Why are RN's not drawn to HH? Only LPN's?

suzanne4, RN · Mar 22, 2006

Depends where you are located. Some cities and states have very few openings for LPNs in hospitals so there are usually quite a few of them looking for something.

Next, depending on the area, many do not like to do all of the driving with gas prices being up. The reimbursment is not up to what the cost of gas runs, etc. If the nurse gets all of the appts in the same area, then usually not an issue, but when you need to drive 40 miles between appts/visits it is not always beneficial for the nurse. Traffic in specific areas can also be hard on driving.

These are things that come to my mind right away. And I have done HH in the past, but I much prepfer the more acute care of the hospital.

Neew grads need a good solid orientation in a hospital, and when they finally get comfortable, most do not want to leave.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Mar 22, 2006

Pay, paperwork and need for followup are three biggest reasons why RN's not drawn to home health. When you keave the hospital at the end of the shift, your work is completed. Your not keeping a running calender "to do list" in your head of follow-up calls that need to be made or paperwork completed. Hospital RN's don't have the freedom to start seeing patients at 9:30 AM after doctors appointment or teacher conference, or attend grade school award ceremony at 2PM either. So there are trade offs.

Started as perdiem HH RN mid first pregnancy, sons are now 17 + 20 all they remember is "Mom and her paperwork." Eldest now clerks for me on the WE and understands now WHY all that paper!

My agency is in Philly urban/suburban area. We emply ~ 40 RN's to 1 LPN as we admit over 1,500 patients a month and looking for MORE LPN's to do followup visits! Just goes to show that some of these issues are market driven and personal preference.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2006

The complaints I hear have to do with excess paperwork, gas expenses, and inadequate pay for the responsibility/work.

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Mar 22, 2006

It's not that way at my agency. We have I believe 30 RN's, maybe more, not sure as I'm new and only have 2 LPNs. Sorry I can't help..

Jo Dirt · Mar 24, 2006

I'm about to take my NCLEX-RN and am really hoping I can get a job in the Middle Tennessee area in HH. I like driving around and I don't think I will really mind the paperwork. Guess I won't know until I try, but the freedom I hear about is what draws me in the most. I hate being cooped up in one place for 8-12 hours under a microscope.

steelcityrn, RN · Mar 24, 2006

What I have found is first off the pay may not be up to snuff for some r.n.'s who are making the big agency bucks, or being payed very well in the hospital. I have made many suggestions myself to the Adm. on attracting rn's to fill some opening. First off, do a comparison on other HH agencies on the pay. When advertising the location, define the area well. At the interview you can go over the details of the what if situations occur, but for the most part you have to be within a workable radius. Call pay is another issue, I say pay well for a nurses time. That person is making themselves available for any situation and may be covering a much larger location on call. Be fair to your nurses, make sure the same rules apply to all,nip problems in the bud a.s.a.p, and happy nurses are inclinied to recommend the agency to others. It can be one of the best places to work, but you may still find yourself working with the same slackers you had in the hospital, and sometimes you must go out of your way to make up for them and keep the customer happy.I think a great Adm. is key, one that allows a nurse to bloom, tells a nurse when she is doing a great job, and a great listener. I am now writing a new on call rotation to asst the weekend coordinator, so we can keep one for longer than 3 months! The last nurse had no hh experience and just drownded in the role. Im trying to make sure the next one has a safety net.

FirstYear2005 · Mar 26, 2006

I graduate in 07 and plan to work in med surg for a while and then hopefully get into home health. I think I would enjoy the independence and freedom and the driving really does not bother me.

We shall see !

renerian, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2006

My last hourly wage in home health with paperwork, visits, mileage, office time, on call etc worked out to be around 10.00 per hour.

That is why this RN is not doing visits anymore,

renerian

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Mar 27, 2006

My last hourly wage in home health with paperwork, visits, mileage, office time, on call etc worked out to be around 10.00 per hour.
That is why this RN is not doing visits anymore,
renerian

We are paid while we are doing paperwork at the office, or at home. We're paid while we are on call too. I wouldn't do it for 10/hr either. That's rediculous! We're paid anywhere from 21-30/hr and are also reimbursed for mileage. They pay my cell phone bills, give me a laptop and a pager too. I'm not going to complain. So far, I'm really happy. This RN will stay for a while.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Mar 28, 2006

We are paid while we are doing paperwork at the office, or at home. We're paid while we are on call too. I wouldn't do it for 10/hr either. That's rediculous! We're paid anywhere from 21-30/hr and are also reimbursed for mileage. They pay my cell phone bills, give me a laptop and a pager too. I'm not going to complain. So far, I'm really happy. This RN will stay for a while.

Jennifer just wondering if you work for a national well-known company or a small local company? Sounds like a good company to work for. I get paid well but would prefer to work for a company who reimburses mileage, pays cell phone and provides a laptop. Sounds like heaven. My only issue with apply with another agency is that I cannot take call because I cannot drive at night because of my eye disease. My DON says rarely do you have to go out on a call at night. Like once or twice a year. How is it with your company? Thanks!

FreshRN05 · Mar 29, 2006

I am an Rn and I was recenlty approached by one of my church members who owns a home health agency. I met up with her today in their ofice and it seemed like they are really in need of an RN to do admission assesments because she hired me on the spot and made me fill out all these employment papers. I've never done HH before and I currently work full time (12 hours hifts) in a local hospital in my town. I am a fresh RN with less than 6 months of acute care experience. I am offered $100.00 per admission at this HH. Although I filled out all the employment paper works already, I still told the owner of the compnay that I still need to do alittle research about this type of nursing. $100.00 sound good, but just like what Suzanne said, it's more like $30/hour because my job does not end after assessing the patient, I still have to complete tons of paper work. Now when they say paper work......what paper work are we talking about here? I am a bit interested in getting this job as my part time since it sounds like its not that bad...But an enlightenment from any of you who have done this before (esp. RN's) would be much appreciated. Thanks!