First time doing home visit ; New Grad LVN

[jlmanzano13]

I am a new LVN, but working in the home health field for 9 years in the office coding, developing plan of treatments, auditing charts, staffing, etc... I finally got the opportunity to do a visit with one of the RN's. Patient needed a Coumadin check and straight catheter for UA C&S. I observed the whole process which was quite a good learning experience. In a way, I hoped she would have asked me to try and do it myself while she guided me. I know I have to take into consideration the patient as it may make the patient feel uncomfortable.

She did offer the patient that "maybe she can do it the next time", but the patient said no, unfortunately.

I am a fast learner, and if I were given a patient I would know what to do. I want to ask my boss to give me a patient or so on the side, I feel this is the only way I'll be able to do it on my own, because going with another nurse to see his or her patient just might not do it, like what I said, the patient might feel uncomfortable especially if aware I'm simply "practicing".

Anyone ever simply observe a procedure and did it on their own? (home health visit)

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Depends on what your state you are in. Medicare rules & CA regulations require that nurses have a minimum of a year clinical experience before working in home health/skilled visits. Since you are a new grad you may not be eligible for more than directly supervised tag-a-long visits like you did. Something to consider before asking your boss

[jlmanzano13]

thanks for the information, so the next question is, are there any nurses out there who went straight into home health, despite the 1 year minimum clinical experience?

[caliotter3]

I went straight into hh. Nobody said anything about that one year of experience until down the road and by that time, I had well over a year of experience. In my situation, I got the impression that agency personnel only bring up the one year requirement when they want an excuse. If I were you, I would take them up on as much tag-along as you can get. There will come a time when the RN will allow you to start doing procedures and you won't even realize that you have started the transition.

[jlmanzano13]

Thank you, it makes me feel much better, I am scheduled to see 2-3 other patients, wound care, insulin, colostomy... and will schedule more (trying not to overwhelm myself). I have nurses here who are ok with me tagging along to observe the home health procedure, I also just spoke to another nurse who said she went straight to home health, she started as a CHHA then transitioned to LVN. She started of with wound care, and diabetic patients. She did 1-2 supervised visits then was on her own. I guess it depends on the nurse, and who you know. I've been established with this agency for a long time. Like the other nurse I mentioned; she has been working as a CHHA for several agencies and has established her reputation with them. But I do have to say, you have to have really good assessment skills.