New Grad - Is HH nursing difficult to get out of?

caliotter3 · Jul 17, 2014

Well, offhand, it should be easier to get out of the hh field, than to get out of the 'old, unemployed grad' category. Don't be afraid to take a job offer and give it your best while you continue to look for your niche. Experience is welcome everywhere.

Jazzyjazz · Jul 18, 2014

Well, offhand, it should be easier to get out of the hh field, than to get out of the 'old, unemployed grad' category. Don't be afraid to take a job offer and give it your best while you continue to look for your niche. Experience is welcome everywhere.

Great Advice. Thank you!

A nurse friend of mine told me not to take the offer because its better for me to get my bedside skills first.

My mentor told me something along the lines as what you told me. "HH experience is better that no experience".

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea off HH nursing. I just want to keep my options open.

caliotter3 · Jul 18, 2014

In my area it is so bad that even long term care facilities do not have available work. That is a bad sign because not many are willing to work in long term care, as I am certain you are aware. People were always told that "you can always get a job in LTC". That venue doesn't look so bad any longer, now that jobs are scarce everywhere.

CatHair · Jul 20, 2014

In HH you will most likely be the Primary, so you have a patient for an entire Episode of 2 months.

The revolving door at the Agency I work at has RNs leaving by

A: Not taking on any new patients

B: Any patients that they oversee as "Case managers" (where the patient is seen by an LPN) are transferred to another RN

C: Another RN does the Re-Cert/Discharge at the end of the episode and then takes over that patient from that point moving forward.

You gradually phase yourself out over 2 months.

You could just up and quit, but then your DON has to scramble to find RNs to take on your patient load that you just dumped in their lap.

nrsdolphin · Jul 23, 2014

Our agency doesn't accept new grads. RNs and LPNs must have a years experience in hospital bedside nursing or LTC experience.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 23, 2014

Great Advice. Thank you!
A nurse friend of mine told me not to take the offer because its better for me to get my bedside skills first.
My mentor told me something along the lines as what you told me. "HH experience is better that no experience".
Don't get me wrong, I like the idea off HH nursing. I just want to keep my options open.

HH IS bedside skills; you will find you have more exposure to many different medical conditions that the average bedside nurse, and know how to effectively manage their treatment as well; those skills transfer everywhere, even to acute care. :yes:

Jazzyjazz · Jul 23, 2014

HH IS bedside skills; you will find you have more exposure to many different medical conditions that the average bedside nurse, and know how to effectively manage their treatment as well; those skills transfer everywhere, even to acute care.

Thank you!!

taratyfly · Jul 23, 2014

Home health is for the experienced nurse!!!

CatHair · Jul 23, 2014

Our agency doesn't accept new grads. RNs and LPNs must have a years experience in hospital bedside nursing or LTC experience.

And if you were to LEAVE your Agency and move to another area of Nursing, what would be the process for you, as a Home Health Nurse?

HeadingWest · Jul 23, 2014

I'm curious which bedside skills you are worried about losing? I didn't do any trach care (no vents at my agency) or any NG placement/removal in home health, but I got to use pretty much everything else I learned in school. There were regular foley changes, wound care (pressure ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, surgical incisions, dehisced incisions needing negative pressure therapy), IV antibiotics (through either a PICC or peripheral line, occasionaly with a pump but more often an infusion ball or simply counting drops), lab draws, IM/Sub-q med administration, ostomy care, and central line dressing changes. Anybody can be taught those skills (which for most you are hopefully doing for competent family/caregivers).

All of that said, the most important bedside skill (that you will use every day) is the head to toe assessment. Don't get lazy and think because people are at home it isn't necessary. You are in a position to catch any number of possible complications and hopefully prevent readmission or ER visits.

I'm starting on a telemetry unit here in a few weeks and the process for me leaving home health was to be offered a new position, give notice, stop taking admits, and move people over to other nurses. I was able to answer almost all of the interview questions with examples from my past 18 months of home health experience.

Chica22 · Jul 24, 2014

I second this excellent insight. Also some HHC agencies have more pediatric clients than others. It would be great if you let the agency know of your interest in these cases for future experience value. It is true some HHC look for acute or LTC experience, but your clinicals and knowledge are fresh! Best wishes!