Amelias

I don't think I would like having to transport pts in my personal vehicle, at least not on the regular. Many moons ago, I had a HH pt who had an elevated temp and needed a ride to the emergency room....it was 1/2 mile away, so I took her. But before she got out she p*SSed in the seat. i had it cleaned but every time it got really hot, it smelled like uti

NO coworkers ??? TAKE THE JOB !! Can you guys tell me where to look for one of these jobs??

Really, people should know better than to call you when you're off. This is one of those times when being passive aggressive is called for. Don't answer the phone or texts and dodge questions if they ask you about it later.

Per visit is okay as long as the company you work isn't a cheapskate and tries to get you to make free visits.

any sentence thats starts with "my bowels haven't moved in ...."

emilysmom if thats the main problem you're having there, and everything else is not too bad, then you can figure something out and make it work. but if thats the straw thats breaking the camels back then its time to go ; )

if you only have a few things to chart it isn't so bad, but when there's detailed charting and cover your A** charting to do, that would be stressful. Seems like the people who come up with these ideas haven't had to do a lot of documentation. In time they will learn that it isn't such a good idea ............when they start reading that silly sh*t thats gonna get typed because nurses can't concentrate in that situation.!! I have a hard time with it too. i've gone back and read an admission narrative only to discover that i charted the pts bowel signs were even and unlabored @ 20 per min

sounds like you have an employee problem and not really a phone problem. what kind of people do they let work there?

Thanks LadyT618. and you all give some good advice. i've worked in home health since '97 and honestly, i've never worked at a place that did things by the book...and most all of the time things have worked out just fine, but this one didn't. and thats one too many for me.

AMN74, When we're on call we have a list of pts that are in hospital that we call to check on each day. we do the post hosp the next day unless there is a specific order to see same day. But YES it is ideal to have orders faxed to agency on d/c. and thats usually how it goes ...(when the case manager has good communication with d/c planner ) most of the time everything goes pretty smooth...even get a call from the d/c planner letting me know pt is about to come home. and technically there were no specific orders to see pt ...but its expected that we do a visit on pt when they come out of hosp and we write order for visit. our drs are very good about signing orders for visits. (we call md if any problems or need to clarify meds/orders) but the way your company does it sounds legit. and that is the best way to do things so you don't get caught up the way i did.

emilysmom,RN, unfortunately the pt didn't get any instructions/ d/c papers from the hospital. She got the short end of the stick on tthe whole deal.

Kids, that would have been the logical choice, but they would have said "why didn't you do the visit?" They are cartoon nurses.

Even unreasonable sounds like something I could deal with now. I have to turn my timesheets in monday, and I really don't want to do that.....not without a cross and some holy water.

I saw the pt for the post hosp visit after she came home that sun eve, but unfortunately it didn't do her much good b/c I had no orders other than those two scripts she came home with. This was her 2nd hospitalization since being on home health. I was worried so I called the state board of nursing. It was almost time for her to get off so she didn't get to the part about if I was in the wrong, she just said: the pt requires a new assessment, MD contact, further care plan development, and detailed documentation. caliotter3, you are right. I was upset about being fired, but I don't need to work somewhere that the only thing that matters is the bottom line. I'm not anyones flunkie either.

I had a post hosp visit late over the weekend, no d/c instructions, she was previously on several meds. all she got at d/c was a couple of scripts (only one was filled) andpts dr not on call that eve. i called the floor the pt was on, and was told i would have to request medical records on monday. instructed fmly to go get remaining rx filled, and got pt to take take the one rx that she had available. ....later on that night i decided to call the hosp one more time and finally got someone to look it up for me and she said she would fax b4 the end of her shift . (7a.m.) . next morn i called case manager (home health) and reported everything. she said the med list was on fax and that i needed to come pick it up and do visit on pt on my own time b/c getting meds straight was part of the post hospital visit. i said i would do another visit on pt but not without a legitimate visit. i told her the patient needed to be seen whether it was me or another nurse. cm said "she gets one visit a week and she already got it, she's not getting any more." (I'm paid per visit). pt ended up in hospital next day. i was told that it was my fault. then got fired about 30 minutes later.