ArwenEvenstar

ArwenEvenstar

med-surg, teaching, cardiac, priv. duty

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All Content by ArwenEvenstar

  1. Lack of supplies to do home care?

    ArwenEvenstar replied to Blackcat99's topic in Private Duty

    I agree with above...especially "If you start bringing your own anything its a quick slippery slope for you." Things can get out of hand very quickly. Family will then expect all nurses to bring...

  2. Give prn meds because Mom said to give it?

    ArwenEvenstar replied to Blackcat99's topic in Private Duty

    If the parent wanted me to give a med that I did not have an order for, or wanted me to give it in a way that was not ordered, I would simply say something like "I do not feel comfortable giving this...

  3. Did I make the right decision

    ArwenEvenstar replied to tothepointeLVN's topic in Private Duty

    Sadly it is often the dependable, professional nurse that does a good job, that is booted or forced off the case....because the manipulative nurse (who also gives shoddy care) has wrapped the family...

  4. Dangerous home, what to do?

    ArwenEvenstar replied to latebloomrn's topic in Private Duty

    I think some of the later posts are perhaps misunderstanding the earlier posts. I do not think being evasive about the problem in the home was exactly encouraged, but the unfortunate reality is that...

  5. Dangerous home, what to do?

    ArwenEvenstar replied to latebloomrn's topic in Private Duty

    Agencies often just want to turn a blind eye to "problems" in a home...Money is often the bottom line, and they want to keep the case and keep nurses on the case. They don't like nurses complaining or...

  6. Government Investigation of Amedisys

    ArwenEvenstar replied to sweetsugar's topic in Home Health

    Just speaking generally here...As I actually know nothing at all about Amedisys or the other mentioned companies. But I did not perceive the original post as stiring up trouble. There is nothing wrong...

  7. Do you have to do constant interaction with your DD patient?

    ArwenEvenstar replied to Blackcat99's topic in Private Duty

    Parents can be demanding and have unrealistic expectations. But then there are lazy nurses out there (unfortunately) who would just let the kid watch non-stop TV! A happy middle is needed! Some TV...

  8. new grad with unknown HH agency, complicated pt case

    ArwenEvenstar replied to jerzie0820's topic in Home Health

    I think some of the responses think you are doing traditional intermittent visit home health (where you visit multiple clients each day). But you are talking about private duty or shift work, which is...

  9. Why would an agency hire you, and then not give you work?

    ArwenEvenstar replied to AvenueQT's topic in Home Health

    Hmmm...are you working for Maxim? Maybe not. But if yes, that totally explains it. Maxim is well-known for gross disorganization, poor communication, general incompetence, and totally misleading...

  10. what do you do in a shift?

    ArwenEvenstar replied to wood's topic in Home Health

    Caliotter3, your reply made me laugh (in a good way!). Isn't it amusing that when one hears about total disorganization and confusion in an agency, the assumption is that it must be Maxim! Maxim has...

  11. Maxin nsg per diem

    ArwenEvenstar replied to rdsxfnrn's topic in Private Duty

    Do a thread search, you will find plenty of posts about Maxim already...mostly negative. My experience with Maxim was a nightmare... unorganized, unprofessional, constant schedule mix-ups, etc! Avoid...

  12. heartbroken

    ArwenEvenstar replied to blissmissrn's topic in Private Duty

    I feel your pain Blissmiss! Sometimes I think of private duty as nursing's best kept secret and other times as nursing's best kept nightmare!!! So many complex psycho-social issues with these...

  13. Taking Time off

    ArwenEvenstar replied to maryen's topic in Home Health

    Ohhboyyy! Welcome to private duty or shift work!! Most unfortunately, your experience was typical and common during my 4 plus years of doing shift work in the home through agency! I worked through 2...

  14. Is there a national private duty agency that you would reccomend?

    ArwenEvenstar replied to TwilightRNurse's topic in Private Duty

    Best agency I ever worked for doing private duty was a smaller, locally run "mom and pop" agency. "Better" pay (as good as you can expect for private duty), a personal concern and interest for the...

  15. New Grad hired by home health

    ArwenEvenstar replied to ra3583's topic in Home Health

    Originally Posted by aubreysmommy: I am about to pull my hair out b/c I am soooo bored. I have noticed a repeated theme on a couple threads lately that private duty is oh so boring and easy....

  16. akward situations in the home

    ArwenEvenstar replied to smartnurse1982's topic in Private Duty

    Boring? I only wish private duty was boring. I left private duty a few months ago after doing it for over 4 years. The nurse frequently must deal with much "drama" (complex psycho-social issues) with...

  17. I need some advice on suctioning trachs

    ArwenEvenstar replied to Blackcat99's topic in Private Duty

    Hmmm....just an observation. On the trach peds case I worked (mentioned in my other post), the family suctioned on the way IN to the trach. And Blackcat99 says on her case, the family also suctions on...

  18. I need some advice on suctioning trachs

    ArwenEvenstar replied to Blackcat99's topic in Private Duty

    Yeah, things are different in the home! I also was shocked by this when I first made the switch from the hospital to the home care setting. It is very common to use "disposable/one-time use" supplies...

  19. Who is my boss?

    ArwenEvenstar replied to Blackcat99's topic in Private Duty

    I agree with above post!! With the terms you are using Blackcat99, I am guessing you are working for Maxim. Like the above post said, don't let the recruiters convince you they have more power than...

  20. New Grad hired by home health

    ArwenEvenstar replied to ra3583's topic in Home Health

    Also check out the private duty forum. Technically private duty is when a family pays you privately and an agency is not involved. However, I find the term private duty is often used in a generic way...

  21. Maxim Home Health Care

    ArwenEvenstar replied to pinkrose85's topic in Home Health

    A company may be "legit", but that does not automatically mean it is a good company to work for. I have posted plenty on my negative Maxim experiences, so I won't repeat myself (much). I think it is...

  22. How are the families in PDN

    ArwenEvenstar replied to iwanna's topic in Private Duty

    By Anangelsmommy: "most of the nurses had personal problems, no offense to nurses but many of them had spouses or boyfriends that either were substance abusers or abused them and why do I even know...

  23. Telling a patient you will be working other cases?

    ArwenEvenstar replied to anangelsmommy's topic in General Nursing

    You may want to check out the private duty forum. You can find a variety of posts about the "issues" nurses have with families in private duty. Things can get complicated and frustrating... so you...

  24. How are the families in PDN

    ArwenEvenstar replied to iwanna's topic in Private Duty

    Caliotter - Some may find your answer cynical or perhaps cold-hearted towards the familes, but I totally and completely agree with your thoughts!! Thanks for the frank, honest, and realistic post....

  25. Trach tubes popping out of patients

    ArwenEvenstar replied to Blackcat99's topic in Private Duty

    Just my late 2 cents. I took care of a trach/vent child for several yrs. When I was the full-time and primary nurse I never had any problems with the trach coming out or dislodging. I was always so...