Nurse or Nanny?

NanikRN · Jan 6, 2011

Run, run, run! I tell you this as an former private duty nurse.

You do not want to be associated with this agency or this case. I understand wanting a paycheck--any paycheck. But with this paycheck you are jeopardizing your license(not to mention your sanity) .

You didn't work so hard in school to risk it like this. Run!

Kj for FNP · Mar 30, 2011

This is just a sad story. If you are a legal registered nurse, I think your job responsibilty should be more respectful. This is a disgrace to the profession. So please pack your belongings and find a jobs as registered nurse. I know it's difficult and stressful to find a job but you are smarter than that that's why you are a registered nurse. Am I right?

Thank you

Kj- FNP

honeykrown, MSN, NP · Mar 30, 2011

This is my first job as an RN. I work in NYC for a homecare agency.
They told me there are no RN cases so I would be getting paid
as an lpn at 20/hr. Some of my lpn friends are getting paid 23/hr
as a new grad. so, already not too happy but beggers cant be choosers.
The only homecare case I have is a 14 month old boy.
My job says that I work 7days a week, no days off, no holidays,
no benefits from 8am-4pm. When I received my first paycheck I also noticed that they
didn't take any taxes out. The baby doesn't really need much of my nursing
care. Just g-tube feeding, diapers,meds and bath. The rest of the time
i feel like a babysitter.
In the beginning the mom would ask me to do some laundry and
vacuuming and when she noticed that I would ignore her requests she
got the message. But, when I had mentioned it to my boss, the boss
told me that its not a problem to help her with a little bit of house work.
what the h#ll!!! I did not go to school to clean homes and to be a babysitter!
Where do I draw the line? The economy is terrible and no one is hiring new
grad RN's. I am sooooooo tired. I just don't know how much longer
i can do 7days a week. Once in a while I request a couple of days off, but
I only get 1 day off a week, if possible. It also takes me 2 hours to get to work and 2 hours to
go home because of nyc traffic.
So I need input and advice from people who know how to handle
this situation. I am obviosly desperate for work. I have a 2 year old son at home
to support who i barely get to see. I feel like Im being cheated by the
agency and a bit taken advantage of by the mother of the baby i take care of.
I was never given a job description. There is just so much playng I can do with
a baby. I feed him, bathe him, diaper change n play. But god help me if the
mom hears her son crying. She thinks im not doing my job
Please help me,

I'm not sure if you would get this, but i am in homehealth in NYC and been in this position for 4yrsFirst and formost, no one can force you to work 7days, you can insist on what days you want to work. Also if you tell the agency you want tax taken out they would do so. Although the percentage could be ridiculous but then at the end of the day it pays off than them not taking anythin gout. (I learnt the hard way). Also, insurance should not cost you $45 a month. As a new grad with NSO, it is $45 for the first year adn then $99 after that (its for a year tho not per month).

Also in home health you are not to do the domestic duties of the family unless the patient lives alone (which is not the case most time). If they get too involved or she feels you are not doing your job, tell her babies cry for different reason adn he might not be comfortable enough but you have done your best. Also encourage her to carry her child from time to time to create bonding.

Also dont stop looking for a job cos something would come up. Take care

honeykrown, MSN, NP · Mar 30, 2011

I am def starting to put all the pieces together. The mother doesn't work.
The agency did mention to put alot of writing for the nurses notes.
Which I do to cover my *** by stating things like parents refused
to baby proof, etc. I don't even know if that's good enuf.
My paycheck doesn't look like a regular paycheck. It looks like a personal
check with the homecare name on it. That's it. No pay stub.
Thank u for the input everyone. THANK YOU

Its the way most of these agencies do but then there should be a pay stub with your check, apart from the no pay stub, they sound legitimate. If the child has a trach then they need either LPN or RN. Most home health cases are like baby sitting. As i said earlier, you have the choice of the days you want and taxes taken out of your pay check. Some agencies charge 1:00 to take out taxes although i think this is wrong.If you are not comfortanle with them check out other home care agencies, they really need nurses