Is home health good for new Grads

tabster224 · Jul 9, 2011

I honestly think you need at the minimum 1 year med/surg experience before doing home health. Your feelings of you not knowing what is going on in the nursing world is the reason why. Without the hospital or at the very least SNF experience, I think you are doing yourself a huge injustice and opening up yourself to a possible lawsuit. I don't know won't work if you do something wrong. JMHO.

beatrice1 · Jul 9, 2011

just to clariify, this job is more of long term cases. I have two cases that are stable clients. I do visits that are 5-8 hour shifts. it is more CNA work than anything. I do not go in and do the initial visit, care plan, ect.

But this is the other reason I am questioning whether this is the right choice, because I am not learning any new skills by being with the same client over and over again.

I do love homecare and patient care, but I want to be the best Nurse I can be no matter what area I work in.

This is the reason I was taking the job, I was a CNA for many years before nursing school. But, I do understand the difference between Nursing and CNA responsibilities.

KateRN1 · Jul 9, 2011

Here's how I look at it, right or wrong: Nursing school is there to teach you the very rudimentary basics of nursing and how to pass boards. The nursing world is there to teach you how to be a nurse. Home health care positions generally are meant for nurses who have already gone through phases 1 and 2, have honed their skills as a professional nurse, and are ready to function reasonably autonomously without constant supervision.

If you are doing extended care cases, then you probably are missing out on learning how to be a nurse. However, that experience may help you to land a position in a more acute setting if you keep trying. Keep applying to SNFs, rehabs, hospitals, etc.

beatrice1 · Jul 9, 2011

Karen, you hit it right on the head. I feel as though I'm not learning to act/think "like a nurse". I feel as though I am learning to be a really good CNA, which will help me in the field, but I went to school to move on to be a nurse at a higher level.

I did take the position to gain more experience to helpfully add to my resume for future positions, hopefully in a hospital setting. I will keep applying and I'm sure something will open up sooner or later.

My original question was what else can I do to stay on top of the nursing field, how can I get involved in additional training, continuing credit hours....ect. Are there ways to get trained in IV insertion, wound care...ect. if you are not working in a hospital?

Any info will be appreciated.

caliotter3 · Jul 9, 2011

But you are employed, and you are employed as a nurse. That fact will go further in getting you a "better" job in nursing than waiting at home for the "perfect" opportunity to come along. There really are many nurses who would be thankful to have your boring nursing job.

beatrice1 · Jul 9, 2011

Caliotter3, I think you are misunderstanding my post... I don't consider the job boring. I actually love home care and patient care.. My concern is that I am a Brand New Nurse, and I think I should get a really good foundation in physical assessment, critical thinking... ect.

I did take the job because I knew I could do it and I want to work. And of course it will look better on my resume that I was working and not employed at all since graduation.

My perfect job is me being the best Nurse I can be no matter what field it is in.

I am very grateful to have a job at all and I will do the job to the best of my ability. Thank you for all that gave me your "experienced" advice.

I'm sure there are other new nurses in the same situation as me ??

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2011

Yes, I graduated in May as a BSN, passed my boards in June and the only job that I've found up to here is a private duty job. (No CNA experience ***** you over completely.) It's peds. The kiddos are generally very stable. What I find kind of depressing is that I'm basically doing care that the parents have also been trained to do. The hardest part is getting used to doing ADLs -- I've never changed a diaper on a wiggly 13 year-old but there you go. Like you, my shifts average 5-12 hours per child which is good because they don't reimburse for gas mileage.

My fear is that I'm pidgin-holing myself. The mantra is that once you get into long-term care or home health, you can't get out. Getting a hospital job right off opens up so many other doors.

beatrice1 · Jul 14, 2011

This is also what I am finding. The clients are stable, but once you learn the job... there is nothing else to learn. The Parents are there also, One of my jobs is just sitting up overnight and watching her O2 Sats, repositioning her Q2h.

I applied for a job in a Doctor's office and I was just called for an interview. I feel bad leaving the HomeCare job so soon after taking the job, but I feel it's not the best fit for me at this time.

I still think it's better for you to be doing this job than none at all, it is still something to put on your resume and it shows that you can be versatile, and willing to learn. Just list everthing you learned on your resume as skills that you have.

Good luck