Really interested in Home Health

Specialties Home Health

Published

Hi all. I am really feeling a pull toward home health nursing. I started my career many years ago with VNA as an aide and I think I would like to try it from an RN's perspective. I've spent my entire RN career in the ER, can anyone tell me how the pay is compared to acute care nursing? Just curious.

Update: I called VNA today, and the pay for a benefitted position is $34.25. Not bad, I was expecting less. My salary in the ER just went up to $40, so it's less of a difference than I thought it would be.

Specializes in Home Health 17+ years.

I've been in home care for 18+ years and I've loved it all those years. I am currently an office dweller but my heart will always be in the field. There is nothing like the flexibility of home care. One caution though-if you are not very careful, it is too easy to get behind in paper work "I'll do it later..." can be the kiss of death. I remember many nights up until the wee hours catching up-but that is the beauty of home care too-I needed that time earlier in the day for my kids, or whatever else may have come up.

Home care is great. But it also has its share of damage control.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What exactly does hourly pay in home health mean? Is it timed from when you leave the central office to when you return at the end of the day? Or is it hours spent with the patient?

Hourly pay is for total time on the job, because there is office work involved also.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Your rate of pay is much higher than any of the home health agencies around here are paying. I like that I can get my patient care done and then go home and sit outside when it's warm and then do my charting. It doesn't seem that much like work when I'm home in my little office typing on my computer. What I dislike about home care is the uncertainty of the day. Patients cancel appointments, let their dogs run all over the place, come to the door naked. Never a dull moment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Lie detection.
What exactly does hourly pay in home health mean? Is it timed from when you leave the central office to when you return at the end of the day? Or is it hours spent with the patient?

In my agency there are 2 ways to be paid. Regular salary, I get a paycheck every 2 weeks that basically doesn't change. I get paid for 75 hrs every 2 weeks. I don't have to work OT either.

OR you can work Fee For service which means getting paid per visit. Nurses that do that are per diem and don't have to do any case management or very little. FFS rate here is $52 per regular visit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Thanks Tazzi and Cattitude, that helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You are bless with the salary that has been given to you in Usa, here in jamaica its more of caring for others than looking on your salary. hope to talk to more nurses on this topic my email is [email protected] here we can discuss how bless you are in the USA compare to other countries in the world in regard to salary..Keep up the good work and may God Bless all nurses for the great sacrifice you 've got to perform..Have a great day.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Cattitude..I would love to work for your agency...what agency is this?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

ER experience is very beneficial for a home health nurse. You would bring excellent assessment skills. You do not have 8 hours to figure out whats happening with your patient, you have a visit time of usually 45 minutes. Home health is going to take a hit with medicare cuts and insurance's are becoming very strict about giving visits. Working for a hospital based homecare would be safer than a smaller company.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, L&D, ICU, LTC, HH.

I have been trying to figure out why the agency I am with is discharging so many patients. They are getting rid of people really leaving them in a bind. Like a cancer patient going through chemo and radiation with a port and peg tube. A diabetic, CHF patient with large 18 cm wound. These are usually keepers until progress is made or hospice transfer. I am wondering if it is a money thing. The hand writing on the wall, so to speak. Anyone know why these things happen?

~Willow

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

Willow, my best guess would be the cost of supplies is why they're discharging those patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment