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!

I hope you find a job you will feel good about. Good luck with school. I once considered the military and I think it's a good option but be safe!

Unfortunately I think we have all had days like that and we aren't always are supportive to each other as we should/could be. In the end if you gave your patients the best care you could, you should feel great! Pat yourself on the back. Lastly remember we all may have a bad day and gripe about stuff we wouldn't usually, maybe that was true for those co-workers of yours. I, for one, am impressed by what you had to go through that shift whew...:yeah:hang in there

It sounds like you have done your 'homework' in career exploration and are gaining experience in the areas you have focused on, again a very good idea. I would check on the job markets for both careers in your area if you haven't already. The other thing about firefighting/parmedic is the wear and tear on your body-if you really want to do it, I would while you're young. Good luck!

I feel your disappointment, I was in your shoes (and still am to some degree) less than a year ago. I moved to a new state; I found many job opportunities have to do with where you live/apply for jobs. I live in a small community but have a few larger ones within an hours drive. I applied to all the surrounding small hospitals, talked with a couple of nursing homes and a couple nursing schools about adjunct faculty openings. I found a job in one of the small hospitals prn in ICU-it's not my first choice in jobs but at least I can now continue to look around and hope for more options. In short, you may need to explore jobs that weren't first on your list. Best of luck!

I believe there are jobs out there, being a nurse offers options for places of employment-hospitals, long term care, schools, doctor's offices and others. I think right now a new nurse may have to look at jobs they wouldn't have really wanted to do when thinking of going into the nursing profession. So look at long term care, home health, hospice; explore all the areas and good luck!!

Have you considered shadowing nurses at a hospital, you could also shadow other health professionals in the hospital as well such as: pharmacist, social worker, respiratory therapist, ultrasound tech? Seeing them in action could give you some direction. Volunteering may be an option too, helping out at a nursing home for instance, you can get another view of caring for people.

The speciality med/surg, was it like a step down unit? because perhaps having a job between med/surg and ICU would be helpful to improving your confidence. Also do you have a mentor you can turn to for advice and questions-if not talk with the unit manager with your concerns.

I am a new member of this site and I have found the posts very interesting and enlightening. My question is: have other nurses with years of experience (20+ years) found any trouble in job searching when moving to a new state? I have experience in ICU, Cardiac Rehab and most recently, teaching in an LPN/LVN program; yet I have had trouble even getting hospitals and colleges to respond to my resumes. I have called to speak to someone, left messages, left e-mails and...haven't had much response. I do have a job at the small hospital in the community where I am living in their ICU, prn. I live in a very small community so my prospects are somewhat limited. Ideas or comments? Thanks!

You have listed some very good pros which are very true for nurses. The cons can be true but I have been a nurse for 20+ years and have worked with some wonderful managers, doctors and other nurses; in other words, there are alot of good co-workers out there. I would highly recommend you shadow a nurse to get a better picture of nursing, in fact several different nurses in different working situations.