lou12

I had a surgeon yell at me to make a patient get out of bed--in front of the patient. I had just medicated her and we were working toward getting out of bed (for the first time post op, a sweet 80+ y/o woman). Then he yelled at her that she was going to die if she didn't get out of bed?? She burst into tears and he left the room. I calmed her down, got her out of bed then called him to come back to see her sitting in the chair. Surprisingly enough, he did come back and apologized to her but of course, not to me. This is after he had completed his hospital mandated anger management class. HAHA right!?!

How great to have orientation with Home Health and someone to back you up! I have many years experience in nursing in ICU, PACU, teaching and so on but not home health. When I interviewed with the agency, I asked about orientation and was told oh yes we want you to feel ready. Huh really...no orientation on how to fill out an Oasis, just another RN who said here you work on this and ask me questions. Two weeks later both she and the branch manager quit leaving me as the only regular staff RN--yeah orientation..

I had a similar experience with home health, I felt sooo.. relieved when I turned in my two week notice. Good luck with the interview!!

I have been a nurse for many years but remember what it was like to be a new grad and be afraid of making a mistake. I would much rather work with someone like you, who is human and uncertain of themselves and doesn't know all the answers-yet- (you will get better!!) than work with an individual who doesn't ask questions or seek advice, they want to pretend they don't need anyone's help- those people can be dangerous to patients and co-workers.

I was shocked at the paperwork! I was new to home health in January, not to nursing, and just could not believe the time spent with the paper rather than the people. You are correct too about the pay especially when you work prn like me, only paid a flat fee for SOC etc...wowser

As a nurse new to home health, I understand your frustration with those who don't do their job as well as they should. However, it is upsetting when as a new hire, you are told you need to do a better job but oops..we never gave you any training to assist you in learning the job and the paperwork.

I am new to home health but not to nursing (about 25 years). I enjoy the patients, they respect those who truly care about them and for the most part, like to learn more about how to take care of themselves. My biggest complaint is the lack of orientation. I had never seen an OASIS before but really had no orientation but was told that (after two months of working there) I wasn't productive enough-even though I was seeing 4-5 patients a day which were a combination of RCT, SOC, DC which are given 'higher points'. I am now prn just because I don't care to be given no support, no help (the other RN quit after I had been there a month so I was on my own-branch manager had quit one week after I started)...it was a nightmare. I hope other home health agencies are not this way, good luck!

So I started a full time home health job 2 months ago, never having worked in home health before. I have 20+ years nursing experience in telemetry, ICU, cardiac rehab, and LPN instructor. In the first six weeks of working at this agency, the branch manager quit, the other RN case manager quit and an LPN quit-all without notice. Today I met with the administrator of the office and expressed, face to face (I have talked to her on phone previously), my concerns about the stress at the office because of this and my feelings that I haven't been given adequate training, especially with the OASIS. Her response was, it wasn't her fault those people quit and if I wasn't totally committed to working with their company, I shouldn't continue working there. I don't think I have ever met anyone who seemed to have no care or concern about their employees. So should I give two weeks notice and hope I can find something else or keep working there hoping it will improve, since it's only been 2 months?

This is great information! I started one month ago in home health after 20 years working in a hospital in various departments. The staff turnover is incredible, probably because there isn't much orientation. I insisted I needed more time which they gave me, but now the other RN case manager just resigned- I am afraid they will now throw me to wolves. Why is this so common in home health?

I am also new to HH and CM-not even a month yet. The first week there, the branch manager quit because she did not get along with a person in administration. The secretary, intake scheduler, LVNs and other CM are all new within the last 6 months. I have had no training on the OASIS. I have been a nurse for 20+ years so I am comfortable with assessments, critical thinking skills but home health is all new... I talked to another branch manager today about my concerns but I am feeling like just a warm body. I hate to give up but I just am feeling so down about taking this position. Oh and I heard today the other CM may be leaving-that would leave ME as the only RN yikes!!

I too have been reading about home health nursing. I have been a nurse for more than 20 years and have worked in a hospital setting most of those years. However, I decided I needed to try other avenues of nursing and just recently started a home health job. I too have heard you either really like it or you really don't. I am hoping I am in the really like it group. I enjoy reading about how other nurses feel about this area of nursing. Thanks to twokidsmom for the positive statement about you never know until you try it.

First I think you should be who you are-if you are a person who doesn't care to share their inner feelings with co-workers, so be it, don't change for others. I really thought I wanted to work in a psych unit at one time but I have mostly worked in critical care and in that area, I have dealt with many ODs. From that I have concluded as a nurse working with psych patients you need a thick skin and to not show much emotion because they can say and do some unusual things, at times because they have some serious mental illness OR because they want to see how the nurse will react. A 'straight' face works well in those situations. Good luck!

LTC facilities have evolved from the type of patients once seen there. There are still the 'typical' nursing home patients but there are more people who need some therapy or wound care etc in order to get back home again. A new nurse can learn and practice many skills now in LTC. Congrats on the new job!

You spent time, energy and money to become a nurse, don't throw in the towel so to speak, yet. Reflect and vent as was suggested, next talk to other nurses about their jobs and decide what path sounds good to you whether it's another hospital, LTC, home health-with nursing there are a number of options which is very helpful. Some people need more time to settle into a career than others, don't be too hard on yourself; as a person who can be their own worse critic, don't give up on your dreams and definately don't let others discourage you. I believe in you, you didn't get all the way through nursing school without ability and skills!!

Indeed it is a combination of those items which makes nursing such a rewarding, challenging and ever changing profession!