What is home care nursing like in BC?

[Kenobi]

Hello,

I've worked on medical units for 1.5 years now and, while I'm decent at it, I want to explore something different. I'm looking for a job that has the following qualities:

1. Time 1:1 with a patient without feeling rushed (e.g. have to run to answer call lights, vocera)

2. Involves patient education

3. Has hands-on components

4. Some routine and control over my schedule (for family purposes)

Does home care fit these bills? It's rather difficult to find information on home care in BC (most info are from the US). How does a casual home care nurse get paid? What are some of the pros and cons? Do I have enough experience after 1.5 years to work independently as a home care nurse?

Thanks in advance for the responses!

[dayandnight]

I would try applying as a casual for home care and see if you like it or not before moving on. I heard there is a lot of wound care and palliative components to home health in BC. I also heard they were quite short, or at least that is what the union seemed to highlight with some of their promotional videos last year, hence why community health nurses get some type of extra pay now. Working as a casual in BC is easy, and as long as you are under the same health authority, the way you get paid is exactly the same. (except you also get vacation pay as a casual on top of your pay). You could also get a temporary line in home health and see if you like it.

[Kenobi]

Thanks, I've applied as a casual home care nurse and I'm waiting for a call back.

Looking at the US home care info, a lot of them are agency-based and they get paid per visit (if a patient cancels last min, you don't get paid). I'm not sure if BC is the same or is it based on hours (e.g. you get paid 8 hrs today and you need to see X patients). As casual, do I get different patients each time (I.e. I'm just covering sick calls) or do I get my own patients? I've also heard that there is a lot of documentation after work and many people take the documentation home with them (HIPA?), but some say otherwise. I really just wanted more info! This is all very new to me, thanks!

[dayandnight]

12 minutes ago, Kenobi said:

Thanks, I've applied as a casual home care nurse and I'm waiting for a call back.

Looking at the US home care info, a lot of them are agency-based and they get paid per visit (if a patient cancels last min, you don't get paid). I'm not sure if BC is the same or is it based on hours (e.g. you get paid 8 hrs today and you need to see X patients). As casual, do I get different patients each time (I.e. I'm just covering sick calls) or do I get my own patients? I've also heard that there is a lot of documentation after work and many people take the documentation home with them (HIPA?), but some say otherwise. I really just wanted more info! This is all very new to me, thanks!

Canada will be different than the US if you are applying to public government funded home care vs private home care. As a casual your assignment will be based on how many shifts you pick up and how many in a row. Even at the hospitals I have been assigned different patients every shift in a row that I worked in. It just depends on where you work and the work demands of the place. People who work full time prefer to have same patients and that may play a factor in your assignment for that day. I don't know about documentations.