[following_faith]

Hello! I am starting a job this week as a home health aide. I am pretty nervous.

Do you have any advice for a home health aide?

Thanks!

[Kelly_the_Great]

Hi following_faith,

Congratulations on your new job...

Not much advice to offer only encouragement. I've not ever worked as an aide in HH but as a nurse, now work as phone nurse for HH.

I think you'll really enjoy working in HH. Have you ever worked elsewhere as an aide or is this your 1st experience? What I really liked about HH care vs. other fields is that you really get to connect with and know your patient on a more extended basis. To me you have a much greater opportunity to address the patient in a holistic manner while performing home care than almost any other field.

Good luck and let me know how it goes. I'm sure you'll do fine...

[SWRN84]

Good luck with your new job! I'm sure once you get into it, you'll love your patients (most of them anyway!). I rely on the home health aides I work with to report anything unusual, even if it may seem insignificant to you. You will see things the nurses may not see and you will have a different relationship than the nurses. I trust the aides to give me information that may be abnormal, or even if it's just a change in behavior. Just go with your instincts, trust you judgement, report any abnormal findings on your visit, and most of all, enjoy your job, enjoy your patients.....I hope you love it!

[following_faith]

Thank you both very much! I really appreciate it!

[Kelly_the_Great]

So, have you had your 1st day yet? Feeling a little more confident?

I agree w/ SWRN84. You really are such a vital aspect of the care team, especially in HH d/t the close relationship you have an opportunity to observe so much, your input is so important! Also, make sure to report patient progress as this is really our goal in nursing.

I see that you're in nursing school too... . Make sure and use every chance you get to observe the nurses when they're performing their skills (wound care, foley, venipuncture, etc.)/teaching (meds, disease process)/assessing (breath sounds (rales, rhonci, rubs, etc.), edema, heart sounds - they can help you w/ murmurs, etc.). Most will be more than happy to share their knowledge wity you! And (IMO) it's a lot less "rigid" environmnet to learn in vs. your hospital clinicals or when your instructor is standing over your shoulder in the skills lab, ya know? You'll have a jumpstart...

[cherricka]

You are going to love it. I stated as an aide in a nursing home, this is much more laid back.

Report to your casemanager anything unusual, such as open or red areas, increase in shortness of breath with activity, urine is now dark, cloudy or smells worse, or the patient is not going as much as they usually do. Report coughing, especially if they are coughing up mucous. Not eating as much as usual, loose stool, increase in depression, their color is off, they are gaining weight, or they have some swelling around the ankles (or anywhere),increase in pain ,etc.

You are the eyes and ears! You get to spend time with, and get to know these patients, and will notice changes that we don't get to see, when we are only there one hour a week.

Good luck!
Cherricka

[following_faith]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the advice and encouragement! I used to work as a unit clerk in a hospital and it almost discouraged me because none of the nurses seemed to have time for the patient-which is a huge thing to me! Being a HHA is proving to be very, very nice. Not only do you get more time with the people, but you really get to know them and their famiies. I love that! I have also noticed that even the nurses at the HH agency are much happier and relaxed! They encourage me to bother them as much as I need too!

I can see why all you HH nurses call this the well-kept secret of nursing! I would love to luck out after school and be able to stay where I am at and move up the nursing ranks!

I am still nervous about going into other people's homes. I feel like I am invading their space or something! But I am sure that will come along with time.

Again, thank you all so very much! I wrote down all the suggestions in my notebook to use as reference until I get the hang of it!

[happthearts]

Do everything everyone else suggested but I would like to add some things as I help run a non-medical home health.

1. DON’T BE LATE first time be 10 minutes early just in-case you get lost or are in heavy traffic. That is the one thing that chaps our hide. Being the boss we have to take all the guff from the families, when the aide is late. The patients worry about you, then they call the company and ask did you get in an accident are they coming and go on and on and on. This takes up time from clients and patients who we really need to speak to us.If you have to call in do it as soon as possible not just before your shift.

2. DON’T talk about your Personal life or problems. The families will call the company if you do. Keep your personal life personal or The Company will know everything you might not want us to know about you. Don’t talk religion. I know this is hard but keep it professional. We do not wish to offend any one about there religion or lack of religion. They have a right to there beliefs (In other words WWJD.)

3. Don't take your kids to work. We had to fire someone who did .No matter what it’s in our policy. No matter if the family says it’s OK. It’s Not OK!

4. Don’t do your own coverage. Like Oh I can't make it so I will just send the peer without notifying the company.

5. Do the required charting .Its hard to get the company paid when we don't have care notes to back it up what we did in the home for care. When insurance involved .Turn in all care notes on time

6. When you go into a home .Be confident say Smile, Say hello, my name is. Shake the Patient hand they will be more comfortable and they will like you right off the bat.
7. When you go into a patients home The first time ask where things are stored like Depends gloves etc.You don't want to be considered nosey or accused of taking something .
8. Do your job Great and the home health will give you more than you can care positions than you handle. Every one will want you.
9 .I always offer a little extra care like Lotion care ROM mini back rub to the client if there's time .Go the extra mile be the best and you will be.

I worked over 33 years as an aide 20 in Home health field. Now director of services .

Hope this helps

Happy
Director of services
@ My company

[following_faith]

Thank you so much Happy! I appreciate you taking the time to write all that out for me!

Wonderful tips! I am adding them all to my study list! I want to make a good impression in the hopes that they will keep me after my LPN and my RN! It sure would be nice because home health is really growing on me (especially after already working in a hospital!)

Thanks again!