Nicu to home health. Am I crazy?

HBoykin1976 · Jun 25, 2016

Hello all! I also wonder if I'm crazy as well to leave a well paying neurosurgery unit, then a very well paid (but very disorganized) local travel agency...to take a $10 pay cut per/hr. However, my frustration is different than most of the posts I'm reading. It took 2 weeks after hire to even place me in a position, which was horrible days/hrs, but with a child I adored, so I didn't mind, and hey, it's a job...and I've worked crazy hrs at the hospital before too! I was on full duty with this one case, and requested to pick up a shift earlier in the week if there was something available...still nothing. Unfortunately, amongst the 8 other nurses fired by mom, I was blind sided when I was too. I can't take it personal, just have to move forward, but I was left feeling confused and upset, as I loved the patient and family. My worries are having to go in the office next week, and there may be a possibility there's no jobs to fill yet. I can't pend my career waiting on newly admitted children. My company is consistently hiring, and I'm not sure why. Seems a lot of jobs are already filled with nurses who have been on the cases for a while now. Has anyone experienced this type of situation before??? Please help, since I am a newbie at home health too!

Thanks!

brillohead, ADN, RN · Jun 25, 2016

For private duty, lots of people are signed up with more than one agency at a time. There are always cases SOMEwhere, you just have to get your name on every list. Don't rely on one agency to keep you employed full-time at all times.

Even if you have a regular case that loves you, these are medically fragile patients and they are often hospitalized, leaving you without an assignment until they get discharged back to home. Having your name in with several agencies gives you lots of opportunities to pick up spare shifts when your regular assignment isn't available.