Think I've come to a fork in the road

zoo4uRN · Oct 23, 2007

Sounds like you really do need a change. Do you think a change of agency would help, or is HH just not a good fit for you? I'm sure you'll find the perfect place to use your gifts. Wishing you the very best in your future endeavors. :icon_hug:

Debbie

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2007

I think the fact that I've worked the last three weekends has a lot to do with how I feel. I've thought of an agency change. There would still be some run over from work time into personal time and probably some on call and weekends. Also with winter coming, the rural roads in the Pittsburgh region can be a real challenge. I might be better off giving up my trekking across the countryside for something a little less adventurous. I do wonder if every agency does as mucy paper work as we do. A 48 hour turnaround is required. It doesn't take long to get backed up.

There are quite few RN positions available in local MD offices. It is time for a change. Thanks for responding.

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 23, 2007

Office nursing can be good, but look carefully at each situation and ask lots of questions.

I've known of office nurses who work until 7 or 8 PM every night, even if the office closes at 5, doing patient call-backs and so forth. Also, some docs expect their office staff to do everything, up to and including cleaning toilets!

Get a really clear idea of expectations before you accept an office job.

Good luck!

zoo4uRN · Oct 23, 2007

Wow! That brings back lots of memories from when I worked dental for many years, prior to nursing. Didn't have to make patient calls after hours, but there was always "stuff" that needed to done after hours to try and keep your head above water the next day. I was pretty lucky-I worked for a great group of docs, and we had wonderful, long-term staff. I miss those days.

Really good advice, santhony44!

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2007

Really! Cleaning toilets? Ewww.

I did however give my notice two days ago and had my exit interview. My orientation to HH sucked. By 3 weeks out, I had my own full load for case management. I kept asking for a reduced schedule but no one listened. My ED says she was unaware that I had been asking for a life line. No matter. What's done is done. I broke my rule of quitting a job before having another. I'll stay on where I'm at per diem with no case management duties since I have nothing definite waiting in the wings.

caliotter3 · Nov 13, 2007

I highly suggest that you find an agency where you can insist that you do patient care cases only; shift work or extended care. The only paperwork you will be responsible for is your documentation sheet for the one shift you do that day. Don't let them persuade you to do the OASIS and other paperwork for the case cuz you're an RN. If your city has a Maxim office, or they are in a nearby city, they are good about hiring RNs to do shift work. Another suggestion might be Interim. Gentiva also has home health offices, but not widely spread. It would be a shame for you to leave home health because you didn't get the type of job that might make it work for you. Good luck in finding a good position.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Nov 13, 2007

Kitty,

You hit my reasons for hating HH on the head. Too much paper work and too many cases to keep paperwork up to date and have a life. No help from managers, no thought to where some of these people are and road conditions getting to them. Lord, I hated HH. I know it fills a big need for most patients, too bad the agencies do not appreciate the staff.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Nov 13, 2007

hmmmmmmmmmmm... our agency appreciates us. :)

I think where most of you are getting burned out is the "case management" aspect.

I'm grateful our agency doesn't do case management. We have office staff who do all that part... we just do the visits, and are responsible for out daily visit notes, and the occas'l admission/recert/post-hospital or discharge OASIS. And even with those, we don't have to look up ICD9 coding.. office fill those in.

I love my HH agency.. love what I do!

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Nov 13, 2007

You know, I love these forums. It gives us opportunities to work out the kinks together. I have come to the same conclusions that several others of you have. I would do well to accept a job doing either admissions or visits, but not both with case management responsibilities. It could be either HH or hospice. So I'm not throwing out the baby with the bath water. I have interviews with a couple of agencies. One is for a HH admissions nurse for a large national company using computer documentation, a real plus in my book; and a hospice admissions nurse. The HH admissions position is per visit, either FT or 3 days a week. The hospice position is full time and I don't know how the compensation works for that one.

allnurses Guide · Nov 13, 2007

This is probably not exactly what you are looking for but I have friends who opted for free-standing outpatient surgery clinics. Monday-Friday, no weekends, no holidays. You prep the patient for surgery (IV start, sign paperwork) and then you recover. Then the patient goes home!

Good luck with whatever you end up doing - I agree that paperwork has to be the worst part of nursing.

steph

caliotter3 · Nov 14, 2007

Glad to hear that you have some interviews coming up. Both of the options you described sound so much better than what you left. A portion of the paperwork pie, instead of the whole pie and then some! Good luck on your interviews!