lsvalliant

Hi OP here. I haven't had time to reply because I've been too busy in the past 48 hours working at my job to check the forum, but update... I did NOT get suspended, thank goodness. I did get a PPD on Sunday (having it read tomorrow) and I did send an email to a HR supervisor that I was very sorry I forgot my annual this year and it wont happen again. It was almost a very expensive mistake, over a grand plus OT in the last 48 hours if I had been suspended. AND yes I might take you up on that offer $100 a year for reminders because it is not worth losing that much money. And even though I'm great at my job as I work very independently, I'm not very organized when it comes to other things. Your right I cant really expect someone else to keep track of my credentials even though I've had that luxury with my company for the past 3 years. Never again

My employer told me on Friday that my annual TB test was going to expire this weekend and instructed me that they would suspend me without pay on Monday if I couldn't get one done over the weekend. Problem is that I had plans to take PTO for a half day on Friday to go out of town for the weekend so it was impossible for me to comply with their request. I was really upset that the HR administrator lied to my supervisor and said she notified me a month ago via text. I have absolutely no correspondences of this until the day before it expired. So can they legally do this? How much recourse do I have if any?

I didn't learn a gosh darn thing by following the nurse around when I was in clinicals, except for what I needed to do to keep my teachers off my back and to look busy. I was a straight A student, but I found I could learn a heck of a lot more by not watching the nurse, but by reading charts and looking up stuff I didn't understand. I found it fascinating really and I always looked busy. I would ask the nurse about every hour or two if I could do anything for her. She would usually squint at me and walk right past me like I didn't exist. Awesome! Or give me a CNA task which was fine then go sit back down. Don't worry you will learn everything you need to know when you get into your specialty. I never to this day have shoved an NG tube down someone's throat or have had the pleasure of troubleshooting a rectal tube.

1. SAN DIEGO 2 100 SOC, 60 VISIT, 70 all other oasis, .50 mile 3 Full benefits medical, dental, 401k, HSA, disability 4.being out in the sun all day!

I haven't read the updates or any of the comments on this post but just between you and me. I heard you were going to make it and it is your destiny to be a great nurse.

"Now I know that I'm watching too much reality TV, but the first thought that came to mind was to hire an independent private investigator to follow her." Or just follow her a** one day. See for yourself.

Guess What! Original poster here. I was offered 6-8 dollars less per hour to go work at the new job in the hospital/clinic setting. Forget it!! SO I did not leave home health. It drives me crazy some days but at least I dont have to punch a clock and make less money. I am per visit and very productive in my area so I'm sticking with it. For now....

I've been working in home health now for almost 3 years as a RN case manager in southern California. I'm posting this so those of you that are thinking about home health know what to expect and I'm basically just venting why I have a love/hate relationship with this job. First why I love it: I love autonomy and independence and not having my boss look over my shoulder at all times. I feel like no one is really watching me most of the time unless there are random chart audits or I accidentally miss a recert oasis. I get to drive around beautiful So cal all day, which most days is absolutely stunning. If I'm having a bad day, my car is my refuge and I can blast that radio really loud. I see about 5-7 patients a day and love that my current agency does not have me drive over 100 miles per day like my old one. I drive about 60 a day on average now. My patients for the most part are really appreciative and I develop a rapport with them and their families. I still use most of my med surg skills. I do alot of PICC lines, wound care, phlebotomy, gtube, and teaching, a few trachs here and there. Mostly it's teaching which I love. The bad: Every agency I've worked for is a disorganized mess. My supervisor does not remember her own name half the time. She will call me at all hours, text me at 630am for report on a patient I did not see, and call me on the weekends. Calls from co-workers and patients on my days off constantly gets on my nerves. I had last Thursday off and my phone rang every 15 minutes and I did have to take some of those calls. All agencies try to milk medicare patients to the fullest extent they can. I feel like I am a part of the problem and not the solution as far as medicare overspending. I was pulling into my driveway one day last week at 445pm (I work 8-5) and I get a call from my boss.."OH I forgot to tell you that admission for tomorrow actually needs an IV dose today at 5pm oops!." So that ruined my plans for the evening and that is typical. Typical example of disorganized non-sense that I have experienced with all 3 of the agencies I have worked for. 2 of these agencies are top 500 national agencies. I feel like I am a money machine for these agencies and they do not value me as a person who has a life outside of work. Last gripe, If i refuse to admit a patient because they do not meet medicare guidelines its a huge deal and I get interrogated by multiple managers as to what my rationale is, with the constant reminder that each patient they don't admit is a $4000 loss. Its all about money. So I'm out of home health starting next month by miraculous devine intervention. One of my dear friends who I worked with in HH, got out about a year ago and started working in an infusion room in a local outpatient clinic associated with a big hospital here. Her manager wanted to hire a HH RN as an assistant to two specialty doctors in a clinic/hospital setting, so she recommended me and I got the job. I had about 24 hours to think about it, happened so fast. This position would require that I become wound certified and I still will be doing infusion and teaching patients. I get to round with the doctors and work closely with them in developing a POC for the patients. Sounds like a great job and I get to use my HH skills and independence to my advantage. We will see, they always say grass is greener on the other side. Good luck in home health. I may be back some day.

This is the first time I am going to attempt to right off expenses on my taxes. I made over 100k as a case manager last year and I am scared I am going to owe thousands in taxes. i was paid 25 cents a mile for most of the year so I know I can right off an additional 30 cents for each mile. Can i right off gas?? How about lunch, uniforms, cell phone bill since I wasn't reinbursed for any of it? What do you guys think??

OK so I took the job. Worst experience I've ever had in my whole working career. This is of course the opinion of one and not to sway anyone from excepting one of the many jobs they have available because their RN turnover is ridiculous. The average nurse lasts about 5 months. This is the reason in my opinion... No support: Its so hard to get in touch with a supervisor, closest one is in Nevada and shows up about once a month. ON Call: No extra pay and they work you to death. They expect you to drive at all hours of the night to anywhere in San Diego county. If they cant staff a SOC during the day.. guess what it falls on the on call nurse. Try driving up to Julian in the dark/snow to make less than 20$ and hour once you factor in all the drive time. Well if you live in Julian than that would not be the case. LOL. Please ask for yourself when you apply. how long has your most senior nurse worked for the company? As of today, the answer will be about 6 months. So sad for a company that could have so much potential.

Oh, lol I meant TPA or cathflo. I get the concept but I have never actually given it. It involves using a stopcock. I filed a complaint with the state about the youtube incident and that we are hiring new grads that dont know what they are doing with no support. Isn't there a law in CA that you have to have a year of experience to do home health??? Anyways the labor board claim hearing is the end of January and penalties are accumulating at 300$ a day until paid.

I have heard so many stories from my teammates about devil possession on the floor. *shiver* I bet those patients are getting ambien

Hi all, I have been working for the same agency as a full-time case manager for over a year now and recently things have gotten so bad, I feel like I'm being forced to quit. In October the agency went from an hourly rate of pay to per visit. All of the nurses were told we would have to sign a new contract on the spot or be forced to resign. The new contract stated the agency would no longer count drive time between patients towards overtime calculations, which is illegal in the state of CA. My first pay check after the change was short about $700. Mostly for case conferencing meetings, admin time, and promised additional $$ for taking patients out of my area. All of this was approved in writting, yet they told me flat out they were losing money and they weren't going to pay. I did file a complaint (still pending) with the labor board. Next, they started shorting me on visits and paying visits at $5.00 per visit on my next check. I luckily keep good records and when I questioned them they told me they investigated my claim and I was actually overpaid for 6 visits!! I laughed and said I had all of my patient signature sheets to prove my actual number of visits. Still they havent paid anything. Now, the icing on the cake. My boss ordered me to go give TPN (to declot a PICC line), that I have never done before or been trained on. I told her I didn't know how to do it and she told me "I told the patient you were an expert, so you better pretend you know what your doing". Then she told me to get my training on Youtube. WHAT! Of course I refused and sent an email to the owner of the agency who was angry because I told the patient I wasn't trained on giving that medication. Now my employer has locked me out of my email and I'm sure they are deleting all imcriminating emails regarding my pay and the Youtube comments. Little do they know, I created PDF of all my emails and have them on a flash drive. What a corrupt agency.

Im a home health nurse and got orders today by a primary doctor to infuse 1 Liter of LR with 20meq K over 3-4 hours every day for 7 days. This pt has CHF with +4 pitting edema and SOB with mod exertion. I refused to give it and consulted her cardiologist who agreed with me. The primary MD states the cardiologist doesnt know whats going on and pt needs the fluids based on the labs. Whats your opinions? I'm still refusing to carry out the order. What do you think?

11-15 pts a day is 11-15 hours per day at my agency. 30min visit, 30 min charting and case managing. NOT counting if its a SOC, ROC etc. NOT counting any drive time. Thats impossible.