How to get into Home Health Nursing?

AnnemRN · Jan 10, 2006

It would be better to have a little more experience under your belt but, some HH agencies will hire you with at least 1 year on the floor.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2006

You have to check with the individual agencies to see what they require. My mother had home health nurses over the summer and I got a chance to talk periodically with her home health RN. She told me it seemed like RNs were being hired on and only staying 3 months and then leaving at her agency. She, herself, had been working there for three years. She said she had oriented a lot of new RNs. HH has its moments just like floor nursing. You're only dealing with one patient and their family though. You need to have good interpersonal communication skills. There's also a lot of paperwork. At least you can grab something at a drive through window on your way to visit the next client. :chuckle

pannie · Jan 11, 2006

Having been a home health receipent for months, I've seen some wonderfully skilled nurses whom I loved. Weekends were nurses who had hospital (and on one weekend ONLY a cardiologist office) jobs. You might want to try that and see if you like home health while not making the break until you're sure. It does take a special kind of person. I've had CCU, ICU and ER nurses on weekends. They were all great EXCEPT the one who worked in the c. office. What an arrogant, self-centered person she was (is?). All would call the day before and either ask or let me know what time frame for the next day, except for her. All would ask me exactly how the regular RN did the packing/dressing EXCEPT for her. SHE WAS AN RN! (no, I didn't tell her)

I'd suggest you call home health agencies and see if you could do some fill-in work to see if it's something you'd like.