Gorngi

I am strongly considering a change to home health. I have worked ICU/CCU/ACU (more stress than I cared for), currently am RN supervisor in Skilled/LTC facility (second one).....and I DO work a floor in addition to all the other duties. I like the challenges of my job..... love...love ....love the residents, am skilled with all types of IV's, no prob. w/starting new HL, blood draws, etc., we have the usual g-tubes, ng tubes, trachs, etc. Anymore, nursing homes are expected to do a lot of the same work as hospitals. We have patients there from 18y/o to 100y/o. I work midnights 10p-6a and every other weekend....feel I am stuck on that shift (have asked repeatedly for dayshift)....... and am so sick of the "butt kissers" getting away with some very, very poor and sometimes horribly dangerous nursing practices (not my shift when I'm there, cause my staff knows I'll always help/teach in a manner that is non-demeaning).......hopefully you know what I mean......chain of command is a joke where I work. Anyway....I have really wanted to try home health but have some ??. Do you get paid by the hour or by the case. Without sounding "nosey" (I hope).... do you think $25.00/hr is too much to ask for starting wage on resume/interview for HH job? (assuming it's hourly pay). If a client cancells for the day are you just SOL for that pay on that day? If you have a few clients cancel for the week do they take away your health benefits if you fall under a certain amount of hours? Is mileage reimbursement the norm for most agencies? Do most of you have to work many night time hours....say after 6pm or later? My clinical skills are good (see above) charting skills good, time mngmt skills, etc,.....is there anything else I should look into to add to my resume to help in getting a HH job? I have been thinking about this for awhile. I've asked the opinion of many people I work with and always get very very negative comments no matter what HH agency that is hiring, so I feel discouraged and don't apply...........finally found out "through the grapevine" that this is done on purpose because they don't want me to leave. Well, I know there are negatives to ALL jobs, but I'm tired of cleaning up inept nurses messes and covering peoples butts because management doesn't care so long as THEY look good. Hope I didn't come across as arrogant............I'm not that way at all and work hard to learn something new everyday and feel that's the hallmark of a good nurse. That, and truly caring for our patients/clients/residents.......I always remember that I may be in their shoes someday and this keeps me humble. I just have too many in my workplace that think they "know it all" and unfortunately DO NOT........and I wanna get out of there before the crap hits the fan.............cause eventually it WILL happen. Sorry, such a long post. I'm looking at two HH agencies in my area right now...2 different states but live right by both and am licensed in both. From what I understand I would be expected to have clients in both states regardless of the home state since we're so close. I want to apply really really soon....like yesterday!, but want to know a little of what to expect from all you with the REAL experience. Thank you ALL:redpinkhe

This is a very rude comment. I am charge RN at a nursing home that is a large skilled facility. We do many of the same procedures and give the same care as hospitals. Before this job, I was working on a step-down tele unit from CCU and ICU with all the qualifications that go with it. I chose my current work because I DO love the geriatric population.....someone has to take care of them....geez. And not all of my residents are elderly either. In addition, I work harder at this facility and am in charge of far more pt's than any hospital nurse. Every nurse at my facility is a dedicated, caring and intelligent person. None of us have this job because we are "losers." I dare you to take a job in a facility for a day.......many can't hack OUR kind of work! I find it so disheartening that we get zero respect from other nurses for doing this kind of work. I hope that if you--or a loved--one ever needs this kind of care (and you probably will at some time), you don't have to be taken care of by a "loser." I am proud to say that I have a part in taking care of this population.........

I take Zoloft daily and am not ashamed and don't care who knows. If not I would be a nasty, moody person to be around:smackingf I feel like it just makes me feel "normal"

I just quit my hospital job a few days ago because of 2 abusive (female) doctors who were making sport of making me miserable. Why did they do this??? Who knows. Management just said it would take time for me to "prove" myself to them as a competent nurse........which is bullcrap in my opinion (thanks for the help management). I didn't have trouble with any other doctors. I was browbeaten in front of family of pt's.............who took up for me btw, told not to call anymore to "clarify" orders because their orders shouldn't be so confusing to a good nurse (this order needed clarified by pharamcy as well because it did not make sense). I've told these two about pt's conditions that were very significant and had them say "yeah, so what." (this was advanced tele unit). I've taken telephone orders from them only later for them to say that they did not give me that order. Oh, my I could go on and on. I just couldn't take it anymore. Seems they find someone to pick on and it was me at that time...........I wasn't willing to wait around for them to decide on a new victim. So, I quit...........good news is I found a better nursing job in LTC with way better hours and way way better pay and a sign on bonus too. So, things worked out. I'm not ready to quit nursing. I love being a nurse. But I refuse to continue to go into a workplace week after week and be miserable. It affects my whole family when I'm not happy...not to mention that the stress lowers my immune system big time. Anyhow, my advice is if you are stuck in one of these crappy situations, then get out..............there's so many avenues for a nurse. I don't think the docs are going to change.

I have the same problem and school was hard cause my tremors were way worse if I was really nervous. My doctor put me on lopressor 25mg am and 25mg pm. Works like a charm and any side effects went away. It's worth a shot. I have a son with the same problem. I totally relate and it's a real bummer to have tremors like that..........especially when you aren't a bit nervous because people assume you are. Anyhow, hang in there and do not let it stop you from following your dreams. You can do it!:yeah:

I started looking before graduation and had interviews and then secured the job I wanted before graduation. I don't know about other states, but in WV you get a temporary permit to work before you take the nclex. I live in an area where there are several nursing schools close by and I still had a lot of positions to choose from. I understand your worry.... being a new grad is very scary...........you'll get over it!:)

No Way!