Home Health to Hospital

[Chiari-BSN]

I am a new grad BSN who has recently received his license to practice in TX and other states. I live in a large city (Houston) and it is somewhat difficult to find hospitals in the city and especially in the medical center, who accept new grads. However, I believe that I can be hired by a skilled nursing facility that does home health for pediatric clients. At first glance, this looked very attractive as I am able to select which patients I'd like to cover based on different things such as level of acuity and location.

My concern came when I spoke with a recruiter who strongly advised against going into Home Health. He said that it'd be pretty much impossible for me to get out of home health once I began as hospitals will read this as me distancing myself from my clinical experience. Does anyone know if it is, in fact, challenging to transition from home health to hospital care? I'm not so much talking about skill set but rather employment.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Agreed home health is a tough place to begin. Do not agree with the recruiter's rationale.

Home health care is a challenge. You will be the only nurse assessing the patient, you do not have the experience required to call the shots on your own.

However, you need a job. Pediatric home care will require a variety of nursing skills.. such as assessment, teaching, medication administration and interpersonal skills.

You should be able to market yourself in the future with pediatric home health experience.

Best wishes with your career, let us know how it's going.