[Dixieheart]

I just started nursing school (RN) and need advice about HH. What do I need to specialize in when I get my initial working experience in a hospital in order to have more of a chance to get a HH job? I am an older woman and I won't be able to walk concrete for 12 hours+ for years and years. I already know that I'll love L&D but realize I might have to do some other field in order to secure the HH job later. Please advise.

PS -Plan on getting one year experience here in MO and move to TN where my heart is. Will have to work in a hospital there too before seeking the HH. Sure is tough living somewhere you'd rather not be.

[renerian]

Dixie,

WE moved here almost 10 years ago and I don't like it either. Cannot wait to move. Have to wait until the last one graduates high school which is this year.

Yes you need one to two years acute care experience before jumping to home health. If you love OB you can make a jump to high risk OB in home health.

renerian

[luv4nursing]

I think it must depend on the area you live in and the need for HH nurses bc the agencies around here will hire new grad RNs and LPNs too.My first job out of school is in peds home health.

[Dixieheart]

Originally Posted by luv4nursing

I think it must depend on the area you live in and the need for HH nurses bc the agencies around here will hire new grad RNs and LPNs too.My first job out of school is in peds home health.

Right now I'm in MO, plan to move to east TN. You are very fortunate.

[luv4nursing]

Dixie, I grew up in East TN. Johnson City to be exact!

where are u moving?

Even if u go work in the hospital first, which is great to do anyway for continued learning and growing (I wouldve preferred this but the local hospitals dont hire new LPNs!), I would contact local HH agencies and express an interest. You never know! I got more of a response from HH than hospitals as a new grad. They said I sounded like I was willing to learn so they would be willing to train me as far as send me out with other nurses, etc. When I get my RN I want to work in a hospital though bc I think it is needed to develop into a well rounded nurse. good luck to you!

[Dixieheart]

Originally Posted by luv4nursing

Dixie, I grew up in East TN. Johnson City to be exact!

where are u moving?

Even if u go work in the hospital first, which is great to do anyway for continued learning and growing (I wouldve preferred this but the local hospitals dont hire new LPNs!), I would contact local HH agencies and express an interest. You never know! I got more of a response from HH than hospitals as a new grad. They said I sounded like I was willing to learn so they would be willing to train me as far as send me out with other nurses, etc. When I get my RN I want to work in a hospital though bc I think it is needed to develop into a well rounded nurse. good luck to you!

We are planning to move somewhere southwest of Knoxville, like Harriman, Kingston, somewhere between these and Oakridge or Knoxvlle. Need to be in the country, have a few acres, garden, etc. Peace and quiet.

[RNLaura]

The more you can experience the better. You need to know how to care for all types of vascular access, ostomies, urological devices, and especially wound care. Work on your assessment skills. Strike up conversations with the MD's and surgeons in your hospital. The more you know, the more your home care patients will know. You can also contact a local home care agency and ask if you can shadow a few nurses so that you can get a feel for what you need to focus on.

[Traveler]

I'm in East Tennessee! A little further south and in the mountains from where you are talking about moving. In rural areas the hh nurse is jack of all trades- literally! We see mostly an older adult population. Lots of CHF, COPD, diabetes, and wound care as well as a lot of post op (orthopedic, CABG, etc.) I can count on one hand the number of times I've had a peds patient in five years. Well rounded is the best way to be and med surg is a pretty good background. I don't know if you'd recognize E. Tenn. Lots of people from Florida and up north (halfbackers) moving in and building like crazy. Gates going up everywhere.

[Dixieheart]

Originally Posted by Traveler

I'm in East Tennessee! A little further south and in the mountains from where you are talking about moving. In rural areas the hh nurse is jack of all trades- literally! We see mostly an older adult population. Lots of CHF, COPD, diabetes, and wound care as well as a lot of post op (orthopedic, CABG, etc.) I can count on one hand the number of times I've had a peds patient in five years. Well rounded is the best way to be and med surg is a pretty good background. I don't know if you'd recognize E. Tenn. Lots of people from Florida and up north (halfbackers) moving in and building like crazy. Gates going up everywhere.

Hopefully by the time I get there some native Tennesseans will still be around. A place where my southern accent won't be hated and I won't be thought of as illiterate or ignorant because of my accent. Most people here in SE Missouri can't stand true southerners.

[Traveler]

You need to let all of the Yanks you deal with know that the dialect of East Tennessee is much closer to Elizabethan English than anything else spoken in the United States today (because of where the original white settlers came from and the relative isolation maintained the purity of the language). I know what you mean though about people making fun of us poor stupid hillbillies. I then wonder why so many of them are moving here?????