I'd like to get an idea how many patients other homecare case managers are expected to carry. Target for our agency is allegedly 14... though we generally have more. I work four days, and usually have 12 at minimum, 18 tops. Too many. We have a shared LPN to see some cases but supervising her often adds a layer of work instead of really easing the load. I bring documentation home, work on it after dinner, and start to feel like my life is hospice.
Is it me, or them? What's a caseload where you can give people the time they need and still have a life?
I work for a for profit hospice in a very rural setting. My caseload runs between 15 to 19. Only one patient is in a facility, and I have some patients who are between 75 to 100 miles apart. My normal day will be 6 to 8 visits or 25 to 32 visits a week. My question is, do other hospices make allowances for casemanagers who cover a very large territory or not? I cover four counties and travel approximately 800 to 1200 miles a week, not including the drive to and from the first and last patients house. Do all hospice nurses work like this? I am getting discouraged and don't feel I am able to give patients the care they deserve.
I think they are expecting WAY too much from you. That is a lot of pt's to have in such a large area.
" My normal day will be 6 to 8 visits or 25 to 32 visits a week. My question is, do other hospices make allowances for casemanagers who cover a very large territory or not? I cover four counties and travel approximately 800 to 1200 miles a week."
This sounds physiclally impossible! You must be exhausted. Not only are you seeing a ton of patients, you're in the car all the time. Your days must be sooo long. I feel like a total whiner!!
Really, your load does not seem sustainable. Maybe more nurses in rural settings will write in to say what it's like for them.
You must be exhausted. Not only are you seeing a ton of patients, you're in the car all the time. Your days must be sooo long. I feel like a total whiner!!
doodlemom
474 Posts
I think they are expecting WAY too much from you. That is a lot of pt's to have in such a large area.