Incontinence in Home Health Care

[meaganh22]

Hello!

I am an LVN working on an inpatient medsurg/tele floor. I am curious about working home health. My biggest concern is hurting myself while cleaning patients by myself.

How do those of you who have worked home health do it? Do companies have equipment to help that I could operate by myself?

What advice do y'all have?

[Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

??? My advice is to find another career.

Wow.

[meaganh22]

To clarify, I have absolutely zero problems with cleaning patients. I am just thinking about some patients who can’t help roll or hold themselves on their side and they’re heavier people. In the hospital I get my CNA or another nurse to help. In home health I’ll be by myself and I can’t Imagine cleaning some patients by myself.

[caliotter3]

You do the best you can. If you find it impossible, you just have to find another case. Many a time I have strained my back moving a patient that was just too heavy. Sooner or later, I ended up leaving, either to a new case or one of those “missing” paycheck periods. The employing agency will be quite happy to replace you if they can find someone.

[amoLucia]

Assuming that this post is for real and just NOT a snookering one -

To OP, there was a recent post here asking how to turn pts alone. And I'm sure Youtube has numerous clips also.

Yes, in homecare, you are most usually,by yourself. You need to rely on your practice of good body mechanics. There are devices out there such as turning pads, wedges and hoyer lifts. Some pts may have them, some MAY NOT. There may be families present who assist, or there MAY NOT be any help.

But as PP commented, the task may be too much regardless. At that point, you may just have to find another case. And in the long range scheme of things, you may have to determine if homecare is the correct specialty for you.

Homecare requires its staff to be strongly independent, and that goes beyond just physical tasks. It takes a strong knowledge of diseases processes to differentiate normal versus abnormal signs & symptoms. There's no other nurse or CNA nearby for quick consultation or discussion.

[nurseklm]

I worked with a quadriplegic patient for 9 months until I had to change assignments due to back strain. Bathing, cleaning, turning and pulling him up in bed took its toll on me. He weighed 179 pounds. I’m 52 and healthy but I didn’t want to risk a serious back injury.

[LeChien, BSN, RN]

I saw nobody replied to you yet.

Are you referring to home healthcare visits? Or private duty (shift work)?

[Suzanne lemmon]

Yes you are provided equipment to transfer patient and taught techniques to assist in turning your pt to clean them

[josie9toes, BSN]

Good questions for an interview. My first peds agency had a 35lb lifting limit. Anything over that, the parents had to transfer, or we used a hoyer. In home health, you can end up using a hoyer solo. If a client is very large, personal care can consist of lifting them with a specialized sling, cleaning them, fixing their bed or chair, and putting them back down. Know the lifting policy, and refuse to budge.