outside_child

Was a night person since high school. Love night shift because it is more laid back and you can think. No administrators, less family around, patients and charts where you can find them. Also more money. You have time to take care of some personal business during business hours without missing work, less traffic, and once again more money. LOL

Good solution to that nursing anxiety and still keep up your skills. Nothing is worth stressing your well being.

Amen to all what you said. Let us not forget how some people try to scapegoat you.

I Understood everything you said. I was like that to a point that I lost too much weight. Trying to catch up with all the demands of my work and not eating or drinking. That was how it was for me after working 18 years in everything except acute care; then got a job in acute care. I was thrown out there without enough training for my new acuity and scared trying to hide it. On top of that coworkers backstabbing you, not assisting, and stressed out family members. But hey I made it. Sometimes a little functional anxiety can keep you on your toes although it was very uncomfortable.

Thank you! That is exactly what I was wondering myself.

Thank you, I was wondering the same question.

I agree the hospital chaos is ridiculous and I am tired of it. On my first weekend oncall and it wasn't so ba, but I was up until 4am finishing my documentation though. I am usually up that late working night shift anyway. I am really trying to do more HH and less and less hospital. I have a lot to learn and plan on starting an extra HH agency PRN too. Love the detailed advise above.

Eldragon, you are exactly right. I completed the oasis workshop. They had a mock test and that convinced me to wait until September to even contemplate taking that test. I may not even take it then LOL. I just started working in HH and this company does not have a lot of patients right now. Still waiting to do a SOC, and I still work PRN in LTACH for now. Guess I had better study study study. Thanks for the input.

I would not text them but will call their office and leave my cell number so I can take care of orders right away,

I have a friend who worked HH for over 20 yrs. She started out in the field and had different positions such as marketing, case management, etc. She left HH for 3 yrs to work in dialysis. She said dialysis is stressful and chaotic esp. at shift change. Patients can crash esp. if noncompliant, they call the state, and gossip among each other about the staff. The hours are long. Needless to say she is back in HH and is happy. I spoke with hospital dialysis nurses and they prefer to work dialysis in the hospital because it is less stressful. The other side of working in the hospital is long hours and being on call even in the middle of the night.

Yes ma'am Prn is the way to go for any job if you have insurance already. I do PRN at an LTACH and HH agency. I was off every weekend at hospital, but now HH PRN requests on call 1 weekend a month. I never had so much freedom in nursing.

OMG Libby you have the perfect HH job!

Good for you, but tell me how do you manage all that? I was also considering working for two HH agencies and possibly leaving acute care. I haven't started with HH yet but plan to in April.

Most definitely! Thanks caliotter3

Oh I have another agency about to make an offer, and glad I did so I can compare the two. The agency I am referring to have better quotes per visit. But I know all money ain't good money. Besides I will talk to both agencies Monday.

I sent and email to the recruiter with my questions, and let her know that I want 3 business days to think it over after all my questions have been answered. So either they will resend the offer to me with a different deadline or I will move right on along. What is a reasonable deadline for a job offer? Oh and I am not desperate for work. I have a PRN hospital job where I basically make my own schedule. So I am going to take my time.

I thought PRN or per visit was more flexible, but it appears they expect you to work M-F then on call once a month for weekends...really?? Offer contains different rates based on completions (OK), on call rates for 1 day, 2 days (?), and tricky explanation of mileage although mileage is a good rate. Also the offer was sent on Friday after 3pm and they want response by Monday or null and void. I have at least 8 questions to fully understand all this since I am new to HH nursing. I am not signing anything until I get all my questions answered plus 3 business days to think it over. Any thoughts or experiences with job offers in HH anyone want to share? What is the usual expectations in PRN HH with respect to availability?

Eldragon: I am registered with www.oasisanswers.com and I hope and believe that the test will be like they said. There is a workshop and the test is based on everything presented in the workshop so hopefully everything will be ok, then I'm off to take the coding workshop. I saw entries from other forum participants who use this same company and they passed. Hopefully with my applying what I learn in HH orientation, the workshops and the applications of these principles out in the field, I will do fine and try to reach my goal. Working in nursing over 25 yrs in direct care is taking a toll on me physically, and I never was interested in working in management.

Wow! I had been out of HH since 1997 as a LVN doing skilled visits and I got orientation. I went this week to two HH agencies and was hired by one which is more reputatable and will provide orientation. Then I went to the second interview with another HH agency and when I asked about orientation to the administrator, he asked "what do you mean?" I said what kind of EMR device this company use and reminded him I never worked HH as an RN. His response was we have video tapes, and the DON looked at me peculiar with a little grin. Needless to say, I am not interested in that HH agency and they probably was not in me too, but I am glad I found a good company with the first HH agency. I do not expect to hear from the second company nor will I recommend them. About 8 years ago I tried with a small company and the DON gave me pointers and gave me the CMS website which had broken down all the Oasis components, which was good but I did not like being called in because my paperwork was not right, so I left disenchanted until I tried again now. Honey run for the hills!!!!

My agency pay $45 routine plus $25 on call and mileage. I think he forgot some things in his quote.

Thanks Libby187. I downloaded Oasis manual, scanned the CMS website, and networked with someone who has done HH for years as a resource before I even start my new job April 6th. This was good advice on your part. Think I am going to love the autotomy of HH and learn the business end of learning what is going to be reimbursted by insurances. HH is valuable and a good background for case management.

Yes!!!! Well said JaneRivers!

RoxiLVN: Oooh how I wish I had your problem right now. We can do a partial switcheroo. I understand how you feel about getting hands on direct patient care experience. I was in that position trying to get out of LTC to go to acute care. Now I wish I had a job like yours right about now, LOL. I have seen new grads get jobs ie, nsg home then hosp. whenever they can then after a couple years get the type of job you now have. I went that route in order to understand the big picture so I understand what you are talking about. Find out if you can work in the office part time or PRN until you get the experience you are craving now even working HH part-time is a start. Knowing what I know now, I would have spent less years in direct care and been moved on to something that you are doing now. Plan your career path wisely. Good luck.

Can anyone give me any advice if learning ICD-10 coding and Oasis certification would increase my chances of getting a "home job"? I have tried many times to get employment at insurance companies, and now plan to work per visit in home health just for the minimal experience of case management HH provides. Hopefully, I can find work doing something else besides direct patient care. Any suggestions of other jobs besides insurance companies?

Can anyone give me any advice if learning ICD-10 coding and Oasis certification would increase my chances of getting a "home job"? I have tried many times to get employment at insurance companies, and now plan to work per visit in home health just for the minimal experience of case management HH provides. Hopefully, I can find work doing something else besides direct patient care. Any suggestions of other jobs besided insurance companies?