NurseLil13

I have my BSN and I love PDN- to an extent. PDN mostly operates with LPN/LVNs. Their benefits typically don't match an RNs, for example, I get 5 total days of PTO over a calendar year. To most of the LPNs I work with, this is fantastic, but for RNs? not so much. I also have to purchase my own health insurance bc they only offer catastrophic. No 401k or 403b. However, they (meaning my agency) allow me a little more independence and don't breathe down my neck as bad. I am more choosy about clients and only take the complex patients that will prevent me from getting bored. Usually there are trach/vents, central lines, Gtubes/feeds, or a combination of the three. If you're truly interested, I'd look at different agencies around your area and see what kind of cases they have available. If there's one you're comfortable with, take it! Good Luck!

Exactly! This is exactly how I'm feeling. Night shift began purchasing holiday gifts, so me being naive and new, thought that was the norm. Clearly not. This particular set of parents is understanding, especially since I just obtained my BSN, it's just the agency. I've only been with this patient almost 2 years, but I'm still bored. I feel like there's no growth. I feel like I'm getting paid pennies to be a yes man when I can't even afford to go to the doctor due to lack of insurance... as a BSN, RN! Thank you so much for the feedback. I really appreciate that I'm not alone in feeling like this.

Thanks so much for your feedback! I appreciate your words, as I have felt that way for a while, but felt alone, as many do when working in home health, thinking that no one understood. The guilt is definitely real!

Kitiger,RN: When I say significant changes, I'm meaning with the patient themselves, not with my personal situation. It has definitely changed. I have spoken to the manager in the past about potentially picking up other cases and my requests were either ignored or denied. Which I thought was strange to begin with. Like I pick up the extra hours with the case, as the agency has asked. I rarely call off. I haven't even taken a vacation since maternity leave 2 weeks into this case (not that I have more than 3 days of PTO, maximum), and they won't even entertain the idea of me floating? This way of operating has went on since I picked up this case years ago. As for the cleaning and stuff, I'm the only nurse this patient has that does those things. The others won't even let mom know if they're low on diapers or meds, much less a pharmacy or supplier. This was my first private duty case, so I didn't know what to expect. I have definitely learned lessons (like the gifts thing), buy I guess it's biting me in the butt now. Did I put in/do too much in the beginning?

I have been an RN for 3 years, and working in Private duty via a small agency for 2 years. I left the hospital because I hate the politics and the lack of freedom in my schedule. My pediatric patient now is pretty complex, but balanced at this time. They have to have an RN during daylight hours for TPN. I have been commended many time by the pt's mom for "going above and beyond" by keeping up with organizing and restocking the supplies they receive through insurance, basic cleaning of patient's room and bathroom (nothing extensive, just enough to do my job, ex: wiping counter I mix TPN on or washing the oral syringes I use for meds), or picking up a few extra hours so that mom and dad can have a date night every once and a while. The issue is, I feel like a glorified babysitter. I have been with the pt since they came home from a LTC facility. Yes, I feel close to the pt's family. Sometimes, even as though I have crossed the professional line a few times in regards to purchasing things for my patient as Christmas or Birthday gifts (ADA bath equipment not covered by insurance, bedding that will fit their hospital bed, special scales). A few months ago, I discovered that my pay and benefits were wayyy less than other agencies in my area. So I applied for another position and got a call for an interview. I let my patient's mom know that I was interviewing for another job, as she had 2 agencies in the home and I figured that that would give both agencies time to potentially find a new nurse. The mom freaked out on my agency, my then manager basically went into a frenzy, acting completely shocked, even though I told her my feelings 6 months ago. Then the manager claimed they couldn't find a nurse, using guilt to keep me. Eventually, my agency basically only gave me enough of a raise to cover insurance through the marketplace, and only one additional PTO day, no where near what I was asking for. I told them I thought it would be okay for a few years or until I have another baby. Now, my patient still remains balanced. My schedule is all over the place, being sent home early one day, being asked to stay late several times a month, flip flopping hours. It's even effecting my private life, as I've recently moved, creating a 45 minute commute to my patient's home. My spouse is definitely not happy with the schedule changes either, as it sometimes leaves them or my mother in law watching my daughter for long periods of time. Do you think this is burn out or boredom, as there have been no significant changes? Should I stop doing kind things for the family, like reordering supplies or buying useful gifts? Should I just grin and bear it, tell my spouse to suck it up? Or are these just signals that it's time to leave?