I've been a PCU RN for over a year now...made it through the whole year of craziness, tears, miserable low points and some amazing highs. My residency contract is up as of today...so I'm free from the bounds and can go anywhere now...I just don't know where to go. My heart is pulling me in one thousand different directions but how do I know which one is right for me and my family?
A little back story...I've been lucky enough that I have been on day shift this whole year...still don't know if 12's or 8's are right for me...as I'm getting pretty burnt out on 12's...but maybe that's just my crazy, exhausting unit? I'm torn between finding 'normal hours' in nursing or staying in the hospital but trying to get into another unit and maybe those 12's for another year or so won't be so bad. I have a young child who's not in school yet but will hopefully be in a K2 program this Fall...so being home all the extra days in nice (and cheaper for daycare) but once he's in school, the 12 hours away can get hard and make for a late bedtime. I have a ride along tomorrow for a Home Health job...because HH is 'normal hours' and has always seemed interesting to me...but I'm worried that even though the hours are 'normal' and allow for some flexibility, that working 5 days a week may be a lot to juggle, along with possible paperwork in the evening and of course more daycare tuition until my little guys in school.
I guess this post is pretty lengthy and random and maybe I'm not even sure what I'm asking...but I guess the basic questions I have are...
1. Stay in the hospital but different unit?
2. 8's or 12's?
3. Try something all together different with 'normal hours' in something like clinic or HH?
Thank you!! :)
Oh and I still need to eventually work on my BSN...will be doing that online but not sure when to start that either... Oh the uncertainty. Lil.
I'm a single mom and it's absolutely single parenting friendly. It is not for someone who wants to be clocked out at a specific time and not think about work until the next shift. You can do that in home health if you can dedicate a straight 8 to 9 hours with your head down, but if you need to take advantage of a flex schedule i.e. avoid dropping them off at school super early, pick up your kids from daycare as early as possible, be able to delay going to work because they're having a bad morning etc then you have to be flexible on how you spend your evenings.
I prefer to be present at home even if I'm doing paperwork. When my youngest was in elementary school, and he just hated having to sit still through his homework assignments, I would sit down at the table and do my "homework".
i've made many phone calls while starting dinner etc and will do paperwork and any downtime throughout the day. It's been worth it to me to do a broken up 10 hour day then a straight eight hour day without any flexibility.
The other thing is, when you're in home health and you have your own patients that you case manage, it's a different sense of ownership, I don't love the paperwork but I also don't resent work seeping into after hours.
home health is fun if you can handle calling people at radom hours and get phone calls all day. you spend a lot of time charting but you can chose to take on more or less patients. also remember that most places will not give you benefits in home health as you are considered a subcontractor.
as for your bsn... ummmm settle in what you want and get your stuff together. no need to worry about that since you are already an experienced nurse. this whole thing about getting your bsn sounds funny to me.
do get your bsn just because well, you never want to stop learning.
Specializes in FNP- BC, Med-Tele, PCU, Home Health Case Manager.
Paperwork is inaccurate, it's computer charting, but old lingo dies hard LOL
So today went amazing and I think HH will definitely be the gig for me. I got to see all types of visits... The RN planning her day and after visit charting and they offered me the job. They will pay me a base (more than I make now) during 6 weeks of orientation & then move to a PPV model (+ an hourly amt for meetings/PTO base pay). After sometime if I am doing well, they will offer a salary + bonus should I choose to do so. They offer great benefits, PTO & sick, 401k, mileage reimbursement, work tablet/phone and laptop.
PPV pay structure:
Admit: $100
RN eval visit: $60
Resumption of Care: $75
Recert: $75
D/C: $60
Routine visit: $42
Is this a fair pay scale? Thank you! also this is in WA.
Specializes in FNP- BC, Med-Tele, PCU, Home Health Case Manager.
home health is fun if you can handle calling people at radom hours and get phone calls all day. you spend a lot of time charting but you can chose to take on more or less patients. also remember that most places will not give you benefits in home health as you are considered a subcontractor.
as for your bsn... ummmm settle in what you want and get your stuff together. no need to worry about that since you are already an experienced nurse. this whole thing about getting your bsn sounds funny to me.
do get your bsn just because well, you never want to stop learning.
Today went really well and I think I will really enjoy HH. See above for what they offered me (pay + bennies)...doesn't sound too shabby and is more than I make in the hospital. As far as my BSN...I just figure I should get it at some point because it seems like everywhere is changing to BSN eventually. This HH company doesn't require it but does give tuition reimbursement should I choose to go back later on and they pay for CEUs.
It's a fair pay scale if a 5.5 ish daily visit average (admit counts as 2) once you get rolling comes out to an hourly rate similar to same experience level as a day shift straight time on the floor.
(That was one terrible run on sentence, did it make sense?)
ie I average 6/day, my end of the year hourly wage exceeds straight time days on the floor in my area. It'll be awhile before you can pull off that average in a normal work day.
I am an advocate for school nursing. :-) Hours are great and you get holidays, summer break, winter break, snow days off with pay. I worked 12 hr - 3 day shifts.... I am not jealous of anyone who works those....it would take me at least one of my days off to recoup from the last 3 days working the floor.
Specializes in FNP- BC, Med-Tele, PCU, Home Health Case Manager.
It's a fair pay scale if a 5.5 ish daily visit average (admit counts as 2) once you get rolling comes out to an hourly rate similar to same experience level as a day shift straight time on the floor.
(That was one terrible run on sentence, did it make sense?)
ie I average 6/day, my end of the year hourly wage exceeds straight time days on the floor in my area. It'll be awhile before you can pull off that average in a normal work day.
So basically you're saying I'll be making at least what I am now (and actually I'll be making more since I'm only a 0.75 now at my hospital) and with time I'll make much more thank you again! Such an exciting time!
It's a fair pay scale if a 5.5 ish daily visit average (admit counts as 2) once you get rolling comes out to an hourly rate similar to same experience level as a day shift straight time on the floor.
(That was one terrible run on sentence, did it make sense?)
So basically you're saying I'll be making at least what I am now (and actually I'll be making more since I'm only a 0.75 now at my hospital) and with time I'll make much more thank you again! Such an exciting time!
Just remember, the first year is gonna be hard. You're going to be working additional hours to get the work done without being fully compensated for it, but if you like the general aspects of HH stick with it.
Also, until you're salaried, we have low census as well, don't count on all months being as good as your better months. You have to work a year to see how it washes out to really know your budget.
Specializes in FNP- BC, Med-Tele, PCU, Home Health Case Manager.
Just remember, the first year is gonna be hard. You're going to be working additional hours to get the work done without being fully compensated for it, but if you like the general aspects of HH stick with it.
Also, until you're salaried, we have low census as well, don't count on all months being as good as your better months. You have to work a year to see how it washes out to really know your budget.
Oh I know this and am not expecting it to be easy by any means...but I'm intrigued and excited to learn all the 'new' stuff with HH, that I'd otherwise never learn working in the hospital. And yes I like the general aspects of HH, hence why I'm going to give it a shot. Plus after all your advice, you've really helped me solidify my decision :)
Yeah, I asked many of the RNs what to expect for pay during the period of time that it takes to get my groove down and it still seems to average financially more than what I make now. I'll know that during the slow times too, I may have to use the good ole CC to compensate for less pay...but I am assuming it all balances out over the year, especially once I am a higher producer.
I am an advocate for school nursing. :-) Hours are great and you get holidays, summer break, winter break, snow days off with pay. I worked 12 hr - 3 day shifts.... I am not jealous of anyone who works those....it would take me at least one of my days off to recoup from the last 3 days working the floor.
THIS! I worked 3 12's and with kids I found it impossible! I know most nurses are a fan of the 12 hour shifts, but it was brutal for me and my husband. I found myself not seeing my kids for 3 days a week, and that was not acceptable! Also, it was hard on my marriage to be gone every other weekend and leave the kids home with dad (who works hard during the week and now stuck with kids and no help on the weekends). I asked a lot of people before I switched to 5 8's and all my nursing friends would tell me that 3 12's are the way to go, you get so much time off with your kids, yada yada yada. But, in reality, I was so burnt out from those 3 shifts and the weekends were killer on me. I thought it would be better for my kids to be in daycare and have a SANE mother and a healthy marriage. Best decision I ever made!! I switched to the OR where I took call one weekend a month, which was fine with me! Getting weekends free and being able to be home EVERY night for my kids made such a difference in my attitude and mental health! I say, try 5 8's! Thats the best thing about nursing, you can switch around till you find something you like! Don't stay in a job that you hate...its not worth it!
thank you again! Such an exciting time!
Libby1987
3,726 Posts
I'm a single mom and it's absolutely single parenting friendly. It is not for someone who wants to be clocked out at a specific time and not think about work until the next shift. You can do that in home health if you can dedicate a straight 8 to 9 hours with your head down, but if you need to take advantage of a flex schedule i.e. avoid dropping them off at school super early, pick up your kids from daycare as early as possible, be able to delay going to work because they're having a bad morning etc then you have to be flexible on how you spend your evenings.
I prefer to be present at home even if I'm doing paperwork. When my youngest was in elementary school, and he just hated having to sit still through his homework assignments, I would sit down at the table and do my "homework".
i've made many phone calls while starting dinner etc and will do paperwork and any downtime throughout the day. It's been worth it to me to do a broken up 10 hour day then a straight eight hour day without any flexibility.
The other thing is, when you're in home health and you have your own patients that you case manage, it's a different sense of ownership, I don't love the paperwork but I also don't resent work seeping into after hours.