ksb13

Have worked for 3 agencies in 20 years. All were Sun-Sat. I can't imagine trying to keep it straight the way you describe.

I am scheduled 72 hours/2weeks and I never work more than that. I might work more than 8 hours one day, but have less than 8 another day. I am salaried, so can't put extra hours on time sheet My manager has a good understanding of my work load Hope this helps, although I can't answer the exact questions.

I just started a position with hospice 3 weeks ago. I have done home health for the last 15 years, but had moved and was driving 50 miles one way to the office, and serving 9 counties. This position pays much less (about 25%) but it is for ONE county. The office is ONE block from my house. There are 3 full time RNs, 1 per diem RN, 1 LPN, 1 personal care aide, 1 clerical person and the coordinator. The coordinator and the perdiem nurse do call from Friday until Sunday am. Each nurse takes call one night during the week and one Sunday every 4 weeks. The pt load is about 4 visits a day, occasionally more if things are hectic or someone has to have multiple visits. We do schedule visits with the aide to do together, which has been wonderful for me. She is GREAT and there is no better way to assess skin, etc than when assisting with a bath. I am loving it. Have been told that sometimes it gets really hectic but usually short term. The nurses have a "caseload" but share patients so that every one knows each pt at least minimally. Have the ability to "flex off" with or without pay if things are light and get a minimum of 2 hours call back pay if called out. It has been worth the cut in pay, to have good team mates who are not burnt out or overly stressed, although I know there will be times that census goes up or the week from chaos appears.......

I don't work in hospice, but have done home health for 15 years. We went computerized 8 years ago. THe first 6 months it cut my productivity and my satisfaction in half. However, after lots of practice and increased typing speed it actually was better and easier than paper. Have talked with other home health nurses who have gone computerized and the consensus is the same. At first it is horrible, then bearable, then wonderful.......but it does take time. You might have your management team talk to the vendor for your program. We were able to get several very time consuming things changed in the program. Took some doing, but it really helped. Meds were one of the things that we had changed. Hope it helps. Hang in there.

If you want to give me your email address or email me I will tell you what I know about Lourdes and WBH. Haven't worked IN either, but have done home health for both. [

I don't know anything about any of the L'ville hospitals but would also be glad to get any information. Might make my job hunting in the spring a little easier.

Did talk to JSMC and was offered a position in home health, but it was going to create conflicts with my teenager and he comes first, so still doing the home health thing for Baptist. I have not worked in the hospital at either Baptist or Lourdes, but have done home health for both. They both have good points, but at this time I am more content at Baptist. I think the plan is still to move to Louisville in the late spring. My teenager is applying for a new residential high school in Bowling Green, on WKU campus and if he is accepted , I will move to Louisville to be closer to the older two kids. There are many more opportunities in that area than are available in Western Ky. Plus, I miss my kids! Even if they are grown.

thanks for the info about trigg and JSMC. I have an interview with JSMC on Wed. Waiting to see what they offer. I am still thinking about moving to the Louisville area in the spring. My adult kids live there and was there this weekend. Lots of offers in the paper there. Still working prn for baptist out of Paducah and enjoying that. Luckily in nursing the options are many!

Hello, another West Ky nurse. I moved from Paducah to Murray about 5 years ago. was at Lourdes until about 8 months ago. Now doing home health for Baptist on a prn basis. I needed to be at home more than I needed to be driving all over the state! Would like to find something a little more "scheduled" Maybe 1-2 shifts a week. JinJerEvans, how do you like Trigg and JSMC? Have thought about both of them. Could you give me some info on them? I have thought about the RN to BSN at Murray, but need to wait until the last teenager is out of the house....

Hello and welcome to the area. I live about 60 miles northwest of Fort Campbell. The closest options for you are going to be Gateway Health Systems in Clarksville (I hear they are building a new hospital), Jennie Stuart in Hopkinsville, Western State (state psych) in Hopkinsville, or Cumberland Hall (private psych) in Hopkinsville. There is also Blanchfield Army at Fort Campbell. Nashville is probably about an hour away and several there both big and small. There are also some home health, etc available but I don't know much about them and very little about the hospitals. Do you have both your TN and KY license? You are going to be on the state border so that would increase your options. Not sure which are the best areas to live. Good luck.

Hello, I currently live in Western Ky, about an hour from Fort Campbell. There are several hospitals in the area. Nashville has a VA hosp, Vanderbilt, and St Thomas, along with some others. Fort Campbell has Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Clarksville has Gateway (which is hear is going to build a new hospital), Hopkinsville has Jennie Stuart, Western State (state psych) and Cumberland Hall (private psych)........ those are all probably within drivign distance of the Clarksvile/Fort Campbell/ Hopkinsville area. Good luck and email if there are any other questions I can help with. I will be moving to Louisville late this spring, so will appreciate any comments/hints/tips on the Louisville area!!!

I have checked at a couple of the hospitals and Our Lady of Peace and Jewish both offer a work on weekends program. I think Norton's does also, I have not talked to them yet........they are on the list for the next time I visit Louisville as is Baptist. I suspect Louisville is like any place. There is crime and there are some areas that you don't want to be walking around in at night, but a little common sense goes a long way. I currently live in a very small town in rural KY, but being in such a rural area........we have meth labs blowing up fairly frequently........so all in the perspective. I enjoy Louisville, it has a lot to offer, including some great schools and that is important to me. My high schooler wants to go to a magnet school.......and my adult kids live there, so it is the obvious choice for me. Hopefully I will be there by June 1........soon as the school year ends here.

Does anyone here work for Gentiva Home Health? Know much about the home health work in the area? Also, anyone work in psych? I did that for 8 years and enjoyed it, so it is also an option. Salary scales seem to be a bit lower than I expected. Are there many open positions? I am looking forward to the move to Louisville and plan to make a few short trips to talk to employers, etc. Just trying to get as much info as I can beforehand. thanks to everyone

Thanks for the info. Still trying to decide if I am going to move or not. I may do the agency thing or the WOW thing. Have also considered going back to psych nursing. I did that for about 8 years. Have worked in HomeHealth for the last 14 years. So, lots of things to think about. I appreciate any and all input about working in Louisville. Thanks so much!!!

I am also planning to move to Louisville in the near future. Any suggestions on which hospital systems are the best? Any one working in Louisville? Tell me what you like and dislike about your employment. My adult children live there and have finally persuaded me that I should move. Will probably be moving this summer and would like to know if there are places I should definitely apply or avoid. Thanks.