I'm a fairly new RN (about 1 1/2 years), LVN for about 7 years, and am thinking about working in Home Health. Would it be difficult to transition to HH from LTC?

Is it possible to work in HH without doing any Hospice work?

And finally, how do I get a HH company to give me a chance and to train me when most require prior HH experience?

Thank you.

Moved to the Home Health forum for more responses.

What is your scope in your LTC job?

What is your scope in your LTC job?

Libby1987, I work as a Charge Nurse on my unit and I'm also floor Supervisor for some shifts.

Libby1987, I work as a Charge Nurse on my unit and I'm also floor Supervisor for some shifts.

What nursing skills do you practice?

For instance in HH you need comprehensive assessment skills, strong pharmacology, knowledge of disease mgmt, care planning, multidisciplinary team leading, patient/caregiver teaching of disease mgmt/wound care/IV infusion/trach care, complex wound care, lab draws, resource utilization, discharge planning..

In additional to the above examples of nursing practice, in HH you are directly responsible for meeting and documenting regulatory compliance and reimbursement criteria as well as now being responsible for logistically scheduling and making patient visits, coordinating and ordering supplies, scheduling and performing aide supervisions and recertifications. The stronger your nursing skills the more time and energy you have to devote to learning regulatory and reimbursement aspects and managing a case load or following assigned cases while working out of your car.

Typing this out on my phone, hope it makes sense.

What nursing skills do you practice?

For instance in HH you need comprehensive assessment skills, strong pharmacology, knowledge of disease mgmt, care planning, multidisciplinary team leading, patient/caregiver teaching of disease mgmt/wound care/IV infusion/trach care, complex wound care, lab draws, resource utilization, discharge planning..

In additional to the above examples of nursing practice, in HH you are directly responsible for meeting and documenting regulatory compliance and reimbursement criteria as well as now being responsible for logistically scheduling and making patient visits, coordinating and ordering supplies, scheduling and performing aide supervisions and recertifications. The stronger your nursing skills the more time and energy you have to devote to learning regulatory and reimbursement aspects and managing a case load or following assigned cases while working out of your car.

Typing this out on my phone, hope it makes sense.

Thank you Libby. Your response was very helpful, and I'm going to spend some time going through it thoroughly (again) and assessing myself. Maybe I need more time in LTC and possibly more as a Floor nurse again in order to improve on my skills. Thanks again! :)