Do you visit a patent without knowing anything about the patient's condition?

[50kn]

i had an interview with this home health company a couple of months ago but i haven't been given any orientation so far.

they suddenly called today and asked me if i could do home safety assessment for the patient who was just discharged from a hospital. i said yes. i asked the company what i should do to complete the home safety assessment. then they sent me a 2 pages initial assessment form (include adls, medical history, environmental hazard check list), patient's name, address and phone number by e-mail.

i contacted the patient to schedule a visit. i asked the patient what was the reason for the hospitalization. the patient said that she can tell me about it when we meet.

i don't know if the patient has a wound or ivs or physician's order or something else. the home health company does not have any information for the patient either.

is it normal for home health nurses to make a first visit to a patient without knowing anything about a patient's condition?

and more question,,,

how does the initial assessment (my company called it home safety assessment) work? who writes an order for home health?

because there is no orientation, i am a little bit confused.

[caliotter3]

For the life of me I don't see how they expect you to do a start of care visit without the information that you need. I highly doubt that you are being sent there to do nothing more than a home safety assessment. I would call them up and put my foot down if I were you. If they want you to do a SOC, then they need to say so, and do something about that fact.

[Susan317]

They are not calling it a Start of Care visit,this is just a nursing assessment to see if the patient qualifies for Home Care. You can put all the pieces together when you get there. The agency will then contact the MD if there is a skilled need. You do not perform any treatments this visit,just assess.

[50kn]

thank you caliotter3 and susan317 for the information!!!

now i understand that home safety assessment should include physical assessment (temp, bp, lung sound etc.), adls assessment, environmental assessment, medical history, etc. (kind of comprehensive). i was frustrated the fact that when i contacted the patient, the patient was totally unexpected a home nurse visit and asked me why i needed to be visiting her. so i did not want to do anything unnecessary for the patient. also this is my first time to conduct home safety assessment. now i am clear about how home safety assessment works thanks to you.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Your employer needs to communicate clearly, especially since you've had no orientation.

you better learn to dig information out of them, remind them that this is your maiden voyage.