working for hospital or home care?

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I recently got two job offers. One is a oncology infusion RN for a local hospital in NYC, the other one is a filed nurse for a home care company. They both pay and benefits are similar. But there is no night *****, weekend and holiday for home care, and the hours are very flexible. Which one should I choose? Give me some advice my fellow nurses!

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Well, the field nurse position SOUNDS good, but I've done home health

and it is NOT easy, especially if full time. Plus are you sure there is

no CALL required? I mean, my home health office wasn't open at nights

or on weekends or holidays, but someone had to take call.

The infusion RN, I'm guessing would involve crazy shifts, weekends,

holidays, etc... I currently work in a hospital and LOVE it, after

working the long hours of full time home health, and basically

having no life. And yes I work nights, weekends, holidays.

But my time off is my OWN time. Home health never

felt that way. Lots of after hours charting, charting at

home, and patients calling me on my phone at all

hours.

Food for thought I guess. =)

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In general a home health job is easier to obtain than a hospital job, so it might be better to try the hospital job first. Easier to default to a home health job than trying to find another hospital job. Just a rule of thumb.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Forgot to ask, what type of home care? Is it private duty; you sit with one person

for 8-12 hours.. or is it intermittent care, you see 5-6 patients a day..?

Private duty, they say, is a bit easier on the personal life. You go, you be with

your patient, you do all your charting in the home, you leave.

Hard to believe, no weekends, holidays, nights, if it's private duty.

Depends on the case though. I once worked on a case involving an

8th grade girl with a trach. The job basically involved following her

around school all day with a suction machine.

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Are you an experienced nurse? If not, do not start out in home care. You will be the only nurse assessing the patient. That takes experience.

The oncology infusion position will give you specialty experience, with back -up and future opportunities with the hospital.

Best of luck with your decision, let us know what you decided.

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Thanks for all replies. I am the UAS( uniform assessment system) RN in home care. It is a charting system in New York city. Basically, my job is going to client's home and do the assessment according to my computer. I will not do any nursing skills like IV, IM, Wound change....etc. I will get paid $77,000 a year( salary base ). I am my own boss as long as I am able to get my jobs done. As for another hospital offer, the hourly wage starts at $40 per hour, and medical benefit plan is better.

I am a foreign-trained RN. I was no luck to locate a hospital job because they all consider me as a new graduate in the US. Finally, I got an offer from mount saini hospital. But, the hours and flexibility in home care are very attractive to me! I know I will have a hard time to make up my mind!

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

I am a over. Four decades multi specialities, even mgt experience..RN...... I find the Mt Sciani offer intriguing , and you did say better benefits, ....I see it as a "key stone".... For your career, either way, best wishes.....

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Thanks for all replies. I am the UAS( uniform assessment system) RN in home care. It is a charting system in New York city. Basically, my job is going to client's home and do the assessment according to my computer. I will not do any nursing skills like IV, IM, Wound change....etc. I will get paid $77,000 a year( salary base ). I am my own boss as long as I am able to get my jobs done. As for another hospital offer, the hourly wage starts at $40 per hour, and medical benefit plan is better.

I am a foreign-trained RN. I was no luck to locate a hospital job because they all consider me as a new graduate in the US. Finally, I got an offer from mount saini hospital. But, the hours and flexibility in home care are very attractive to me! I know I will have a hard time to make up my mind!

There is no such thing as assessment by computer. You will be recording YOUR assessment ON a computer. Your assessment of the patient, and their resulting needs will require excellent observational and hands on skills. You will be documenting thoroughly on all body systems.

You are NOT just filling out a form, you are documenting your patient's physiological, psychological,sociological and spiritual status. Can you handle that?

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I have done home care per visit and it involved way more than 40 hrs/week. I can imagine a salaried position being similar. It might seem like being your "own boss" would be ideal, but I'd be willing to be that you will be charting late into the evening and would be getting zero overtime for your trouble. I have no experience in infusion nursing so have nothing to offer regarding that option. But given the choices I would personally choose the infusion position.

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Specializes in FNP- BC, Med-Tele, PCU, Home Health Case Manager.
Well, the field nurse position SOUNDS good, but I've done home health

and it is NOT easy, especially if full time. Plus are you sure there is

no CALL required? I mean, my home health office wasn't open at nights

or on weekends or holidays, but someone had to take call.

The infusion RN, I'm guessing would involve crazy shifts, weekends,

holidays, etc... I currently work in a hospital and LOVE it, after

working the long hours of full time home health, and basically

having no life. And yes I work nights, weekends, holidays.

But my time off is my OWN time. Home health never

felt that way. Lots of after hours charting, charting at

home, and patients calling me on my phone at all

hours.

Food for thought I guess. =)

I just wanted to ask you since I saw your response on this thread...maybe you can help me out here?

I worked in the PCU at a very terrible managed hospital/unit for 1.5 years as my first nursing job. It was hell, so I got out and started HH Case managing. The family friendly hours are what attracted me to the position. I've been doing it for now 1.5 years and the paperwork, call, being attached to my iPad/phone...working alllll the time is getting old. I miss having coworkers to commiserate and lean on during the day also. I have a young baby, almost 1 & a kindergartener and trying to figure out if I should give the hospital a try again. Different company, hospital may help. I'm just trying to find the best work/life balance and job that I'll enjoy. I think my first job scared me away from hospital nursing.

Any advice is greatly appreciated! TY!

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I am a new graduate without any experience. I am interested in becoming UAS assessment nurse.can you tell me ow can i get certified or how to start.I am in new York.I appreciate your help .

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