In Feb I had to close my home health business after over 8 years in business. The recession caused a drop in referrals the past two years and combined with the loss of half our clients in 2008 when a group of nurses left our company to start their own agency, it was too much to overcome. The credit markets dried up, preventing me from finding a buyer or investor. I will never understand why the nurses who left in 2008 could "use" my company the way they did and destroy us. I put everything and then some into the startup of a psych program they then stole and took elsewhere. For what means? In the end they could not manage a home health agency and ended up closing this year. Lesson learned...from John Maxwell he says one must look at risk as a boat in the water....if risk causes a hole in your ship that is above the water line, your business can still sail; but if you take on risk that can cause a hole below the water line, the your business will fail. In looking back, setting up the psych program was a risk below the water line. I thought I had done due diligence, but this group of psych nurses lied to me from the start and planned to use my company for their own means. Sad part is they could have been upfront with me about their plans and we could have worked together. I would have had a psych program that made my company stronger and they could have learned home health from me and would still be in business today. Win-Win from all. But not how it worked out.
So that leaves unpaid vendors, loans, and employees. And my family with no income or means for income.
Starting in March I have applied to many large home care agencies. My first company I applied to called, interviewed me in person and via phone with 3 corporate executives, then after the first candidate turned the job down, called and offered me the job. I was very surprised. But at the 11th hour, after the area director came back from vacation, they changed their mind and decided to hire no administrator. As of today they still have hired anyone, brought in a interim administrator from their corporate office. Why? Somehow with 200 plus clients they are losing money. Was a shock for sure. To be made an offer, outstanding salary, benefits, taken a drug test, etc; then receive a call that says no we changed our mind and given no valid reason; I have never heard of any company doing this.
But wait there is more.....end of May I interviewed for an Administrator position in Cleveland, TX outside of Houston. After driving to Houston twice for two interviews, was offered the position. The administrator at the office had already resigned and left, leaving the regional director to manage the office until I got there. The director email me on Wed morning asking for my physical address to overnight the official offer letter for me to review and sign. I was excited. Tricha had already made plans to change to the Houston campus for her school and put off our student teaching until the spring semester. I ordered boxes from U-Haul and reserved a moving van. We were planning to move to Kingwood close to Tricha's sister. Called a realtor to help find a place to live. That evening around 5:30 we were eating at Chick-Fil-A. I received a call from the corporate human resources. I thought he needed additional info to complete the hiring process. But NO....he called to tell me they decided NOT to fill the position at this time and I was welcome to reapply in the future. I was dumbfounded. I asked why? Was there something in my background check? He then asked was there something he should be aware of...I said no...but again why, this makes no sense. He again repeated they decided not to fill the position. I said goodbye, called the regional director and she would not talk to me, said she just found out and referred me back to the human resource department. So a second time I had a job then was taken back......but again this company was losing money somehow with 200 clients on service and seems they decided to cut the Administrator position and likely combine with the Director of nursing to save money.
Needless to say after two turn downs I was concerned something in my back ground check was negative. A friend of mine had a friend who runs background checks for a business. He ran a national background check with no negative results. I pulled all three credit reports and showed not credit checks by any hiring company. I checked with all my references and found no phone calls. Only conclusion is I have no background issues that will prevent me from being hired.
The other way of looking at this is I did get three interviews, two turned into job offers and one is still in progress. I have the skills, experience, and knowledge needed. But lacking the RN license is what is holding me back. Will have to communicate better my strengths in the financial area that nurses lack and which will be needed given future reimbursement cuts expected.
Right now I have two potentials for face to face interview. One with a hospice in Austin and another with a home health in Houston.
Given my experience so far in the job hunt, I wish I could have figured out how to make AbleCare survive. To do so would have resulted in cuts to our marketing and office people. But I am a happier person not having to deal with the worry about cash flow every day, making payroll, dealing with non-payment or payment take backs from Medicare and other insurance companies.
So on to work I go...to find a job!!!
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