new to HH, advice?

[running_nurse]

Hi all!

I am an RN/BSN with 4 years of clinical experience (3 years Peds ICU, 1 year adult PACU) and I have just taken a position as a clinical supervisor. The job is 50/50 office/home visits, kind of sounded like a "case management" sort of job, making sure the patients care with that particular home health employee is up to speed. I have never been out of the hospital setting and am excited for a different type of work. Anyone with advice? Anyone with this type of particular experience? It would be much appreciated, thanks!

[caliotter3]

I would suggest that you make sure that you make your phone contacts with the patients before you go out for your home visits. Worked with a supervisor who had a bad habit of "dropping in". Not appreciated by the patient/family. Sounds like this should be a basic, but have also encountered failure to touch base elsewhere. Realize, also, that there are some patients/nurses/families that may actively avoid your visits, so I would advise you to schedule your visits with plenty of time left before the end of the certification period. That way, you won't be caught short when your visit isn't made in time.

Also advise you to try to develop a working relationship with the nurses on the cases and actively seek their input. Most prefer to work with supervisors that show interest in the case and are not just making a visit (for ten minutes) to get the paperwork done.

One of our supervisors developed an excellent inservice program where she also took the time to do impromptu case conferences. Whether done with other activities or done separately, I highly suggest mandatory case conferences. This forces the nurses to get involved. Conferences should be held at the office so that people can speak freely without the patient/family being present. Good way to address problems and also to evaluate the nurses. When nurses can't be present for these meetings, they can fill out a form with input. Don't accept "nothing to report" as sufficient. Make these people speak to the patient's progress and any possible problems or suggestions. This is another evaluation tool that can be used for the field staff. Helps prevent nurses from parking on a case and contributing little. HTH