comfortrn

Hi everyone, I'm really in need of some guidance. In fact, I feel stuck right now where I am and could use some advice! Currently, I live in south Florida and work as a full-time RN case manager for a hospice company. I love hospice work, but I HATE Florida with a passion. I came down here 3 years ago for family reasons, and now I feel like I will never move back up north. I lived in Chicago for 5 years around 10 years ago, I am originally from the midwest, and I really want to move back!! I've tried applying for nursing jobs in Chicago, but I get replies that say, "You are in Florida, this job is in Chicago..." :icon_roll Does anyone have any suggestions on how I would go about getting back home?? I feel like I'd have to have a job lined up first before I made a move. Any replies would be much appreciated!!!

Hi! Congratulations on your new job. And, yes you are right, Hospice is definitely a ministry of love.:redbeathe I have been a Hospice RN for over 2 years, and although it is certainly not an easy job, it is very fulfilling. I'm not sure of the cost of living where you are, but here in south florida, rent is around 1000 for a 1 bedroom apartment. I make a salary of 57,000/yr. I think that averages around 29$ an hour, and get .50 per mile. I live comfortably on that. If they are paying you hourly and not salary, then I would say 30 is good. Hospice is not an 8 hour job. Most days I work 10 or more:bugeyes:. Good luck to you!!

Wow! Thank you so much everyone for the honest replies. Ivyleaf; nutraceuticals are using nutrients that are found in the body (CA, sodium, glutathione, vitamin B ) in order to treat certain ailments. Yes, there is research on it, no it's not all FDA approved. The office I work for is highly respected within a certain population of where I live (the very wealthy, lol.) I have applied to the 2 other hospices, and am awaiting responses. As far as agency work goes, yes I have done it, and no, I probably couldn't survive on the funds. @iluvivt; I really liked what you had to say. It really resonated with me, because deep inside I realize that this is what I need to do, no matter what job I'm in...take care of me! I did start a workout regimen and am trying to eat better. Burlshoe114, your situation in the SNF sounds awful! I would have been freaking out. You are very lucky that you have been able to take time for yourself and your family at home. Unfortunately, I can't do that because I am the breadwinner. Best of luck to you finding what it is you want to do :) And, been there, done that, I do see what you are saying, but I'm finding office work boring and somewhat uninspiring. I'm also not a fan of the clientele. I seem to prefer taking care of the sickest of the sick, and most of these patients are healthy for the most part. Maybe I'm still too new of a nurse (5 years in) and haven't quite had my fill of insanity yet, lol. In any case, thank you all so much and I will let you know what happens...:heartbeat

​Hello everyone, So, I could really use some advice. I started working as a full-time RN case manager for a Hospice company about 1.5 years ago. When I first started, and really for close to 1 year, I really loved my work. I felt moved and inspired by what I did almost everyday. Then, the company started to change, non-profit became very "profit driven," I came home emotionally depleted everyday, started gaining weight and having high blood pressure and major anxiety issues. I couldn't leave my work at the door, not to mention I was on salary for 40 hours per week and working 50-55 per week. So, I felt it was time to move-on. I started looking for a new job, and about 3 weeks ago, had put my 2 weeks in at Hospice, and became ready to start an entirely new field...integrative and functional medicine (doctors office.) The draw of 9-5 no weekends or holidays seemed like such a welcomed relief. Well, its been 3 weeks and I hate it! I dread going in there everyday. I have never seen so much disorganized chaos in one small space. Basically, in 9 hours I spend 40% of the time running around like a chicken with my head cut off looking for charts that are hiding under desks, in random drawers, and just downright missing. 20% is spent with patients infusing vitamins via IV or drawing their blood, then the last 40% is spent checking faxes, listening to phone messages or emails and being a go between for the patient and doctor. Nevermind that I've virtually had no orientation on what the heck I'm infusing into peoples veins or really what my role is within this office as an RN. I've done some of my own research on these infusions and there are differing opinions within the medical community about the authenticity on "nutraceuticals." On friday after work, I broke down and called my old hospice manager. She was so happy to hear from me, which was a nice feeling, and I told her I'd made a mistake and wanted to come back. This weekend, I've been applying for jobs online more closely related to my passions (hospice, geriatrics, psych.) I'm just confused on what to do now. I would like to be able to go on interviews, and obviously can't just use this companies time to call off and go on interviews (don't want to burn bridges). And, maybe I DO want to go back to Hospice. I feel flakey and all over the map right now. Would It be best to leave this current job and just work agency until I find the right and perfect thing? Would I even be able to survive financially if I worked per-diem (need to make 1800 every 2 weeks?) I know this is long, but I'm very stressed on what to do. I'm nauseated just thinking about going into that office in the morning Please help!!

I'm going to be starting Western Governors in a few months, the RN to BSN. It's all online, accredited, and price reasonable.

Also, forgot to mention, I'm on salary, so no extra pay for me. I usually end up working 50 hours per week...for free

The productivity in my company is that RN's see at least 20 patients per week, which is roughly 5 visits per day. I work in the facilities and often, this can be difficult to achieve especially on days I have a recert to do, or driving to 5 different places. We also recently started on EMR, so factor in time for managing electronic/computer issues. I spend way too much time somedays trying to solve computer issues let alone time to assess the patient, deal with family, input the visit, print out the visit, and then on top of it schmooze with the higher-ups in the facility in order to continue getting referrals. I swear, some days I feel like I'm in a commissioned sales job.

I'm wondering if we work for the same hospice, lol. Mine is doing this too. Upper management obviously have no clue what we take care of on a daily basis. My "eight" hour days have turned into at least ten! I'm not sure why this is happening. I would think they would know that this will lead to burn-out quickly. Good luck to you. Maybe someone else has an answer on here as to why this would be happening....