New Graduate LVN Offered Home Health Position but, Scared

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

Specializes in Pediatrics, ICU, ED.

I was recently offered a LVN position for a Home Health agency. I am a new graduate with no experience and just school clinical experience under my belt. I managed to get the job through networking with a friend.

I was thrilled when the hiring manager said that she was willing to hire me at the agency HOWEVER, I am having second thoughts now. As much as I want to work as a nurse, I feel as though I am not ready to work alone one on one with a patient. Perhaps I am having little confidence in myself. The thing is, I don't want to kill my patient. :eek:

I now know why employers at home health agencies want at least one year experience. But if I don't start with this job then when will I start?

My gut feeling is to turn down the job and focus on looking for a SNF or rehab center where I have a healthcare team and perhaps proper new graduate training.

Any advice what I should do? If I do turn down the job, what should I say?

Thank you in advance!!!!!!

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I would take the job. It's better than remaining unemployed and inexperienced. In addition, home health patients tend to be in stable condition, which is why they are receiving care at home instead of at the hospital.

I am currently working a home healthcare job and none of the pedicatric clients/patients are in stable condition. They all have some major problems with them. I recently passed my boards and wanted to get some experience and so I do need refresher training for G-tubes and trek care but the place I am working at think all a new nurse needs is 4hrs of training with a complicated patient/client. I can request for additional training but they really make you for awkward for asking, so what do I do about this? I know there are other Agencies out there than this one!!

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I am currently working a home healthcare job and none of the pedicatric clients/patients are in stable condition. They all have some major problems with them.
A child can still be in stable condition even if he/she has multiple chronic disease processes going on at the same time. Stable patients can still be on ventilators, trachs, feeding tubes, ostomies, and have diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory failure, etc.

As a recent new grad (well may 2008) I can relate to how you are feeling. I would say it would be better for you to work at a facility (SNF or rehab) so that you have other staff nurses and supervisors available to help you if you have any questions or concerns. You will get orientation and often other training through the facility. I do not know what the economic situation is where you live, but if you can afford to pass on the home health job and look for another I think it would be seriously worth considering. But that is just my take from my experience.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

My first Nsg job as a new grad was with a Home health company. The company mainly dealt with ped clients. They gave me a chance when no one else would. I gained a lot of experience (trachs, TF, vents) that I otherwise would not have! My supervisor was always a phone call away, and sometimes (well, usually always) the parents were the best teachers. I was never asked to work outside my scope of practice, and I was never obligated to take a case I was uncomfortable with. I still work with the same company doing weekend dressing changes and community health fairs while working full time at a LTC facility. Keep your options open and don't be afraid to try it out!

Insist on getting a stable client with mundane, predictable care and also insist that you are given a thorough orientation. People go into home health right out of school. It can work if you get an easy case and proper orientation. These people realize you are right out of school and they should be willing to give you the support you need.

I graduated in Nov. 2009 and my first job was also in home health and my very first patient was a 2 year old who had a trach, g-tube, etc. I was very nervous as well but if I had a question, the mom would tell me and I learned everything that same day and after that, the mom was very happy to see that I had gotten everything down so well. Dont be afraid, before you know it, you'll be a pro!

First and foremost, any self-respecting d.o.n wouldnt just throw you out there to the sharks. I work at a home health agency and all new employees (experience or not) are trained with other lpn's or rn's, meaning they go with the other nurses to patients homes and see the correct way of doing things. I have had nurses turn down plenty of cases before because they were'nt comfortable and the d.o.n or whoever works in the office should always be on call if you have any questions. You have nothing to worry about as long as you have a good support system behind you.

P.S. most home health patients are just wound care or iv and if you are'nt iv certified you wont have to worry about that.

Hope I Helped:twocents:

Specializes in Agency/HomeCare.

I'm glad I saw this post. I was just hired with a home health agency. My first patient will have trach and G-button. My agency did give me ventilator training as well. I am nervous for I have done one trach and that was in nursing school in '08. And I agree-they will not throw you to the sharks if they are a good agency. My orientation is next Monday and Tuesday for two 8 hour shifts with another LPN. They say if I am not comfortable, they will continue to orient me. I'm very nervous but I need to find a job that suits me as I have not been able to yet. Since I am a relatively new nurse still, I actually think this is alot easier than the LTC and Med/Surg I have worked in. I worked LTC with 28-58 patients (the 58 # is where an LVN didn't show up )and Med Surg where that can be up to 8-10 patients. Home care is one patient usually and you get to become an expert on the skills you are using with that patient.

So to sum it all up, I'm nervous too....but I think it is a great start for us newbies. Hang in there. It's also better pay and you get so much satisfaction helping these fragile children.

Good luck! p.s. I only have like 7 months experience

I am very interested in home health but every agency I have talked to wants me to have a year of home health experience. How am I supposed to get it if everybody already expects me to have it? I did med-surg right out of school and then worked in an internal med office for a few years. I wanna get back into more hands on care and I always said my next job would be home health but its not looking good. I cant see myself back in a hospital although I will do it if I have to. Somehow home health seems like it would be a better fit (environment) for me. Good luck to you guys. Hope I get a call soon. :nono:

Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

I don't want to scare anybody, but nobody is going to pay for a licensed person to deliver home care unless the pt. is very fragile and needs constant monitoring and intervention that could not be delivered by a non licensed person other than the family. Sure, I've had tons of cases where the pt. was "stable", but when they go south, they go fast. Having said that, my advice still would be to take the job if the following conditions are met. Good orientation that leaves you feeling comfortable, good support system as in supervisor or clinical director are readily available by phone, good family support as in the family is educated in the pt.'s care, understand you're a new nurse and are willing and able to coach you rather than leaving you alone with the patient on your first shift, the neccessary pt.'s supplies are readily available. If the family is not receptive to this, don't do it. Remember, you're only expected to perform on a level as any prudent new grad would. A lot of families are very involved, have become experts, and can be more helpful than the best textbook. I wish you well.

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