Start of care documentation

lovinlife11 · May 1, 2013

3 hours to explain services, obtain patient information and complete paperwork. Sometimes longer if they are chatty or have lots of questions.

salvadordolly · May 1, 2013

I takes me about 2 hours to do a SOC. It's reasonable to keep it to 2 SOC/day. We don't ask our nurses to do more than that.

starcandy · May 2, 2013

I just started last week in home health. I did my first SOC with preceptor last friday. Monday, I was given 10 more start of cares , with the addition of 14 new patients that need recerts, discharges and regular visits. I am new to oasis-c and overwhelmed. My manager says I should progress and be able to do 5 SOC a day.

St_Claire, ADN, RN · May 2, 2013

I just started last week in home health. I did my first SOC with preceptor last friday. Monday I was given 10 more start of cares , with the addition of 14 new patients that need recerts, discharges and regular visits. I am new to oasis-c and overwhelmed. My manager says I should progress and be able to do 5 SOC a day.[/quote']
That's crap. At 2-3 hours for an average SOC there's no way you van do that. The math doesn't add up.

dsharrison · May 2, 2013

Yesterday I did 2 SOC and 3 RV. I am still working on the paperwork! I think 3 SOC per day with no RV. Otherwise 2 SOC, 2 RV is a fair day! If a company expects more, I personally would be looking elsewhere. Take it as a sign...it's shady to expect that much of anyone, new or experienced!

cathrn64 · May 4, 2013

Depending on your documentation system, it should get better! At my agency, I often hear new nurses complain that it takes them hours to finish a SOC. I can usually get out of the house in about an hour and a half. I finish the documentation in about another hour or so. 2-3 in a day is doable (3 is usually on a weekend)

LadyT618, MSN, APRN, NP · May 4, 2013

I'd say 2 to 3 per day TOPS! Anything more is asking too much. In a week, I don't believe in keeping up at this pace unless you are the admit RN and do not perform routine visits.

RobynL · May 6, 2013

The agency I work for expects only 2 SOCs per day. Sometimes the patient is chatty, you have to get orders and do all the documentation. 2 is plenty!

KelRN215, BSN, RN · May 7, 2013

Rarely do I have a SOC that takes me more than an hour to an hour and a half. I had one that took two hours and twenty minutes last week but that was because the DME company didn't deliver IV tubing and close to an hour of that time was just waiting for them to deliver it. The vast majority of my patients are children and do not require OASIS. I do a lot of my paperwork in the office.

Regardless, I don't think more than 2-3/day (MAX) is doable. Rarely do I do more than one in a day.