taking your work home.

Specialties Home Health

Published

I am a 2 yr. CHHA nurse. I was just wondering, is there anyone else out there that ends up taking their work home and trying to catch up there? Our CHHA has been through so much in the past few years. We almost closed our CHHA d/t our county's budget cuts, we have a year of staff turn overs, working short staffed. I would have 6-8 pts a day and some other staff members would only have 2 because the need was in my territory not theirs. At one time, I had all the IV cases 6, because there are only 2 nurses that are IV cert. of coorifice one of them is me and the other IV cert. nurse was on vacation. I am almost to the point of burn out. I have been handing in ROC's almost 2-3 weeks late, because I have 6-8 due all in the same week, then add on 6-8 visits and a few SOC in that week, plus 1-2 D/C's...and they wonder why I can't keep up. When I complain they say they know, everyone is behind in their work and they hand me over another SOC. Finnally I broke down last week and told my supervisor how behind I really was and how much time I am really working additionally at home. She FINALLY heard me and is taking all my visits from me this week to let me get caught up. We do have some new nurses on board and I am suppost to be precepting her, but I don't feel I am doing a good job with her because I am so unorganized at this time trying to catch up. Good thing she is a go getter, Thanks for listening. I just needed to vent. Lynn

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Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.

Oh, yes, during the 18 years I worked in Home Health there were MANY nights that I took work home with me....and worked until 2AM, then got up at 6AM..and did it all over again. During one week I was on call, I did 14 after-hour admissions, in addition to my regular visits.

And they wonder WHY we are burned out to a crisp...:confused:

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I used to do that until we had our annual wage increases decreased and a lot of our other benefits decreased. I figured if they weren't going to help me then I wasn't going to help them. I kept thinking well I didn't go to college to work for free. I know this sounds harsh, but I've been in home health for almost 8 years and have seen a lot of changes.

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Three home health agencies that I am familiar with all have extremely long hours with actual patient care and the same amount of time is spent on the paper trail. I am questioning the salary/benefit rationale for doing this. Will you share some information on this and be very honest about it? Salary in a range $20/hr, $25/hr, $30/hr? Per diem or hourly? Do you get totally paid health insurance? What about mileage reimbursement?

I have worked in home health for 14 years and am in the process of buying an agency out. I feel the salary/benefit/work ratios are way off and would like to see what several other places are paying. The agency I am purchasing is in Southwest PA/Northern WV area.

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

Yes I always took work home whether I was a visit nurse or a manager. Just way to much to do in a day.

renerian

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I am paid around $20/hr. We drive agency vehicles, but we pay a percentage on usage if not seeing pt's before coming into the office or on the way home. We get employee health insurance.

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

I had to respond to this as my home desk is currently stacked with 6 inches deep of home health stuff to do LOL.

renerian:chuckle

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That is pretty good, they give you a company vehicle for visits! But yes, I feel your pain...Our agency has done alot better with visits loads and oncall. But for a while, we were all going crazy working 16hrs and turning around the next day and having a full schedule. We nurses had to form together and demand our voices to be heard! Sounds like if your territory is so full, that the others nurses are having easy client loads, they need to retrace territory bounderies! That is not fair to you! I am sure if their area was swamped, they would be upset if the other nurses would not pitch in...

KEEP YA CHIN UP :)

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

Yep I am doing some paperwork in between cooking! LOL.

renerian

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Depending on discipline, experience of person, etc. I have some data/data ranges to share:

For example:

Nurse 1: $20/hr for Inservice, orientation training, special projects.

Nurse 1: $35/visit, $40/visit if my paperwork standards are met.

Nurse 1: $55/IV, $60/IV if my paperwork standards are met.

HHa 1: $14/visit

HHa 1: $14/hr for Inservice, orientation training, etc.

SafeTman

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I just went to work here.the rates are 25 visit,35 for a soc/roc.They just did away with milege for perdiem,but these were the rates with milege.i was told they will be reviewing the rates at the first of the year.They need to revisit this now!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

SE PA:

No IV services.

Perdiem:

Admit $43.00

Revist $37.00

+ add $5.00 each on Weekends

Inservice: hourly rate or $15.00

Milege .32cents first to last client

$20.00 cell phone/month

Reg scheduled staff get alpha numeric beepers cuts down on calls---we send text pages over internet.

Unable locate pt/scheduled vist driveby: $12.00

Oncall: $3.50/hr

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