Question about HH job offer and Advice

KateRN1 · Aug 10, 2011

Are you an LPN or RN? The visit rate is probably okay for an LPN but not for an RN. Find out what your productivity will be, i.e., how many visits do you have to do to be full time? What happens if you don't meet your productivity? Benefits? Inclement weather policy?

If RN, ask about their OASIS training, if they use LPNs and how they are used. If you're an LPN, ask who you'll be reporting to and who does the case management. What is the policy on LPNs and orders--do they have to be cosigned?

Read through the forums here and you will probably come up with a whole slew of questions that you'll want answered.

caliotter3 · Aug 10, 2011

If you are an RN, that visit rate is low.

nursenatalie6287 · Aug 10, 2011

I am an RN. What rate is usual?

Marshall1 · Aug 10, 2011

I think the rate is over $30..but the two previous posters are the experts here. Their advice has helped me greatly in the past week or so..try to read through more postings in this forum and pay attention to their responses.

caliotter3 · Aug 10, 2011

Thirty-five dollars an hour is about the average per visit rate for RNs.

paddler · Aug 10, 2011

As an RN I get paid $45 per visit and $55 for Admissions. I was told that I am at the top of our agency's pay scale though... and their RN per visit rate starts at $35. I don't feel even THAT is enough given the amount of "off the clock" time such as phone calls, charting, driving, Case Management, meetings, etc I don't get paid for at all. It also doesn't increase the more time I spend with a patient. I have a complex wound case that has taken me 2 hours, and I still get paid the same... which totally sucks. (I hate getting paid per visit, can ya tell?)

$28/visit is way, way, way too low even for an inexperienced nurse! A year is a year, and that means you don't have to accept bottom of the barrel pay! Plus, with Home Health raises or Cost of Living wage adjustments are unheard of, even after a year or two with the company you will still be getting paid as a newbie, so once you agree to a rate you better be prepared to keep it indefinitely. Sell yourself! Talk yourself up! Make them aware you are worth it!

nursenatalie6287 · Aug 11, 2011

Wow thank you so much for the Advice. I didn't realize that was so low. I have been going through the board and do have a few more questions before I accept the offer. I really think I would like home health from everything described but it seems like finding a good agency is the key. :nurse:

KateRN1 · Aug 11, 2011

Much of the pay scale depends on what area of the country you're in. I'm in NE Florida, LPN rates are around $35/visit, RN $40 per visit, $45 for high-tech (IVs, wound VACs, etc), I think $55 for recert or discharge, $75 for ROC, $100 for SOC--all PRN rates. Our full-timers are paid salary with total visit requirements of 30 units for RNs. SOC is 3 units, recert or ROC is 2 units, discharge is 1.5, straight visit is 1 unit.

Isabelle49 · Aug 19, 2011

Wow, Florida pay is pretty good. In Southeast Louisiana, the visit rate for RN is $30, Recert $40, Admit $50. Actually these rates are less than what they were 9 years ago. My salary has decreased over the last 9 years in home health. BTW, the $30 visit rate is fixed, no matter how complicated the visit is as there is no additional compensation for IV, Wound Vac, etc .

NPvampire, MSN, RN, APRN · Sep 9, 2011

WOW for Florida!!!! I'm in GA and it's $29 for RN here. $45 discharge/recert, $70 SOC. It sucks. I feel like I net $10 per hour with the actual time spent dealing with the job. I'm considering going back to hospital.

KateRN1 · Sep 10, 2011

Our agency pays very well, I'm proud to say. We recognize the hard work that everyone does and try to compensate accordingly. Unfortunately, with the cuts to Medicare, I don't know that we'll be able to offer much in the way of raises.