Thinking of taking a hh job.. have a silly question for you experienced nurses.

[MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN]

...in home health care.

I have an interview for a home health position this Friday. They have been trying to get me to interview for over a month and I decided to go in a talk to them. Here is some of my background first...

I have been a RN for 5 years. I have been in management (Director of Nursing in an Assisted Living facility), I have worked in hospitals on med/surg... both acute and chronic. I have experience in ortho too (HealthSouth). I currently work PRN for a medium/maximum security prison, which I do like.

I need a flexible job since I have 4 children and I do not have to work full-time. I do not need insurance since my husband has it for the family. I understand that home care is flexible.

What I am concerned about is the safety (for us) of home care. I know lots of nurses do it just fine. Do any of you get nervous about going inside of houses in "bad" neighborhoods? This may be a silly question but it is one that I am concerned about.

Thanks in advance! :)

[texas_lvn]

No, I was never scarred. Just make sure to take some personnal safety classes, or I guess womens defense. Also work wonders for you glutes!!!!

I was attacked in a home care setting. In pediatric HH, you stay with the pt, like one on one. the mom went out for the night and did not have a lock on her back door, this I found out that day. Her ex boyfriend came in and came straight at me. I do have a black belt in Tae Kwon Doe.

I held my own and was still able to protect the child until police got there. I never went back because the mom decided it was my fault the guy wanted to attack me. The agency dropped her as a client, and never had any more problems.

I continued to do HH for over a year until I got a more lucritive offer, and would go back to it in a heart beat.

Good Luck. And this is something that you can ask in your interview

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

I worked in HC for 13 years in and around the westside of Chicago.

You have to use common sense. Don't wear your pearls or your 3 karat ring. Dress simply but professionally. Traditional blue pants & shoulder bag helps identify you as a nurse. Try to get in and out early in the morning/day. Bad guys like to sleep late. People are not likely to mess with you. Residents know you are there to help.. Even if drug dealing is going on, the dealers' "security" doesn't want to see anything happen to you

1. You might be taking care of one of the gang's gramma.

2. Something happens to a visiting nurse, that's high profile, and bad for business.

[MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN]

Good points!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

MrChicago - you are so right. I did home care in Indy and had the same experience.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

Trust your own intuitons, if it doesn't feel right or look right, don't go to the door. That's only happened to me once. I told the office and they backed me up 100% and called the doctor and informed him. Unbelieably the doctor's reply was "I'm not surprised, the last HH agency in there ended up calling the police while they were in the home". Gee thanks for the warning doc! The patient ended up being taken out of the home by adult protective services.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

You work in a prison (!!) but are asking about safety in home health care? Aside from the occasional big dog and a really hairy tarantula HH around here is very safe.

[MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN]

You work in a prison (!!) but are asking about safety in home health care? Aside from the occasional big dog and a really hairy tarantula HH around here is very safe.

Yes, (I had a feeling someone would bring this up)... but I do have officers around me all the time so I do have a little protection. In home health you don't and I would be by myself. So yes, its a concerning question to ME.

I will bring it up in my interview this Friday. I just wanted to see the points of view of other home health nurses.