Home Visit Assignment?

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In my Health Assessment class, we have a community assignment to do. We have to make a home visit and do an assessment (all we have to do is ask questions, read body language, etc. NOT a physical assessment). I was wondering if anyone else has had to do this? It just makes me nervous- the idea of going to a mostly complete stranger's home. They recommend against using friends or family due to the personal questions you have to ask.

I guess I just want to know if anyone has ever had to do this and if you have any advice for the nerves!

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Specializes in Acute Rehab, Neuro/Trauma, Dialysis.

I had to do a home assignment for my adult health class (med/surg). What we were instructed to do was we were each given a home health nurse and we assisted them for a dday with all their patients. We were then partnered with someone else in the class and we were sent out to revisit one of the patients the next week and we completed a home safety check and to did a "brown bag" documentation, this is when we collect all of their meds, ask them how they take them, how much they take, when, who refills them... ect, and then we look up each of the meds to see if any of them are contraindicated with each other, and we make sure they are taking them at the right time, does, and amount. Its tedious but it was interesting to see another aspect of nursing that you do not commonly get to see in nursing school. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
In my Health Assessment class, we have a community assignment to do. We have to make a home visit and do an assessment (all we have to do is ask questions, read body language, etc. NOT a physical assessment). I was wondering if anyone else has had to do this? It just makes me nervous- the idea of going to a mostly complete stranger's home. They recommend against using friends or family due to the personal questions you have to ask.

I guess I just want to know if anyone has ever had to do this and if you have any advice for the nerves!

they want you to get out of your comfort zone and learn how to discus these things with a complete stranger as you will as a nurse. Your non verbal communication from your patient is as important, if not more important, than what they say to you. Try a neighbor.....remind them that the information is completely confidential and only initials will be used..no identifier.
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