Offered HHA Position While in School...

Nurse1202 · Jan 8, 2004

Home Health Aides give basic physical care to patients in their homes;and,depending on agency or private duty status, you may be expected to do housekeeping, laundry, errand-running, and/or provide respite care to families.

I was an agency state-tested nursing assitant in LTC, while in nursing school. I also filled in as a HHA when the agency was desperate (or I was desperate for money). What you need to ask yourself is what type of experience you are wanting or needing. There are advantages to HHA, such as observing symptom management and coping of patient and families with chronic illnesses. There is also time to practice therapeutic communication skills, etc. I preferred the STNA work in the LTC facilities, because I was able to observe some excellent role models on good and bad days. I learned to prioritize and organize my patient workload. When I began my first position as an RN, I was realistic in my care load and expectations of nursing, because I had seen the best and worst times. I also learned to hone my interpersonal skills during this time.

Ask yourself what is important, decide, and act! Good Luck! I only graduated 2.5 years ago, so e-mail me anytime with questions:)

RN2B4ABBY · Jan 8, 2004

Thank you so much Nurse1202! I appreciate the insight. It helped me a lot in my decision. I have done my thinking and I think that I may turn it down. It is not a position that I am comfortable with and even though it would give me experience with the basics, I think I would rather be somewhere like LTC. I want to be working with the nurses and have the experience with the patient loads and time management...etc. The only thing is that I feel SO guilty because I know that there are not many people in this area that are in home health and I know that there are so many people out there that need someone to help them. That is the only thing that keeps me considering it still.

Nurse1202 · Jan 8, 2004

I'm happy that I could help, but don't feel GUILTY for deciding what is best for you!!!! I feel empathy for that poulation also, but you can not feel guilty for deciding what is best for yourself. Life is full of regrets and guilt; but don't feel guilty about deciding what's best for you and your family. Once you finish your degree many people will try to guilt trip you into doing things that are not in your best intrest for sake of "the patients", but in reality it will be for the sake of the facility! Practice being assertive and learning to say no without regrets now, while it is easier. Find your priorities, and keep 'em in perspective. I hope you enjoy LTC as much as I did and Good Luck!

RN2B4ABBY · Jan 8, 2004

Thank You! I am going to work on by back bone starting now!! I have to realize I can't help everybody and even if I tried I would end up disappointed and burnt out. I need to concentrate on school anyway or I will never make it to begin with! Thanks again! I appreciate your kindness!