Long term care ADON considering home health. Advice needed.

Published May 3, 2012

5 Posts

Hi everyone!

I currently work in a long term care facility as the ADON and have been in this position for a few months now. I've been at the facility for about 4 years total but previously worked on the floor as an LPN. I recently got my RN and this is when I took the ADON position. Needless to say it has been a difficult transition. The whole reason I went back to school for my RN was to work in home health. I liked the idea of working on my own, being out on the road and enjoying the weather in the summer instead of being cramped up in a building, and day shift. But when the ADON position came open at my facility I took it and kind of left my "dream" of working home health behind. To be honest I really don't know if I would like home health. I've never worked it before and I don't know very many people who do work in home health. My ideas regarding it may be completely wrong. I've been considering either getting a PRN job somewhere in home health or leaving my job all together to pursue it. My current job pays well for the location and it's day shift. I do work some weekends occasionally though, sometimes 2 a month. I'm just afraid of walking away from a good thing I guess. Can you all give me some insight? What is home health really like? The hours, number of patients, typical pay, do you work weekends? I've considered Amedysis and I've also considered Hosparus. Please give me all the details to help me make a wise decision! Also if anyone knows the average pay for a home health nurse in ky?

Thanks guys! Your comments are appreciated!