Job Offer in Home Health

[iowanursemom]

I have been looking to make a job change. I was recently offered a position in home health. 0.8 FTE, every 3rd weekend, rotating holidays. I am currently on a med/surg floor that specializes in ortho and neuro (we can take any type of med/surg pt though) 0.9 FTE 12 hour shifts, every 3rd weekend, 2 holidays/year. Those who have been in home health tell me the pros and cons, and if you've worked in the hospital how does it compare? Thanks!

[PurpleDaisy🌸]

I don't know what area you're in milesims but I've never seen a HHC position that offered less than the hospital, at least in my state. I went from making 19.50/hr bedside to 35/routine visit and 75/admit (9 years ago). Current rates in my area are 40-50/routine visit and 100-125/admit. LVN's are making around 35/visit. Salaries can be low but a lot of companies are moving away from straight salary and paying on visit or point system. The lowest paid salaries can be supplemented working PRN with other companies. Its easier to pick up extra visits in HHC than it is to have to pick up an entire shift at the hospital, especially if your visits are grouped together. Companies in this area sometimes pay 1/2 point or visit rate for traveling over a certain amount of miles. Sometimes they offer company cars instead. Benefits are not always as comprehensive as the hospital (insurance is more expensive, very rarely has tuition reimbursement, etc) but that's the trade off for having more flexibility.

And I definitely wouldn't say you'll see so many different types of patients - you'll see mostly COPD, CHF, HTN, Ortho, DM, and wound care. You'll talk a lot about medications and managing chronic illness.

In my area, home health in paid hourly and we definitely make less than hospital pay. It seems though, that my region is a rarity, with hourly pay. Perhaps pay per visit is the next direction we will move in. Also, there is no perk around here to being per diem, other than the obvious of low work committment, and that goes two ways, bc sometime there may not be work for weeks.