From Private Practice to Home Health....

[2ndtimetesttaker]

Hello Ladies,

I needs some advice. I have been a nurse for two years, and have gone from the hospital setting to a private practice. IVF nursing. I find I miss real clinical work and that I have put myself at a disadvantage. I would like to go into home healthcare nursing as I think it would give me an opportunity to become a good practitioner. I dont know that my clinical skills are up to par and you hospital veterans certainly know more than I do. Is this a good idea? Can I have anyones thoughts?

Thank you!!

[caliotter3]

As far as clinical skills, most people say that they find themselves losing their hospital acquired skills. Home health entails mostly routine care on stable cases in shift work and basic post hospital care on the intermittent visit side. Hope that you find it to your liking. It definitely is different and most find they enjoy it.

[annaedRN, RN]

I work with a VNA and see 5-6 patients a day. The ability to assess accurately and independently are extremely important. I do the same basic things that a nurse on a med-surg floor needs to do (IVs, ostomies, wound care, trachs/vents, feeding tubes, catheters, phlebotomy, central lines, chemo) and most importantly I have to be able to teach the patients/families how to perform/care for these things between our visits. The independence and autonomy as well as the one-on-one with the patient are the best part of the job for me. But, I don't feel I've lost any skills...it's just that I don't do all those skills in a 12 hour period. If you have your assessment and critical thinking skills down..the hands on stuff comes back to you. Be sure to have a list of skills that you need to observe then perform with whoever orients you. If it's a good agency, they'll make sure you are prepared to be independent before "cutting you loose" Good luck to you