Home Health Pros and Cons

sbostonRN · Oct 6, 2013

As a new grad, you may struggle a lot in home health. You're expected to practice pretty much independently, though there is someone available to help out should you need it. It's a lot easier once you work for a few years as a nurse and develop a solid base of skills and critical thinking.

bargraphix · Oct 6, 2013

As a new grad, you may struggle a lot in home health. You're expected to practice pretty much independently, though there is someone available to help out should you need it. It's a lot easier once you work for a few years as a nurse and develop a solid base of skills and critical thinking.

That is actually my main concern that if I have any questions it would be hard to figure out what I should do since I wouldn't have another co-worker down the hall to ask.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2013

I have been in home health for a year and a half and I do NOT think it is the place for a new grad. You need to function independently and you need a solid nursing background. There is no second set of eyes like there is in other environments. You're it.

MauraRN · Oct 7, 2013

Home care is not really a good fit for a new grad. You have to know the meds inside and out, s/e, contraindications. You need to be able to do an assessment of patient and be confident in your findings. That only comes with some experience. Then you will be socked with the unending documentation for OASIS which is incredibly confusing for a new grad.

I know how tempting it is to take any job in this market, but for your own sake and sanity, try for a SNF if you aren't getting anywhere with the hospitals. You will get good med and assessment skills fairly quickly without being tossed out there on your own.

bargraphix · Oct 7, 2013

Update: this is the weirdest job I have heard of.

I went for an interview even though I was pretty sure I wasn't going to take the job. They told me what this job is. They said that I would be going to people's houses and doing a "No-Hands-on assessment". Meaning I would not touch the patient. I would have to ask a lot of questions and observation. But NO touching the patient. They are hired by insurance companies to (I think) assess what services theses people need.

I didn't become a nurse to not touch patients. And how can you do a good assessment without touching the patient??

conscientiousnurse · Oct 7, 2013

You said it was at a home health care company. Can you be more specific: are you talking about private-duty homecare, where you care for 1 person for an entire shift in their home, or are you talking of make home health visits, like a visiting nurse? Those are entirely different types of nursing. If it's private-duty home health, and if they do orientations for every patient and also have a good support system for you, it may be entirely appropriate for a new grad. Since private-duty only gives you 1 patient at a time, you can do your homework on all their diagnoses and meds/treatments and can often "bounce off" your thoughts on the next shift's home care nurse, or the patient's family members if present (They know the patient best, and are often a great resource). (You could also call your supervisor in the office, or the patient's M.D. Worst case: there's always 911, if you think it's an emergent situation. 911 can assess the patient and let you know whether they think they need hospitalization). Since patients in private-duty care are usually quite stable, I don't see it being a big problem to have a new grad, as long as you have fairly good assessment skills and good support.

conscientiousnurse · Oct 7, 2013

Oops, I just saw your latest post, so most of the post I just made is irrelevant. The job you interviewed for sounds like the insurance company wants you to do an assessment by asking the patient and/or family member questions. They may be assessing patient's functional abilities and cognitive abilities, for instance. Well, it is a job, and could be a way to get into another job working at an insurance company as a case manager, for instance. And you may be using critical thinking skills to figure out what type of help the person would need in their home.

fireball78 · Oct 8, 2013

Update: this is the weirdest job I have heard of.
I went for an interview even though I was pretty sure I wasn't going to take the job. They told me what this job is. They said that I would be going to people's houses and doing a "No-Hands-on assessment". Meaning I would not touch the patient. I would have to ask a lot of questions and observation. But NO touching the patient. They are hired by insurance companies to (I think) assess what services theses people need.
I didn't become a nurse to not touch patients. And how can you do a good assessment without touching the patient??

I have actually heard of this before. I did a required interview while in nursing school at a local county agency on aging. The nurse I spoke with was a director for the agency, and she would go into the home (after receiving a referral) and assess what services a person might need/be eligible for based on a question inventory. Yeah, it's weird, but at the same time you would be able to recognize medical needs that a social worker might not be able to pick up on. Almost like case management....

catrn4 · Oct 8, 2013

I agree with the other posts- I would definitely seek some med surg. experience first, since you are the only eyes seeing that patient and helping the provider determine the best course of treatment. Having said that, when I left the hospital for a home health job, I thought I'd lose all of my skills. Instead of losing my skills, many became sharper- definitely assessment and wound care, med teaching, etc. I am currently in school for my master's- graduating in May as FNP. I can honestly say that much of my home health experience prepared me for the primary care role better than my hospital experience.

As for the insurance company job- make sure you know what your long term goals are- if you desire more of a clinical focus- this job probably won't be your best bet. If you're thinking office/ administrative, it may be beneficial. Good luck!