Rachelks

I am currently applying for a job in Ed that I really would love to do. The only thing I think that might be a draw back to them wanting to hire me is I have been doing home health the last year and the previous 3 years prior to that I worked on a med surg floor. I worry that since I have been doing HH it won't look as good on my resume because of how different the types of nursing are. Does anyone have any tips that might help me better my chances at getting this ED position?

I find this all very sad because it seems to me that home health can be such a great place to work if you have a good staff and great upper management that really cares about the nurses working for them. I can no longer work the way I have and be treated with such little respect... Some days I feel the nurses get treated like we should just be grateful they are letting us work for them... So I have decided to go back and do hospital nursing, I have put in 2 applications so hopefully I can get an interview. Even though hospital hours are long and not as flexible at least once you put your hours in you are done and I have never been treated as poorly in the hospital as I have been while doing home health. You nurses who have good management in your agency hold on to them, That really can make or break this job.

Thanks everyone for your views... It is always helpful to hear others opinions on this.

I think 7-8 may be "do able" every day if they all live around the same zip and are routine visits. I am a nurse for a rual area and drive anywhere from 100-150 (sometimes more) miles a day and visits usually include wound care or infusions. I think all agencies should take in to consideration the acuity level of the pt and not just the numbers.

How could you see 18 a day?!?! There is not enough hours in a day! I would be so gone....

Thank for the input... I Havent been wanting to give up on this HH agency but am considering it now. I just dont feel like I can give my pt's very good care when I am so over loaded and the managment dosent even care. It's nice too see how everyone else views a "full day" and the amount of pt's you can give care to while still being able to enjoy your jobs and take good care of the pt's.

Does anyone else feel as though they are working almost 24/7 doing HH? I started doing HH about 1 1/2 years ago long story short our agency is short staffed we are seeing 7-9 pts daily 5 days a week. I am salaried to see 5 pt's daily but lately haven't felt like I've had no other choice to see more because I want my pt's to be seen. I am feeling like all I do is see pt's and come home and finish up charting and phone calls until bed time. Has any one else ran into this issue? I have spoke to my manager about it but she just blows it off with the same response "We are thinking about hiring another nurse" . How many pt's do most of you see? And is that is that enough or do you feel overwhelmed too?

We carry IV start kits then wait for pharmacy to deliver the fluids but there is rarely ever an emergency in HH where u would have to start IVF started in such short notice. If it is that urgent they should probably go to the hospital to be monitored.