New Grad RN got a job offer for homecare nursing but only 1 day orientation?

Specialties Home Health

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I am a new grad RN (passed NCLEX in the middle of August 2013) and i recently got a job offer as a homecare nurse. I am very nervous because the company said they do 1 day orientation with 1-4 days with a preceptor. Is this common for homecare?

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They probably won't even come through with that. As a new grad, I would be nervous too. Perhaps that would be sufficient to orient you to an extended care case that is stable and uncomplicated, but for the entire realm of intermittent visits, or a mix of case management, or RN clinical supervising duties, ehh, not enough. I would try it out and see how it goes. If insufficient in your viewpoint, pin them down for more, or head on down the road sooner rather than later. You might get a supportive preceptor/supervisor or you might figure out early on that you are being thrown to the wolves. Trust your initial perceptions during this orientation time. Good luck.

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Thank you for your reply. What do you mean by "They probably won't even come through with that."?

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Home health agencies, in general, are notorious for not providing sufficient training/orientation, even when they promise it.

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If you start and do not feel comfortable, then stop. I am new and doing home care, but I will not take a case that I don't feel I have the abilities for. Of the two cases that I have, the one family is intensely knowledgeable and is a wealth of experience and knowledge and the other the client is is extremely on top of their care. I feel comfortable in both environments. There was one case that was overnight vent and I rejected that one, because it did not offer enough training for my tastes and the family was new to it as well.

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Specializes in Home Health.

I agree with what caliotter3 has said. Not only do many agencies not properly orient employees, but they will make your life miserable if you don't do your job right. I have never gotten caught up in that mess, but I have seen many nurses suffer for it and it is just not fair!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, CT Step-down, Home Health.

My first HH job provided me with 2 weeks orientation and I was not a new nurse. I would have been scared out of my mind to be in your position. As a brand new nurse, there is no way I could have done this job with only one day orientation. But unfortunately, most agencies do not provide adequate orientation.

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I started out this way and it is NOT FUN. You have to have very strong and independent skills There is no one down the hall to help out. It took me at least 3 years to get it.

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