Maxim? What is it like to work in this HH agency?

GingerSue · Jul 26, 2008

Supplies can be carried in the trunk of your car (don't leave anything visible in the back seat of your car, including your bag - someone might come along and smash the window then steal it - this happened to a co-worker who left her black bag in the back seat: then you're responsible for paying for it and the equipment)

Did they supply you with a shoulder bag - in which to carry your BP cuff and stethoscope, plus epinephrine and syringe & needle, a few extra dressings, and maybe toenail clippers/file?

One co-worker (who moved on and works for a different home health agency) - recently informed that the agency has now indicated that staff are to be on call (same day, no advance notification) because they have no union - therefore the agency can do whatever they want. You might not have any choice about working evening shift. Some people do work weekends only. It might depend on the kind of arrangements that you discussed during your hiring interview.

ArwenEvenstar · Jul 27, 2008

You may want to do a search for other posts about Maxim....

From what I have heard, different Maxim offices can be quite different depending on the particular staff running each location.

What kind of "home health" were you planning on? Private duty nursing (shift work at one patient's house)?? Or traditional home health where you drive all around to visit different patients?? My Maxim seems to do more private duty (all level of cases) and flu clinics and such. I do private duty, RN level cases.

I have mixed feelngs about Maxim. I've worked for them about 1 year. I do like some things better about them than my past agency!! I'm content and not looking for another job or anything. But I could ramble on about some of my complaints....

At my Maxim, the people in the office are "friendly" but can really mess stuff up. Communication skills are lacking. I would recommend putting schedule requests in writing, having them sign it, and make sure you keep a personal copy of the signed schedule request. That way you have proof that you notified them! As you can guess, I now do this because of past troubles I've had. Since you are student, I'd be EXTRA clear about when you can and can't work. Don't assume they will remember. Frequent reminders are necessary at my Maxim.

The "office guys" also just don't "get it" sometimes... I'm not a deadbeat. I'm a dependable, professional, and conscientous employee. Please treat me that way. Thanks.

So, there you have it. But your local Maxim may be different. Maybe you should post in the California forum as well?

Murse901, MSN, RN · Jul 28, 2008

I have been working for Maxim for about a year and a half now. It was a VERY shaky start - the staffing guy I was assigned to was rude and didn't know his a** from a hole in the ground. After a couple of months, he quit and I started working with a couple of other guys in staffing, and things have been good since then. Very flexible with my schedule. They don't harass me about not being able to work certain days, and don't beg me to fill a shift if I say no.

On the downside, no nurses work in staffing (at least none that deal directly with the agency nurses), so asking about clinical specifics (pt ratio, etc) is like pulling teeth.

This is in Memphis, so I can't speak to whether or not it will be similar where you are.

Mara123RN · Jul 28, 2008

I worked for Maxim many years ago. I thought they were a great company but I liked my hospital job better-just because that was the kind of work preferred.

ArwenEvenstar · Jul 28, 2008

...the staffing guy I was assigned to was rude and didn't know his a** from a hole in the ground....
...no nurses work in staffing (at least none that deal directly with the agency nurses), so asking about clinical specifics (pt ratio, etc) is like pulling teeth....

:yeah:Haha! I didn't have the guts to be so blunt in my above post about Maxim! But I agree!

The "office staff" who does all the scheduling and such treat me like I am a minimum wage McDonalds employee. I am a very dependable employee, I give a HUGE notice when I know I need time off for a vacation or whatever, and I rarely call in sick. Yet, they treat me like a deadbeat. Once I called 2 months in advance to let them know there were several Mondays I'd need off. The response? "You're killing me! You are killing me! Why do you need these Mondays off? I can't believe this! What are you doing on those Mondays? Etc." Good grief! None of their business!!! If they refused to give me the Mondays off I would have just resigned on the spot. ("At will" employment goes both ways.) I'm working on a master's degree and need certain days off from time to time. And isn't one reason nurses work through agencies is for scheduling flexibility??!! Duh.

This is a quote by someone else from another thread about Maxim: "The staffing coordinators are young college graduates who are in training for management jobs. They can be very confused in their communications with nurses. You may have to be persistent in reminding individuals about things."

Notice a pattern here??

To end with something positive. The director at my Maxim is great! Very professional. He's not a nurse but he "gets" nurses. Because of my problems with the office staff, I have thought about refusing to talk with anyone but him.

Joe_Black · Jul 29, 2008

We have Maxim for a few years now as a staffing agency, companies like Maxim are truly only interested in making money and don't give a **** about people (nurse or client). We would like to move with our agency, unfortunately, Maxim is the best of the worse in our area. This is the reason why we would like to start our own Home Health agency to be able to recruit, hire, and retain nurse we like.

The staffing coordinators are young college graduates who are in training for management jobs, communication skills are lacking, they often lie to us and they will confess about their dishonest and say ‘SORRY’ as lying to us is ok. They are always confused in their communications with nurses and clients. You may have to be persistent in reminding individuals about things.

I strongly recommend putting schedule requests in writing and always follow up with an email, have them email you back, that way you have your own personal copy. Emailing is one of the best forms of communication, both of you has the proof that you notified them!

My best recommendation is to stay away from Maxim as fast as you can.

Joe Black

Caregiver

ArwenEvenstar · Jul 29, 2008

I've already posted several times on this thread. But just had to give a surprising update. Long story short...A couple weeks ago when I talked to one of the "office people" on the phone about something, they very unnecessarily hassled me..... Well, yesterday I had to go in person to the office for something. And this "office person" came to me and was very apologetic. They were very sincere and genuine, and said they were sorry several times. And they mentioned that I am a very dependable and reliable employee. I was shocked!

Of course, this doesn't mean there won't continue to be mis-communication and mis-treatment in the future... Sigh. But it was awfully nice to be apologized to! :)