New to HH

Published

Hello all!

I just recently became interested in home health. I'm an LPN with 3.5 years experience mostly working in LTC/rehab (heavy on the rehab) and I'm going to be starting a full time home health job soon.

I've read some of the posts already here in the home health area of allnurses, but I was wondering if anyone could give me any tips for just starting out.

I went and bought a Bluetooth headset so if I get any calls while in the car I'll be able to answer them. I also bought a weekly planner so I can jot down my visits and addresses so I can have a quick way to look them up while I'm out and about.

I'm really excited to start working in this area, very excited that I'll actually get to spend time/get to know my patients well. The last 4 months I've been floating around a LTC facility full time and it's just been driving me crazy. Can't wait to start something new.

Thanks in advance for any advice or tips anyone has.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

GPS, pulse ox, 10 second digital thermometer, do as much documentation as you can while at the home; helps you from getting behind.

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GPS, pulse ox, 10 second digital thermometer, do as much documentation as you can while at the home; helps you from getting behind.

Thank you!

I've already got all my own stuff for vitals, a few different sized cuffs, pulse ox and thermometer.

I have to see what all is involved in documentation yet, I know it's probably going to be very different than what I'm used to. But I'm thinking of definitely taking notes while in the home because I think my narratives for the day I'll probably do once I get home. That could certainly change though.

And I've already got a GPS. I'd be lost without my good friend, Tom. Haha.

Thank you for the tips!

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Don't expect to be doing a lot of narrative. Mostly documenting billable skilled service and progress towards goals. Lots of check boxes.

Every nurse from LTC/rehab is trained to document in narrative it seems. Everyone wants to say patient A&O X 3, resting comfortably.. Medicare and other insurances want to see why the patient needs HH services, what skilled service you provided and how is the patient improving i.e. wound healing progress.

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I actually found out this week that we have all the checkboxes, but there is also a narrative note included in the charting for each visit. The charting system is a lot different (I can't think of the name of it right now, but I will not be using OASIS for my visits, though we do utilize it for certain things) and will take some getting used to but it's not all that difficult to figure out.

You're right though, Libby1987, LTC is all about the narrative. The only thing I was clicking off there were meds and treatments.

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Specializes in home health, hospice, wound care.

HHC is all about the narrative too. It's where you document the skilled service you provided. Check boxes are nice but don't "paint the picture" that Medicare wants to have. I learned to copy/paste teaching guides from NIH to the notes and use those for teaching guides for patients. It cuts charting time in half and gives you consistent teaching info, especially for meds and common chronic illnesses.

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