BabaLouRN

Anyone else about to pull your hair out? I am spending WAY too much time changing words, adding words, etc etc.....

It seems your thoughts match mine precisely. I think a lot of issues is most ALFs staff med techs, not nurses to pass meds. There are LVNs in most facility but I find the LVNs are mainly in administrative and marketing positions.

Amedysis office closed in Ft Worth TX in 2012

I feel every single bit of your pain. When I read your words, I would think I wrote them myself. I have been doing home health for 9 years and now that I doubt being able to continue this crazy pace I am expected to put up with. I would LOVE to go back to hospital nursing. Now, that I have been away from hospital nursing for 9 years, ALL the experience I have gained over the years does not matter anymore. I don't have the recent experience being required now. I am so tired of dragging my butt through the door only to face another 3 hours of charting that I still have to do. I am frustrated concerning the "princesses in the ivory tower" seeing the world through a computer screen calling shots on what I am expected to do. I too have no life. I have lost tract of all my past times to enjoy life. Everytime I turn around I have to be on call which actually is just a 12 day stretch of work days.

I am referring to RETURNING to the hospital after being in Home Health for several years.

Don't you just love it when you are down to the last phone contact to set up visit when that LAST patient has one thing or another reason to have to back and redo the whole day.... How do you all deal with this?

I have been an RN for 30 years. 22 years of hospital, ER, ICU before 9 years in Home Health. Now, all of those hospital years are gone. Just gone.

Same thoughts exactly. This is such a difficult thing for caregivers to understand. I understand that a SKILLED NEED is something "only a nurse or therapist can do" So, who draws the blood???

I have been taught that routine Lab draws every 3 weeks and then PROCRIRT injections given in the home according to the result of the labs. I believe Medicare does not consider this as a skilled need and I have never heard of PROCRIT being given in the home. Any thoughts?

You have to have strong, independent skills. There's no one down the hall to help you out.

Try using the SWYPE keyboard. It takes a few practices and you have to watch the words are correct. It sure beats tablet typing.

If you are salaried, how many points are you required for full time benefits?

Just be sure there is an agreement with the terms. What will your quota? Be sure you are clear on your compensation for over productivity

I have had that same piece of pie in my face. Sad, isn't it??

Salary just plain SUCKS!! How can one be expected to be happy themselves when their entire days and nights are spent making them happy?

I have begun to believe that possibly the ONLY method for a Home Health RN is to work on prn basis for 2-3 different agencies rather than become a puppet to make quota. I don't have this option because I need to have the group benefits. It seems this "salary thing" is just too constraining and leaves the tendency to be abused in order to meet PRODUCTIVITY. The current company I work for has a productivity quota of "30-35" visit points per week. All other agencies I have known have a 30 point requirement. I also believe the "30-35" is much too high of a margin before getting bonus pay. So, you can make 30 points, earn an additional 5 points and get paid the same amount. It just doesn't figure right.

What is the status of obtaining a compact license? I live in Texas

ALWAYS trust your "Spidey Sense" I think I would have asked the State APS that you reported to go with you to this follow up visit. There are TONS of nutty people out there, more than most people realize. I know that when you step on their drug supply, you are stepping on a ticking bomb" An agency that I worked before had an agreed "code call" to call in to the office to call 911 to the location.

But if you disagree and the 485 is put on hold, it is like the end of the world if you hold up the process.

Have you tried using the SWYPE option for your keyboard with the Samsung galaxy tablet? It takes a bit to catch on but when you do it is much faster. I can SWYPE so much faster than I can TYPE. Also, HCHB sucks that it is not web based and requires SYNCING everytime you turn around.

Kinnser has many applications that may or may not be optional to your agency. Check to see what options are available to you. One agency had Kinnser but required paper patient signatures. Another agency had Kinnser but had the stylus patient signature built in.

I would love to be able to do this but the office would totally freak out. It's sad that Corporate does not see the hassles we face with this. None of those efforts are "productive"

Yes, I am feeling that too.

I have been a RN for many years. I lived in Oklahoma and worked at a hospital for 20 years before I decided to follow many colleagues and start Home Health. I had some very special nurses who knew me from working at the hospital. It took 3 years before I felt myself being competent and independent. I moved with my fiancé to Fort Worth in 2010 and already on my 5th home health agency, There has been a definite pattern I have identified. Every thing seems "peachy keen" for about 3 months and then..... nose dive!!! Always centered around $$$ and fraud until I have to move on. I am not young and all this new job thing is more and more difficult to keep doing. I tried to go back to hospital nursing but learned that I did not have the "requirements" for the jobs since I have been working home health for the past 8 years. Feels like I am stuck and uncertain about "branching out" again. It always turns out the same.

she probably meant TPA