Home Care Etiquette

caliotter3 · Jan 5, 2009

Make certain to inform her of any house rules, e.g. no street shoes in the home, door unlocked-please don't ring doorbell, call when you are on your way, etc. on her first visit so there are no misunderstandings. Do not offer a meal. Home care nurses are instructed not to accept food or other gratuities. Just give her any info you think she may need to do her job and she will let you know what her expectations are. Open communication between all involved will make for a productive visit.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Jan 5, 2009

It is nice to offer the nurse a drink that is all.

Proper etiquette, is to give her correct directions, have your front door light on so she can read the number of the house.

The nurse should be calling with a time and your dad should be ready for the visit ( gone to the bathroom, in the proper clothes and not be eating a meal).

It would be nice to have the equipment all in the same place. Also the first visit is a nursing assessment which needs a current medication list.

Hope it goes well and it is thoughtful for you to ask.

PS. You are the daughter not the nurse during this visit.

Zaladreyn · Jan 5, 2009

Correct, I'm the daughter.

I've got a weird quirk where I feed people. I bake all the time, and cook like a fiend, so I'm always offering people food. It just makes me happy to fill someone's stomach and make them smile when something tastes good.

He's still in the hospital right now, so I have no idea as to what equipment and medication he'll be on, so I can't have that ready yet.

I start school this week (nursing intent, yay!) so its going to be very hard having things ready for the nurse, and my father as well, but we'll make it work.

annaedRN, RN · Jan 5, 2009

Agree with the above posters. But, to add to it..we usually teach the family to manage the IV if there is anyone available to learn. We teach them to flush the lines with proper technique, we teach how to prepare the pump (sometimes there is a small handheld device that requires nothing more than attaching to the IV) and the medication. Often we teach and demonstrate the first visit and the second visit we have the family demonstrate. Then we follow up and monitor weekly ( usually change the IV dressings then) If it is a peripheral IV (hand or wrist) then we come every 3 days or if there is a problem. OFten the hospital says the home health nurse will come to do the IVs....while that is true, keep in mind if there is an able family member/friend - they are usually the one who helps provide the daily care/treatments. The nurse won't let you alone until you are 100% independent...trust me, we teach families all the time to do IVs. Feel free to ask any questions! And - while offers of food and drink are appreciated they are definitely not needed or expected.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jan 6, 2009

Agree with the above posters. But, to add to it..we usually teach the family to manage the IV if there is anyone available to learn. We teach them to flush the lines with proper technique, we teach how to prepare the pump (sometimes there is a small handheld device that requires nothing more than attaching to the IV) and the medication. Often we teach and demonstrate the first visit and the second visit we have the family demonstrate. Then we follow up and monitor weekly ( usually change the IV dressings then) If it is a peripheral IV (hand or wrist) then we come every 3 days or if there is a problem. OFten the hospital says the home health nurse will come to do the IVs....while that is true, keep in mind if there is an able family member/friend - they are usually the one who helps provide the daily care/treatments. The nurse won't let you alone until you are 100% independent...trust me, we teach families all the time to do IVs. Feel free to ask any questions! And - while offers of food and drink are appreciated they are definitely not needed or expected.

:w00t:

Well said.. I agree with all the above ! :up:

And yes... our patients are always filling our pockets with home made/baked goodies, and we never refuse. We know that our patients and their families truly want us to have these tokens of gratitude. Our agency does not consider these as "gifts" or "gratuities", but merely tokens of appreciation, and for nurses on the road all day, they are always a welcome treat ! But a meal is a different story.. while appreciated, the nurse has many more patients to visit yet and there are too few hours in the day.

Do be prepared to learn.. this is the major role of the home health nurse.. to teach the familiy member/caregiver to perform the care... and for the patient and family member to be comfortable with it. Don't worry... he/she will NOT let you assume responsibility until he/she is certain that you are fully capable and comfortable.

You'll do fine, and we wish you and your father the best. :nurse:

ididitrn · Jan 7, 2009

It is nice to offer the nurse a drink that is all.
Proper etiquette, is to give her correct directions, have your front door light on so she can read the number of the house.
The nurse should be calling with a time and your dad should be ready for the visit ( gone to the bathroom, in the proper clothes and not be eating a meal).
It would be nice to have the equipment all in the same place. Also the first visit is a nursing assessment which needs a current medication list.
Hope it goes well and it is thoughtful for you to ask.
PS. You are the daughter not the nurse during this visit.

I second what Alexk49 says. I would like to add to that, please turn the TV off, or at least turn it down. It's can be really distracting for both the patient and the nurse when you're trying to do your assessment or do teaching.