LPN in homecare

[virgo,student nurse, CNA]

Hello. I did some googling on this site, and I cannot seem to find out exactly what a LPN in home care does. Do you only have one patient a few times a week. What are your job duties exactly? Do you work 40 hrs a week. I am curious I enjoyed home care as a aide, and wonder what a LPN does. Any info would be appreciated.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I'm very new to home health but I can give a little insight. I do peds home health. I see 2 clients 3 times a week and work shifts that range from 8-11 hours. Upon arrival at the home I do a head to toes assessment, vital sign, perform ADL care, cleaning up the clients, baths, and etc. Medication administration and I must document every 1-2 hours.

If you do peds you may feel like a high paid baby sitter at times, if the parents do everything and all you are doing is playing with the child. There is nothing wrong with that if that is your thing, its not for me though.

[virgo,student nurse, CNA]

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.

[caliotter3]

There are many posts that describe the duties. Basically, there are two types of home health field jobs, intermittent visits and extended care. Extended care is also called shift work, or continuous care. This is basic, routine care for stable patients over a long period of time, may be forever. LPNs are the primary nurse providers in this environment. Intermittent visits are short term cases that last a short, stated period of time, typically post surgery care. You make as many visits, as required, and as available, depending upon the agency case load during your work week. In extended care, you get on the schedule for 40 hours with one patient or a combination of shifts according to the client needs and your desire to work. You can usually work as little or as much (sans overtime with most agencies) as you want when you do extended care. The agency will want you to be either full time or part time, with different expectations for each employment category. One person I am acquainted with, works with several agencies, doing from 7 to 12 or more visits per day. She makes good use of a daily planner to keep herself straight.

[Isabelle49]

I wish I could trade my RN in for LPN as a field RN. That would be freakin awesome!

[virgo,student nurse, CNA]

Thank you all. Insight was great.

[caliotter3]

I wish I could trade my RN in for LPN as a field RN. That would be freakin awesome!

The agencies where I have worked have had RNs doing extended care cases. Normally, they will pay the RN a little more per hour than their LPN rate, although not all do this. They like to have RNs do extended care because clients like to have RNs, if available.