Just landed a job in Home Health

[ams0822]

I just landed a job in Home Health and was wondering what tips anyone could give me. I’m starting in 4weeks (August 2019) so I’d like to prepare myself the best I can. My experience is in critical care so this is a big change for me.

1) I get paid for mileage, no company car. What does everyone use to track their miles? Apps/manual logging..

2) what supplies should I bring besides a pen, stethoscope and BP cuff? What have you found useful?

3) I am on call for one week every 4 weeks and get on call pay, +per visit, +mileage. Is this pretty normal?

4) what are productivity points? They want us to meet a 30point productivity every week. Anything over that, we are compensated for.

5) what have you found to be the most effective way to chart?

Please let let me know of anything else you can think of that may be helpful!

[lpn954]

Sorry I cant answer all your questions but I will try to help where I can. Are you an RN or LPN? I am LPN so my experience may vary VS yours. As far as supplies I would also bring basic wound care supplies, (gauze pads, tape, even bandaids in a pinch.) You never know when you may need them, as supplies are not always available the way they should be.

That is good you get paid millage, I never have but write it off on my taxes. I would just use the cars odometer and pad and paper to track.

I would find out more about being on call one week of every four, I never herd of that. Does that mean you only work one week a month? If so is that what you want?

I have no clue about the productivity point thing,.. I was wondering about that myself. Companies I have worked for only pay per visit, no points. Hopefully others will come along and explain this.

That said if your looking do do this full time it can be challenging. From my experience unless you get one company to give you full time hours, you may have to get hours elsewhere. Also dont expect a constant stream of patients always, it depends on the census. (Unless of course the company can guarantee the hours somehow. ) That said I do love it as you get to manage your own schedule, be your own boss essentially.

Good luck!

[QueenOfTheNuts, ADN]

Im a CCU/ER nurse moving to HHC also in August. I'll be interested to see your comparison.

I will be salaried, county position with unbelievable benefits/pto/ vacation/ retirement plan. I have a good idea about hhc because I shadowed during my preceptor rotations.

The manager said the girls see patients 4 days and chart for 1 day (this is m-f no w/e or holidays, call 1x every 5 weeks roughly).

Supplies: make yourself a backpack. The stuff you listed plus wound supplies. Garbage bag or grocery bag in case you need to set your bag down And "can't". Scope, flashlight, hemostat, scissors, tape, pen, paper, spare clothes in car "just in case",, and other basics.

Keep a notepad in your car to log your miles, easier that way.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy the "forefront/ prevention" nursing.

[Charveyrn16]

I wish you ladies luck! I am an RN and have been in home health for 7 years now and it is a whole new world. I first interviewed for a smaller agency and they had call for a week and I knew that was not for me, sometimes overnight is too much.

Productivity points are what they assign to a visit. In my agency a admission is worth 2.25 points and by the end of the week I'm required to have 20 points. It's not always as easy as you would think. If you are documenting on a computer/ tablet that should keep track of your mileage, but I have always been in the habit of writing mine down in my patient notebook.

Your agency should supply you with all of the supplies that you need, wound care, gauze, tape, BP cuff, and treatment bag. You will definitely want the change of clothes!

Overall, it's not a bad career choice, you are able to schedule your day and you spend valuable one on one time with patients and their families, but the long hours of documentation at home has taken its toll.

Again I wish you luck!