A few questions about Home Health Nursing

[satyadhi]

I think Home Health nursing may be the right speciality for me, but I'd like to get a few answers from some nurses who have been doing HH nursing for a while.

What are some of the things a home health nurse can not do that most nurses working in hospitals can do?

What is the average age of patients recieving home health care? Elderly?

What about family nurse practitioners working in home health?

What do most employers of home health nurses want? should I do a year of med-surg in a hospital before I go into home health?

What opportunities are there for nurse practitioners to start their own home health practice (assuming that the state allows NPs to have their own practice?

I think I would like to work in a nursing home/rehab center for a couple of years before settling down in home health? What benifits do you see (if any) in doing this?

I'm just finishing my first semester of nursing school so keep in mind I still got a long way to go, but I think I'll love home health nursing. I am concerned about my appearance though... A Sikh guy with a turban and beard (always neatly and securely tied up while performing nursing care of course) might frighten employers and patients away.

One reason I enjoy working in nursing homes is because most residents will accept you if you show them you care about them, they may not personally approve of your appearance, but they know you are a good person.

[KateRN1]

What are some of the things a home health nurse can not do that most nurses working in hospitals can do?

*I don't think there's anything that a HH nurse *can't* do, but there are some things that we don't see much, if at all. On the other hand, there are many things that home health nurses do that hospital nurses can't do--provide undivided attention to the patient, give lots of teaching and reinforcement, and take regular bathroom and meal breaks.

What is the average age of patients recieving home health care? Elderly?

*Yes, if you're talking about intermittent skilled visits, those are covered by Medicare, so the vast majority of the patients are elderly. This is also the case in the hospital, as young healthy people rarely need inpatient stays (maternity being the big obvious exception to the rule). Those who have private-duty nursing or shift nursing are quite often children on vents, g-tubes, etc.

What about family nurse practitioners working in home health?

*FNPs in home health would work as physician-extenders (I hate that term) not as bedside nurses, just as in any other healthcare setting.

What do most employers of home health nurses want? should I do a year of med-surg in a hospital before I go into home health?

*Several years of varied experience in a variety of settings is ideal. You should be familiar with the most reimbursed DRGs--CHF, diabetes, COPD, and surgical care for all kinds of surgeries, particularly orthopedic and cardiac. One year of med-surg is a good foundation, but really does not net you the experience you need to function independently. For the best knowledge base, I would recommend a couple of years as a float-pool nurse, some time in SNF/LTC, long-term acute-care hospital, and dialysis.

What opportunities are there for nurse practitioners to start their own home health practice (assuming that the state allows NPs to have their own practice?

*That depends on your state practice act and the ability to bill independently, as well as admission privileges at your local hospitals. Again, an NP is going to be working as a physician-extender (still hate that term) rather than a nurse. Not the same.

I think I would like to work in a nursing home/rehab center for a couple of years before settling down in home health? What benifits do you see (if any) in doing this?

*That's a great idea and will give you an idea of the kinds of people who could realistically be maintained at home rather than institutionalized, as well as a great knowledge base for care.

Good luck!

[caliotter3]

Spend some time reading in the home health forum. You can get a lot of insight.

[satyadhi]

Thanks... that information all sounded very positive to me.

I have already started reading some of the stuff in the home health forum and I've liked everything about home health so far. Even the negative stuff people say seems ok to me.

[NaKcl, BSN, RN]

Thank you all for very detailed questions and answers. I,too, interested at home health. I read many postings on HH forum and learned many positive aspects of Home health nursing. I am currently working on a med-surg floor in a local hospital. do you guys think working in a nursing home or acute care facility as prn while holding on to current hospital job is a good idea?

Thanks