Critical moments in home health nursing

Specialties Home Health

Published

I have about 9 months experience on a cardiac unit. I have always been intrigued by home health nursing and I have an interview for a home health position next week (they only require 6 mos acute care experience)...but I am wondering something.

Are there moments in home health that are just as stressful and critical as the floor? What are some of the BIG decisions you have to make in HH? I am one of those new nurse types who likes to ask other nurses questions all the time. Maybe home health would be a scary option for me to pursue? I know HH is a very autonomous role.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

For the past 6 months I have been doing HH. I have not found it to be stressful at all. I'm sure there are HH visits that could turn into stressful visits but so far I've been blessed. My very worse day in HH was still way way better than my best day in the hospital. I eat when I want to, I pee when I want to, I run errands when I want to, I schedule my patients as I want to. Paperwork, even doing it watching TV, can be a hassle to keep up with. That's my stress with HH. If you have a code situation in the home you do CPR and call 911.

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Specializes in Too many to list.

I think you would enjoy it, cjblu. I did it for 5 years or so. I did not find it stressful except in cases of going into areas where I might be concerned for my personal safety (became very street savvy). The rewards of helping people stay in their homes was worth it. With your current background, you will be fine. If it calls to you, go for it. Your CCU experience will help you enormously.

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I sympathize, I have been out of nursing for 10 years, came back to the hospital (medical-oncology) for 6 months and am now going into HH because I could not take the 12 hour shifts or the stress. I too am one who is constantly asking questions so I am concerned as well. It helps to hear that we will be ok. Everyone where I will be working all seem so nice (and helpful) so that will help too.

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I sure must be working with the wrong HH agency. This past week has been nothing but a nightmare. Had a patient discharged from the hospital with orders to draw his labs every morning and rush them to the hospital far far away because the local hospital wouldn't take his insurance.

PICC line clogged up (can get fluids in but nothing out) so now his caregiver assumes it is my fault and I don't know what I'm doing.

I'm about ready to quit over it.

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