New to Home Health.... many ?'s

annaedRN, RN · Dec 29, 2007

Hello. Welcome to HH...I know you'll love it. The thing to remember that even though you are by yourself, you're not by yourself- meaning that managers, other nurse/coworkers are only a call away. Just use your gut instincts. Whoever you orient with should give you help with preparing your bag and as you follow them on visits you'll decide what you want/need/like for yourself personally. Besides the basic stuff for vitals - I carry a pulse oximeter, tape measure( for wounds), alcohol pads, basic wound supplies such as saline, nugauze, 4x4s, ABDs,Duoderms,etc, then also foley supplies,phlebotomy supplies, basic IV supplies - I keep some in my bag and some in a plastic storage container I keep in my car. You'll get the feel of what the "basics" are that you see over and over and keep a few of them on hand. We use computers for charting so I make sure I also have a "pen and paper" list of coworkers and doctors #s that I can easily grab when I am on the go. I always have post-it notes to make myself lists for follow-up calls or needed supplies to order for patients. I guess I could go on and on, but I'll stop for now! Good luck to you!

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Dec 30, 2007

Wish you the best ! :balloons:

The poster above pretty much summed it up. I keep extras of EVERYTHING in the plastic containers in the back of my car. And always keep extra labdraw vials, too. You may need to do a lab at a patient's house if something is out of the ordinary and you call the doc while there.

I also keep extra OASIS forms. I'd rather be prepared than have to go back to the office and mess up my "route" and time schedule.

A PDA is VERY handy in the HH field. I would not be without mine. You can have all your "books" and various helpful programs downloaded on one little PDA, instead of schlepping a half dozen more books with you all the time if you need to look something up.

Hope you enjoy ! Keep us posted on how things are working out for you. :)

rehabhereIcome · Dec 31, 2007

I have never used a PDA for medical reference..can you give me a little tutorial or overview of how you use it in your practice. I am a shift home care nurse and have never needed a PDA. THough I hope to venture into visiting nursing soon I would love some insights on the use of PDA's thanks so much!! Any links would be great.

Theresa

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jan 1, 2008

There are all sorts of great nursing programs to download.. you pick and choose the ones you want. If you find something useful for HH, get it! You won't regret it. :)

Try browsing the PDA forum here and for a lot of good info :

https://allnurses.com/forums/f234/

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2008

Bandage scizzors are something I keep forgetting to buy. My employer does not supply them. I never have them when I need them. I also like to keep a staple remover and suture removal kit in addition to the other supplies mentioned by previous posters. As a visit/per diem RN, sometimes the case managers don't fully communicate the plan of care forthat visit. I keep extra admission packs too. But the one thing I NEVER leave without is my GPS navigator. It gives me peace of mind to not have to worry about missing turns and getting lost in rural areas.

Welcome to HH!!

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jan 2, 2008

Hi there,
Will be starting in Home Health in January and have some questions:
1.) I know the company will give me supplies, but what are some things you do not leave your house without?
2.) Any books you recommend I get?
3.) Any advice, in general, for someone just starting out?
Many, many thanks... I am so excited to start this new career path!
-M

Notepad, pens, compass, map, GPS if you'll be in rural areas, watch, cellphone, cell phone charger coins for soda machines, important phone numbers, full tank of gas, jumper cables or instant battery charger, AAA membership, instant hand sanitizer. That's all I can think of off the top of my hat. You'll love HH. It's nursing best kept secret IMHO.

Lessordinary · Jan 5, 2008

First, accept that you will be "lost" figuratively and literally for at least 6 months. It doesn't mean you are doing a bad job, you are simply entering a new world.

Second, I have worked in home health for 12 years. I started as a field nurse and now work in an administrative position where I cover half of a state and give guidance to educators and preceptors on how to educate new staff. I still have the opportunity to train staff personally. I love this most!

My best advice is as above on supplies. I also recommend having someone show you where all the paperwork is located in the office and what you use each piece of paper for. If you are using computerized documentation, expect a greater learning curve than with paper. (My agency does both and I see frustration in the computerized offices)

When making visits: Get your schedule the day before. That night, review all patients. Decide who you will see first and call at least 2 of them to be sure you can get an early start. Plan your stop by the office so that it located as close to a patient as you can get. You want to avoid running back and forth across town. Have a note for each patient on your clipboard and CHART AS YOU GO! In all my years, nurses who chart as they go are the happiest and have the greatest longevity. This is harder with OASIS visits but can be done with experience.

And most of all: Do NOT let them overwhelm you with too many visits too soon.

Good luck!

caliotter3 · Apr 23, 2008

Just curious. Did you start your home health job? If so, how are you doing?

Jafifjafur · Apr 24, 2008

Hello there! I am fairly new to the Home Health field, as I am in the software side of things. So far I've only focused on the scheduling and billing side of things, but I'm also interested to see what people think of this industry overall. Is this a good field to be in?

NurseRoRo · May 24, 2008

I bought a plastic fishing lure box at Walmart to keep my lab vials and labels in. It's not really a tacklebox but it has compartments in it that keep my vials separate, and also a spot for my alchohol swabs and cotton balls. (Imagine a compartmentalized box to keep beads in but slightly different). The box fits nicely in my rolling tote bag so I always have lab stuff if I need to do labs.

I have a basket in my trunk that I keep my everyday items in so I know I need to order more if I get to the last box of something. Everyday items to me means: box of thermometer covers, stack of measuring tapes, packages of butterflies, alchohols wabs, bottles of hand sanitizer.

dm1967 · Jun 3, 2008

I am new to home care too. I have been doing direct care in the home. I have a brief history at a pediatric hospital on the night shift. I graduated in 2007 with an associates degree RN with a previous 4 year degree in something else. (older than average student:) )

I think I'd like to explore this career path and see where it takes me. I am wondering if there is any advice to transition from the direct care RN to the visiting RN. I think the compensation would increase. I am happy for now, but I am looking out to the next year.

Thanks