Is home health nursing considered safe? A little nervous....

[x28y31]

Hi everyone! I am considering applying to Peds Home Health, but was just wondering if home health is generally safe for nurses? I am a small gal and am pretty apprehensive and cautious about strange environments (I grew up in a really bad neighborhood and have very traumatic memories)....so going into a stranger's house makes me a little nervous. Granted taking care of the kiddos is something I'd love to do, but just wanted some input from all the home health RNs out there :) Thanks in advance!

[danarooo, BSN, RN]

I love it. I've been in some pretty bad neighborhoods but haven't been messed with because the neighbors know I'm the nurse and who I'm there to see. Just be smart about where you are and you should be fine. It's is an extremely bad area your agency should provide you with an escort/security and in that case you can also say no. The great thing about home health is that it's so different from patient to patient and in my area NEVER boring. Last week I had to jump a chain length fence (in 105 heat mind you) to get to a little old lady w/dementia because she lost the key to the padlock on the fence surrounding her home. I've done care on front porches and in garages. It really makes you resourceful and adaptive and you can make more money then being in a hospital where your stuck for hours on end and overloaded with too many patients to give safe care.

I look at it as an adventure, in some other cities/towns it may be better or worse but I'm in a beautiful southern city with both good and bad areas and it's been pretty fun so far for me. :)

[AMSnurse]

If you work for a reputable agency and apply some common sense and good judgment it is perfectly fine for both nurses and patients.

[tokidokifantasy]

When in doubt, just ask for help from your supervisor. I was assigned a case to admit a patient at his home, and to find out next day that he has moved. He did not notify agency or me up until the very last minute when I was about to go see him at his house. That didn't sound safe for me. So i just asked for help and was able to get someone to accompany me to this new place. I know in general people are nice, but you have to protect yourself and question how safe it is for you. Safety safety always comes first for me, no matter if it's for me or for my patients.