home health aides knowing patient diagnosis

[renerian]

Need experienced home health nurses input on this situation.

I think that when a home health aide gets a new patient they should at least know the patient's diagnosis. A person at one of my home care jobs feels that the HHA does not need to know what is wrong with the patient. My response is what if the person has a diagnosis such as:

seizure disorder

H/O previous MIs

H/O CVA or TIAs

H/O falls

bleeding problem

Osteoporosis

Swallowing diagnosis

I could go on and on with I think is a "scarey" thing to not tell someone caring for a patient as each one ties to precautions of signs you might be more observing of given a person's history.

I think the HHAs need to know this................

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

renerian

[firstaiddave908]

I agree, the team caring for the patient needs to know. Thanks.

renerian

I agree with what you said.

[Cattitude]

I agree with what you said.

I know this is a zombie thread but I will say this because it's important info regarding HHA's and knowing diagnoses.

Our agency prohibits telling aides the dx. of our patient. Of course you can tell them specifics for safe care such as , "support right side while ambulating", and "no thin liquids" etc.

With the rate of HIV/AIDS/Hep B. emerging in our patient caseload, it is important that our patients not be discriminated against. It has already happened several times when accidently, the aides have learned of dx. Some quit immediately, this is just plain ignorance.

Universal prec. are for EVERYBODY. Anyone can be HIV +, not just the ones you know of.

[graysonret]

Any HHA working with me knows the diagnosis. I make sure the aide has a complete report from me as far as what is needed to properly care for the patient. This also includes the meds the patient takes, along with side effects. A properly informed aide can save you a lot of heartache later on, as well as a possible liability problem. What if the patient is an IDDM and the aide is not instructed in hypoglycemia? I've got an aide working overnight with a quad, sleep apnea patient. He is fully aware of the possible problems. It can't be any other way for proper care.

[Cattitude]

What if the patient is an IDDM and the aide is not instructed in hypoglycemia? I've got an aide working overnight with a quad, sleep apnea patient. He is fully aware of the possible problems. It can't be any other way for proper care.

Well proper care doesn't happen when an aide quits beacuse they learn that the pt. is HIV +. Do you have home care patients that are HIV+/AIDS? I do. At least 1/2 of my caseload is comprised of this dx. and that equals anywhere from 12-15 patients.

This is a very private dx. and many patients DO NOT want their HHA knowing. I'm not going to be sued or my agency sued because I told an aide that may end up staying with the pt. for only a couple of weeks.

If a pt. is diabetic, we ask the aide if they know signs of low blood sugar. Then we tell them to observe for that. See how that works? The dx. is not given out but the pertinent info is. You can ALWAYS make sure proper and safe care is given with good info to the aide. It's really not difficult at all.

[caliotter3]

I worked one case where a HHA was on at the same time with me and just like I did in LTC facilities, I shared as much knowledge as I could with the aide. Most CNAs or HHAs are very interested in learning as much as they can about their clients so that they can participate better in providing good care. It never hurts to know why you are doing something. So I don't keep anything a big secret from HHAs or CNAs. That is also insulting to their intelligence and I wouldn't do that. They deserve respect for the work that they do.

[kendel]

many years ago i was a HHA ,and usually if the agency do not tell me the diagnosis, the patient usually tell you whats going on , on their own

but I see what you are saying and you are right- knowing helps