New RN working in Home Health?

[squatmunkie_RN]

I just graduated in May, and passed NCLEX a few wks ago. I have a BSN-RN degree, and no job! I thought I'd be employed before graduating but that hasn't happened. I applied to the hospitals near me and nothing...no call backs.

Searching online I found a Home Health agency. Link: Registered Nurse job in Beaumont, TX: Healthcare careers - Yahoo HotJobs

Do you think it's safe for a new grad to work in home health? The ad says they are looking for "RN's with 0-1 yr" experience...Isn't that a bit weird? We were told in school to stay out of home health for 6mos-1yr after graduating. The instructors said that it wasn't safe...we wouldn't have enough supervision/help/support.

I need a job, I have student loans to pay, but I don't want to be put in any unsafe positions alone.

What do y'all think?

[Blackheartednurse]

It doesn't hurt to investigate. What if they are willing to train you properly? Everyone will say don't do it; I say have a look. I would. Sit around and wait for that med surg job in a large hospital with 6 months of side by side preceptor job, and you just might never work again. Just sayin'.

Right on..I had similar fears thinking that I would make a huge mistake by going with home health agency.And you are right I wasted 6 months waiting for that "awsome" job in a large hospital instead of practicing my assesments and skills by doing home health nursing.After 6 months I moved out of state for a job in a large hospital and then they let me go cause my preceptor turned out to be a backstabing b....Not that I have made any medical errors-none. If I would go back in time I would try out home health nursing first but I was proud and had my mind set on working in the hospital.Now I work in home health care and I love it.

[smartnurse1982]

I would at least give it a try...I'm a new RN working for a home health agency and so far so good! Make sure to let you boss know what skills you are comfortable.I was lucky in that I dont have to draw blood (sometimes start IV).Most of my patients have chronic diseases but so far I havent had a trach patients or vent patients,I basically go in assess the pt from head to toe,weight them (see if they gain weight,if they gain more than 5 pounds in a week I have let the doctor and agency know),take the vital signs,check blood sugar (if of course the patient is diabetic),perform teachings,I also admit patients (head to toe and take their history,reconcile meds).One patient at a time and it gives you the opportunity to practice your assesment (like I see that I'm getting better in assesing lungs every day) And remember ask them to start you slowly (if the agency boss has head on their shoulder they will start you off slowly) Also you can always call your boss if you have a concern about a skill or call your fellow nurse.

I thought you said on another thread you were a new lpn?

[Blackheartednurse]

I thought you said on another thread you were a new lpn?

No I never said I was a new LPN,you are confusing me with someone else.

[smartnurse1982]

Maybe if you have a supportive agency I would say go for it. Get 3 months orientation at least. Run if they try to give any less then that. Btw,the trach and vent clients are easier then other clients.

In my opinion,extended care shifts are easier to do than visits.

Which type of home care will you be doing?

I started out as a new grad doing hh but did extended care shifts instead of visits. Try extended care first(better known as private duty)

[smartnurse1982]

I am absolutely, vehemently opposed to new grads in home care. There are so many rules, regulations, documentation requirements, and case management pieces that it's simply not a good fit for new grads. Nurses with years of experience struggle when new to home health, even experienced home health LPNs moving to an RN-case management position struggle. You need several years of various med-surg experience to be comfortable with basic nursing skills, let alone the attention to detail and case management skills required in home care. I always advise new grads to go anywhere *but* homecare. Long-term care, long-term acute care hospitals, rehab facilities, sub-acute centers, anything is better than starting in home care. You simply don't have the experience and nothing can take the place of that.

I have been trying to fight the misconception,including on allnurses,that hh is a low skilled,low stress specialty compared to other specialties. I think that is why many new grads keep asking that question on these forums because they hear conflicting opinions on this subject. I've had others on this forum people who write because I didn't specialize I should be getting the low pay with hh because of those reasons.

[Blackheartednurse]

I have been trying to fight the misconception,including on allnurses,that hh is a low skilled,low stress specialty compared to other specialties. I think that is why many new grads keep asking that question on these forums because they hear conflicting opinions on this subject. I've had others on this forum people who write because I didn't specialize I should be getting the low pay with hh because of those reasons.

I totally disagree that hh is a low skilled area,it is actually opposite of that.You have to use your intuition,knowledge and critical thinking all the time and you dont have too much help around.This job teaches you creativity that is for sure,you also take your work home.You are on call 24 a day if things go bad.You make very independent decisions in the name of your patient. Low pay? Please with all the driving around,going to bad neighborhoods,filling out paperwork and communicate via your phone,schedule your own appointments I would say pay is not that great.

[newtress, LPN]

I'm going to respond to blackheatednurse's posts and a few others. I've done my rounds with at least 4 different levels of nursing including the most recent being psych which so far has been the most satisfying. BUT.. in any area of those different specialties came rediculous working conditions and bridling of critical thinking assessments of why you would hold a med and get stink eye from the oncoming morning nurses. We are to follow orders, but sometimes we have to intervene on those orders and fine tune according to individual circumstances. I can see how this wouold be a necessary element to home health nursing. So.. that is why I am going into an interview process for a home health position in the next few days. It matches me and I think I would do the most good for nursing on a case by case visiting nurse HH job. Yes indeed-ee

[Up2nogood RN, RN]

I totally disagree that hh is a low skilled area,it is actually opposite of that.You have to use your intuition,knowledge and critical thinking all the time and you dont have too much help around.This job teaches you creativity that is for sure,you also take your work home.You are on call 24 a day if things go bad.You make very independent decisions in the name of your patient.

You hit the nail on the head. THAT is why a years exp is almost always required. Can you do it without? Well obviously, yes, but I wouldn't recommend it.