O.K.-salary or per hour?

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Apr 17, 2007

All agencies are headed towards pay per visit because it eliminates overtime and low productivity issues.

I had a wonderful per hour HH job and in 6 months time we switched to per visit. Per visit is a rip-off for RN's due to the added time to do Oasis, POC, Narrative Note, Orders, etc...You get more for eval visits but not nearly enough. No paid time for office, charting or driving time.

LPN's can do very well per visit. Depends on how far you have to drive and if any of that mileage is reimbursed.

Good Luck!

SWRN84 · Apr 25, 2007

I have been working in home health for 20 years now. Over the years, I have seen the pay scale/type change back and forth. I worked 5 years for a hospital based agency, but the remainder has been with an independent privately owned for-profit agency. Prior to PPS, the nurses were all paid hourly. When PPS came into existence, our agency made a total change and all visiting staff were made per visit....mileage was cut. This lasted a few years. Now we no longer have per visit case managers....the only staff who are per visit are the contract staff, or prn staff. We have some nurses who are paid hourly, and some who are salary....just depends on their situation, hours worked, etc. The home health industry is ever changing and some agencies have to make changes in order to stay in business. I don't think you can generalize where every agency is headed, but I do think every agency is different.....much depends on owner status, independent vs. hospital-based, for profit, or not. Your best bet would be to investigate fully in each agency you are interested in. What are their expectations in relation to the type of pay they offer, etc. I have worked salary, per visit, and hourly....benefits and problems are associated with each type of pay. It all depends on what you need, what you are willing to do, and what you want to get out of your position, not only with pay, but with job satisfaction associated with it. I have not worked in the acute setting in a very long time, so I don't have anything to compare it to as far as money.....just from what I have read, home care pay is lower than acute care. But the rewards are many! And I live in the midwest, so our pay scale would be different than Florida I'm sure. Hopefully, someone from the Florida area can give you some advice on what the average pay scale for home care is in your area. Good luck.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Apr 25, 2007

Try www.salary.com

Even if salaried, pay is based on on hourly wage. In a fulltime position you get paid for the equivelent of 40 hours whether you work more, or less (but odds are you'll do more. Just multiply $xx.00per hour x 40, or 80, or 2080 & you have your salary equivelent.

Cattitude · Apr 25, 2007

..just from what I have read, home care pay is lower than acute care. .

Not where I am so I would think this too may differ around the country.

I make around 10,000 more working in home care than if I were to transfer to a hospital position. I work for a hospital based agency and our pay scale is higher. There are other positions though where the pay is about the same. Those nurses rarely go out in the field.

pepperann35 · Apr 25, 2007

Considering home health-am located central Florida on west coast-can anyone give me salary or per hour wages? -just need an idea to compare/what to ask for/expect during interview paywise. I have no idea what HH pays. I've read other posts and see that hourly is best-but most agencies are switching over to salary. Thanks ahead of time.

I live in Dade City, FL Near Tampa. Are you wanting to do shift work or just visits?