New grad RN-- Is home care good??

nutella, MSN, RN · Dec 7, 2015

I do not think that home care as a new grad is impossible but you have to make sure you will get the training you need. In home care you work by yourself once you are off orientation and that is a huge difference as opposed to the facility setting where you can always ask somebody.

Some home care agencies and even home hospice have started specific new nurse programs to facilitate the learning a new nurse would need to be successful in home care. Patients get discharge much sicker nowadays and a home care nurse has to be able to perform a thorough assessment and employ a lot of critical thinking skills but at the same time your time per visit is limited because you also need to document.... .

I would recommend that you ask about the orientation process, how they ensure you develop the skills you will need, and if you can shadow with a nurse for some visits.

Personally, I know that all my previous experience in the different inpatient settings made me confident and secure. When I transitioned to home palliative and hospice I already had a very comprehensive skill set - which I needed because I have done pretty much everything in home palliative and hospice care from accessing ports and chemo to wound care and everything in between .....

It does not hurt to interview and get an idea what home care is like. When companies advertise with "one on one care" they often forget to mention that you also have a productivity and you will have to perform a specific amount of visits per day. It is not a low stress job in the sense that it is much less stress in general --- it is different stress.

jam_solano · Dec 8, 2015

Thank you for your share I find it very informative! I'm kind of afraid i guess to start working as a RN especially that I'll basically be working 2 jobs. My full time job and some extra hours just to gain experience at least. But your right it wouldn't hurt to go to my interview and see how things are. Thanks again!

nutella, MSN, RN · Dec 8, 2015

If nothing else you get some practice interviewing - which is also a skill that needs to be learned....

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2015

I do not believe home care is an appropriate position for a new grad. You are on your own.

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 9, 2015

Duplicate threads merged.

ontnursec · Dec 9, 2015

I've just started a home health job as a new grad. I love home health and it's where I wanted to be, and that's a plus since many of my graduating class still have not gotten a job, and we graduated 6 months ago. The job market is sporifice in my area. So far, my agency seems very supportive and understanding of me being a new grad. I would definitely ask about the orientation program, and process for ensuring you are competent in skills you haven't been exposed to, before accepting a job in home health.

USMCRN2015 · Dec 14, 2015

I have been a home health nurse for 6 months, since the week after I passed my boards. In this time, I've gotten trach, vent, g tube, and various other expertise and experience. I get paid more than my classmates, who are all mostly in acute care, long term care facilities. I love my job. As a New Grad I've been able to sharpen my skills with one patient but I work independently (which I love).

whoisjohngalt · Dec 21, 2015

Everyone has there own path. I did one year med-surg first. My HH company does not do a good job training and almost all new grads quit within 6 months as a result. Your odds of success increase with experience and training.

GenSurgRNFA, BSN · Dec 23, 2015

I also just got licensed in August and I currently work in homecare and I hate it for multiple reasons. I received no in home training and we chart in binders, where as I learned how to chart on the computer systems at the hospital. I feel like im constantly lost and my manager is 2 hours away and only available by phone (sometimes not even that). Im trying to find a different job currently. Something with more guidance.

Hi2Jenn · Dec 28, 2015

I know that I would never hire a new grad for home health. In my opinion, it requires a level of autonomy and confidence in your skills that you just don't have starting out. Yes, you can do a lot of different procedures, but it's the little things like no back up if you can't get the catheter in or making the decision to ship a patient out or add an extra visit. Not saying it hasn't been done, but I wouldn't feel safe doing it.

dkg005 · Apr 7, 2016

Home Care is a really rewarding nursing speciality. You get to see the impact you are having on your patients almost immediately, but I don't think it is a good fit for a new graduate looking to increase their skills. The type of patients that usually require home health have a wide range of acuity. Most of them are either at the lower end or at the upper end of the spectrum, with just a few in between. The ones at the lower end of the spectrum usually require just VS monitoring, while those at the upper end are not usually appropriate for home care and should be in a more acute setting. As a new grad, you will either spend your day taking VS or you will be putting your license at risk taking care of a patient with a higher level of acuity than what you are ready to handle. Jus my two cents

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