is good for burn out; best if you go for extended care rather than intermittent visits. You should have minimal to no contact with other nurses, quite a relaxing treat. You will enjoy hh.

[twokidsmom,rn]

I will not go back to hospital work. I like HH but trying to find the right company that fits for me. There is no such thing as a perfect job. I have switched too many times and I hope I am going to fit into this new company. You never know if HH is right for you unless you try it. AND you have to give it time. It will be hard at first because it is different way of thinking. For example in the hospital you are always trying to discharge but in HH you are always trying to keep your patients. There is no rush you have time to talk and get to know what your patient really needs. The grass is not always greener but you never know till you try it. Even my last manager said that I need to see what is on the other side. My suggestion is go for it keep an open mind. Good luck

[HealthyNurse]

My worst day in HH was still better or comparable to my best day in acute care. I never enjoyed acute care though and even when I was in nursing school, I knew I wanted to practice nursing outside of the hospital. Could you ask for a shadowing experience if the interview goes well? If it is a reputable company, they should be agreeable to that. It would at least give you a snapshot into what HH nursing is like. Many people find the documentation overwhelming, but there are ways to learn to deal with it and even overcome it to some degree. The documentation requirements are not going to go away, but I find the people that struggle the most with documentation are those who don't document in the home. It is challenging to learn to do it and do it well, but once you do, it will really help to balance your time.

OASIS is one of the documentation requirements. It is a way that outcomes are tracked and reimbursement by Medicare is determined for skilled HH. The OASIS is done at certain timepoints, such as admission, discharge, transfer, or return home from the hospital.

You should go on the interview and keep an open mind. I never understand why nurses are so afraid to make changes and are willing to stay miserable in a job that they don't enjoy when there are SO many options out there. If it turns out that you don't like home health, you can always go back to the hospital...or explore some other option. Home health is the best thing that happened in my career. It is my niche in nursing and it has opened so many other opportunities that I would have never imagined. Good luck!

[KateRN1]

OP, you are asking for specifics where we can only provide generalities. Comparing an unknown hospital with an unknown home care environment is nearly impossible. Every day, every agency, every geographic location is different. The issues that I face in Florida are very different from the issues that someone in North Dakota faces. Your best bet is to continue reading, search the internet, visit the CMS website, and learn as much as you can. HH is not an easy gig, but for some it's a good fit. Every nursing position has its stressors and benefits. For many of us in HH, one of benefits is working during normal work hours, but one of the stressors is that there is really not a "day off" because you will be expected to answer phone calls from patients and docs, the office, etc., even on a day off. Heck, I even did an admission during my vacation last week.

We don't know if it's right for you, only you can decide that. Do your homework.