Is this normal or is it time to find a new agency?

Specialties Home Health

Published

I started in HH shortly after being licensed in Feb, so I'm still pretty darn new to this field. I feel like I'm being taken advantage of but maybe this is the norm in HH? When I was hired, my manager told me I would be working full time. Apparently what she meant was 30-40 hrs/week but technically per diem. I found out after hire that they only offer full time to office staff and case managers (who work 60hrs/week for a 40 hr salary!). I have no PTO, no option for health insurance and no holiday pay. They don't offer a company cell phone or any kind of reimbursement for the crazy number of minutes I blow through calling docs, pharmacies and other nurses. I'm an RN making $20/visit ($30 for the elusive oasis visit) after my first raise. Average starting rate for hospitals in my area is around $24. After finding out that I worked 10 hours on the 4th of July and will not be receiving holiday pay I'm so ready to throw in the towel. Honestly, I love my patients and most of my coworkers but I made almost as much and was treated better when I was waiting tables in college! Someone please tell me that it's just this company that treats its nurses like this and there is still hope for me out there!

Specializes in Pulmonary, Lung Transplant, Med/Surg.

No phone reimbursement or holiday pay? I'd be moving along to the next agency. I'm not sure where you live but I live in a VERY LOW cost of living city and make more than that an hour. If I see more than 6 patients/have more than 6 productivity a day I get paid extra even though I'm salary. Milage reimbursement at IRS rate. Sounds like you're getting screwed!

Specializes in Pulmonary, Lung Transplant, Med/Surg.

Also forgot, our per diem nurses don't receive benefits either, anywhere in the system (very large hospital/community system). They get paid more to make up for that. Most I've known have a spouse who has insurance for family.

Specializes in Pedi.

The per visit rate for my agency is $40. You are being screwed. If you are technically per diem, though, I wouldn't expect benefits. You can easily find an agency that will offer you benefits if you are working full-time. Employees who work 20 hrs/week are benefits eligible at my agency.

Thanks for your input guys! Had I known it would per diem I probably would not have accepted the offer because I know how rare it is for benefits to be offered to per diem staff. The thing is though- they don't hire "part time" employees and they only offer full time status to office staff and case managers. NONE of our visit nurses are getting benefits! So here's my question now...Do you think it will look bad on a resume leaving my first job in nursing after only 4 or 5 months? And how do I address this in an interview without it seeming like I'm bad-mouthing my employer?

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

You can honestly say you needed a job with benefits. It's a statement of fact and in no way bad mouths your former employer.

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