Advice on home health admissions RN

[yellowbean314]

I just received a call from a home health agency who wants me to come in for an interview. I am a new grad so of course I said heck yea! My question is if an admissions position is suitable for a new grad? I have no prior experience and I really dont even know what an admissions nurse does. Also for those of you who are hiring managers or have interviewed for a similar position, what kinds of questions should I be prepared to answer? This is my first interview and I'm really nervous!!

[CatHair]

(copied from an online application I found because I did not want to type it all out...)

Job Description Summary:

An Admission Nurse is primarily responsible for performing the admission visit for all home health patients referred to service. The Admit nurse must have a good understanding of the OASIS C program, and have good assessment skills that enable them to recognize the need for other disciplines that may be necessary on a case and not yet ordered by the physician. They must possess excellent communication and organizational skills. They would be responsible for establishing the initial frequencies and communicate with the physician. The duties of an RN as stated below also apply, however, the role of this nurse is to work with the Intake department and admit patients.

The Registered Nurse plans, organizes and directs home care services and is experienced in nursing, with emphasis on community health education/experience. The professional nurse builds from the resources of the community to plan and direct services to meet the needs of individual and families within their homes and communities.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities:

Patient Care:

1. Completes an initial assessment of patient and family to determine home care needs. Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es).
   
2. Regularly re-evaluates patient nursing needs.
   
3. Initiates the plan of care and makes necessary revisions as patient status and needs change.
   
4. Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis.
   
5. Develops a care plan which establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates therapeutic, preventive, and rehabilitative nursing actions. Includes the patient and the family in the planning process.
   
6. Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures. Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician.
   
7. Counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs.
   
8. Provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan.
   
9. Identifies discharge planning needs as part of the care plan development and implements prior to discharge of the patient.
   

Communication:

1. Prepares clinical notes and updates the primary physician when necessary and at least every sixty-two days.
   
2. Communicates with the physician regarding the patient's needs and reports and changes in the patient's condition; obtains/receives physicians orders as required.
   
3. Communicates with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan.
   

Additional Duties:

1. Participates in on-call duties as defined by the on-call policy.
   
2. Ensures that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available.
   
3. Instructs, supervises and evaluates home health aide care provided every fourteen days.
   

[caliotter3]

As a bare minimum I would ask how many times the DON or admin is going to take you on a ridealong to show you the ropes of doing your admissions visit and the associated documentation. Surely they would not expect a brand new grad to just jump into the position without any guidance.

[AMN74]

Depending on if these patients you are admitting are for a medicare certified home health agency then you will need to be proficient in performing the OASIS assessment, this involves training to get it right!