Pay per visit or Salary? Which is better?

cookie102 · Nov 7, 2006

if you are looking for a consistant pay check then salary is the way to go, remember working per visit means that the salary staff will be full first before they call in a per visit nurse....if they invision that you will ALWAYS be used or filled for a day then per visit rate can be better.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Nov 19, 2006

Having done both I can tell you per hour is definately the better way to go. I thought the per visit was awesome because the pay was so high but once I figured my gas, cell phone, travel time, and charting time I do much much better per hour. :paw:

eddy · Nov 29, 2006

Look for a compensation plan that includes a solid base salary and a set number of visits per week that if you go over will get paid "bonus" on. This gives you the best of both worlds, and a lot of HH agencies are beginning to take this approach. You get a consistent salary but get paid an "OT" equiv if you have to take on an especially high visit count in any given pay period.

Some things to also pay attention to is on-call comp and call-back/call-in comp. Some nurses really get the short end of the stick in this regard, especially salaried nurses.

Best wishes!

nursefifi · Nov 30, 2006

I will begin a job in home care on December 11 and will be paid per visit. Rates are 75.00 for admission, 50.00 for recerts, resumptions, and discharges, 35.00 for visit, .35/mile,(varies with the cost of gas), have a clothing allowance. I will be working prn but on a regular basis. Have been guaranteed in writing 16-18 visits per week. Also will be paid 5.00 extra for visits after the office closes. There is no call, no weekends, no holidays required. I just give the days that I am available and they will schedule me. I am leaving a hospital job and figure I will be making more. On the other side, paperwork time is not paid and there is a lot of it! I previously worked home care a couple of years ago.(hourly) I needed this flexibility at this point in order to keep my grandaughter. I also do not need the benefits. The key is to keep up with the paperwork and to have a good relationship with the case manager. You have to weigh the good with the bad. Hope this helps :twocents:

Traveler · Dec 1, 2006

Patient acuity seems to be increasing. I have done per visit and salary and would prefer hourly then per visit and then salary. I have had WoundVac visits take several hours, complicated IV visits take 3 or 4 hours, completely overwhelmed family members with very sick family members. You have to stay and do what you can. I think salary often gets the VERY short end of the stick. It seems like many agencies are reluctant to pay hourly but I think it is the most fair for all involved. Just my opinion from 6 years in the field.

Ann