Thoughts or opinions about home health agencies Sacramento

[newtress, LPN]

Hello to all. I am going to be moving back to the Sacramento area at the beginning of August. I'm well aware of how difficult it is to be offered any nursing positions right now. I am an LPN w/1yr exp and enorsed to Cali and have the new license. I had no offers or bites on anything trying to apply online from out of state. I've been gone over 20 yrs from the Sac area but my parents are elders now and I want to be with them (70's and father has cancer) while I can. Anyhooz, there were 2 home health agencies that were quite nice speaking to me on the phone long distance. One I am sure y'all have heard of: PSA healthcare and then there's one that sounds kind of Mom and Popish called "Action Home Health" nursing services located further up in El Dorado county. They sounded great last week, but then I saw the new job positions posted in the online newspaper of the same Action Home health agency that stated the words I steer clear of= Sign on Bonus! But it wasn't there last week and was never mentioned to me from the coordinator either. Has anyone known of a friend or yourself had any employment dealings with either of these outfits? They sound a little too hyped out and wonder if they may not be too good to their employees. Talk to me NorCal ladies!

[caliotter3]

PSA is an agency that one should avoid according to the general consensus. Can't speak to the other one. You might want to pose your question in the home health forum.

[newtress, LPN]

Alrighty, I would slide over to the HH forum but I'm posing a question specific to NorCal nurses in that particular city. So to you Caliotter3 which I admire most all or your posts, is there something you might be able to share with me on the PSA Health care down low? My family members who have remained in California don't understand or identify with my lifestyle here in the south where I've been for the last 13 years. Nursing jobs pretty much are what they are, and rare to see slick advertising to hire nurses. That's why I posed the question about the two outfits. Just wondered if NorCal nurses would have any advice on the PSA Health care entity, and Caliotter you mention the concensus isn't too good. What do I need to know other than I don't give a fiddler's fart about agencies that remind me of Avon ladies and candle parties back in the day presenting good things that went no where. Lord I hope I don't get flamed out on that one, but you have to protect yourself, and I admit I'm not easily bowled over on very many job postings. I posted here because my question is specific to Sac Calif.

[caliotter3]

In my area PSA dumped a case that turned out to be a disaster in the making. Although there was contact with personnel of the incoming agency, absolutely no assistance was offered or rendered. They were also discussed as hiring people right out of school with absolutely no nursing experience. In my book, you don't do that to pediatric patients. Further reading of posts on this site has reinforced what I knew from their reputation in my area. I would not seek work with this agency, but that is my view. I must be pretty dense because I couldn't figure out your response about the Avon ladies. I have found all agencies to have one or two things that could be improved upon. The good experiences dealt with working with good people who were interested in the patients and the employees. Rare.

[newtress, LPN]

Thanks Caliotter3 for pointing out all those things, and so true about those who are interested in their patients and the employees becoming so rare, especially these days with nursing agencies being mostly all business.. The reference I made about the avon lady and candle parties is this. I can remember back some 15+ years ago, my friends and I got kind of roped into becoming an avon reps and also friends were getting recruited into the home candle party thing. The sales pitch from the gals that had been doing it a long time made it sound so great at first, the briefings/training etc, and then when you go for it, it did not work out leaving you feeling like they weren't entirely truthful. Just saying the two women I spoke with from PSA and the Action home health services reminded me of the pitch to get me signed on with the cosmetics and candles thing. Back to the drawing board for me. I was hoping I could avoid LTC and SNF work but at least they are what they are and you know what you're in for.