flatironsRN

From Michigan, attended Eastern Michigan University; Moved to Indiana; Attended Indiana University NW; Obtained degree later in life 2002; Worked in several hospitals on MED/Surg; Moved to CO; Worked in a Hospital on spine unit; And here i am today... Home Health. Imagine this, driving to a patients home, after dark (day light savings time) and next patient lives 20 miles away, when you get there no one is home, even after you reminded the patient...not paid for the visit, Drive in all types of weather, trek through snow waist deep because patient had no one to shovel the driveway(we shovel too!) traffic jams, road rage, bad neighborhoods, never knowing who or what's behind the front door.I sometimes compare Like "Cops" but unlike cops you don't have a gun (Policy) to protect you!! ...Not many people know what Home Care Nurses deal with each and every day, like drunken family members or possibly the patient, no supplies delivered picc dressing change or IV ABX. We have Hoarders, people that raise Chickens in doors..eccentric people are the best!!...when the Christmas decorations are still up (indoors) July, or walls painted pink /gold along with everything else in the home; had a spouse of one patient backed into my truck and blamed me for parking to close (was on a huge farm,OMG); homes where you have to step over dog poop/pee FOUL Odors;Patient non compliant with oxygen safety, PT smoked with O2 on , you know the ones that put tubing on top of the head to smoke. Told time after time to turn off o2 when you want to smoke...away from...One day she set her bed and self on fire! Flames shot across the room thank goodness spouse was in the room to turn off oxygen and put the fire out. Another story, one time a Therapist was bitten by a dog, was suppose to be in a bedroom, but somehow got loose, therapist had stitches. No Cell Phone coverage when you need to contact the physician..Many, Many stories. I DO Love what I do, you meet all walks of life. The big difference from hospital setting is that you are now on their "territory " Different challenges , all the PAPERWORK 80%> of the job.I want to write a book "The Home Health Nurse; Not just vital signs" Gotta love Nursing!!