PSA Healthcare

AnaCatRN · Apr 16, 2010

I just interviewed with PSA (IL, north of Chicago) this morning. My recruiter was actually a nurse, which is so much better than the recruiter I had at Maxim, who seemed more like a telemarketer. The pay is lower here than normal, too ($23/hr), but it sounds less stressful, as there will only be one patient. I have peds experience, so it seems like the best fit for me in private duty.

My recruiter said I can get extra training, and she seems interested in finding assignments that fit my needs (travel distance, type of patient, etc.). I have heard on allnurses that they have a bad reputation, but I haven't heard that around here. It's possible that it depends on which office you go through. I was given a conditional offer of employment (contingent upon background check and references).

As PSA seems to offer training and values continuing education, this may be a good fit for a new grad. I doubt they will give you a critical patient right out of school. It would be a good way to get some peds experience, if you're interested in peds. Good luck! Let us know what happens!

goodstudentnowRN · Apr 16, 2010

I will let you know what happens. Thanks for the encouragement.

KimberRN · Apr 17, 2010

I applied to PSA healthcare and I have over 1 yr nursing experience. The recruiter told me they couldn't hire anyone that didnt have pediatric trach/vent/gtube experience. She was very nice and professional and told me to call her back when I have that experience. Just be careful that you are not put in any situations that would jeopardize the patient or your license.

kids · Apr 17, 2010

I wouldn't wish PSA on anyone no matter what their offer.

But hey, if you want to work for the lowest wages in town with crappy benefits, be assigned to cases you're not qualified to care, have zero support at the regional or corporate level...go for it. Be prepared to do the housekeeping, laundry and very often the cooking for child you're being paid to provide skilled nursing services to, it will be care planned and part of the 'package' promised to the family.

Yes, I worked for them for several years, earning my way up the ladder to be the director of a location. Yes, I left on very good terms.

goodstudentnowRN · Apr 17, 2010

Kids, I thought about it and if I have to do house duties I will not take the Job...I will liten carefully and ask the necessary questions and if I do not feel comfortable I will not take the offer because that pay is very low for me.

Casey, RN · Apr 17, 2010

My sister-in-law works for PSA and she's gets paid very well (compared to the local hospital)--twice as much, in fact, and she doesn't do housework, etc... She didn't have trach experience aside from school but they trained her upon hire. I think it depends on the area because she seems to be satisfied.

smartnurse1982 · Apr 17, 2010

Kids, I thought about it and if I have to do house duties I will not take the Job...I will liten carefully and ask the necessary questions and if I do not feel comfortable I will not take the offer because that pay is very low for me.

Hope I could be of some help. I worked for them fresh out of school and it wasn't the best experience. I was on a case I wasn't trained for and the supervisor was of no help either. No benefits were avail to me back then but now its offered to everyone for about 150 a week. I left them when I got tired of having no sick days and other benefits like normal jobs have. I tried to re apply 6 months ago but they turned me down because I was working with another agency at the same time I was applying with them,which is stupid b/c its none of their business what other jobs I have. I found that doing housework is related to the region of the usa you are in. I didn't do any housework plus our supervisors always told us that's not our responsibility in the northeast. In the south,our supervisors told us that it was the nurses job to keep the house clean and clothes clean.

goodstudentnowRN · Apr 17, 2010

Well....I WILL NOT DO HOUSEWORK OR ELSE I WILL NOT TAKE THE JOB. This would be ridiculous. I did not spend so much money in school to do housework. I will let you know what happens when I go there on Monday.

AnaCatRN · Apr 17, 2010

I didn't even think to ask if they require housework. I better ask! I'm not doing that! I agree with the OP. I didn't go to college to clean houses! That's ridiculous! I refuse to clean, cook, or drive anyone anywhere. I'm a college-educated professional, not a household servant. Another private duty agency, BrightStar, hired me about a month ago, and told me a few days before my first case was to start that I would be required to do all that stuff. I quit. The 5-star hotel crap is seeping into private duty and home health, eh? They can take that strive for 5/Press Ganey/hotel service stuff and shove it where the sun doesn't shine! Good Lord, that's why I'm trying to find a non-hospital job! I'm tired of being treated like a common servant! I just want to be a nurse and take care of patients!

caliotter3 · Apr 17, 2010

PSA is not the only agency where a caregiver may be expected to do housework. That is a frequent problem. Unless you are an assigned home health aide, household duties beyond keeping the patient's immediate area clean and tidy are not part of your job description. If the family demands housekeeping services and the agency won't back you up, time to find another agency. I would be more concerned about the fact that PSA has a bad reputation for placing nurses with peds patients when they are fresh out of school. I would not go with this agency if there are other options.

DaddysLilRN2b · Apr 20, 2010

I worked for PSA in South Florida and the agency never implied that I do housework and the families never me to do housework either!! If they had asked me I would politely say that the agency forbids us from doing anything domestic.