New to Home Infusion---Any Advice/Input?

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Hello...I will be starting with a regional home infusion company in two weeks, and I would love to hear of everyone else's experience in the field. I am a new nurse (8 months), and they are willing to train me. I have been interested in IV therapy since nursing school, and hospital work is positively destroying me right now...I am also doing as much self-study as I can. Any suggestions, tips, insights, etc., would be terrific. The pay is decent, as is the mileage reimbusement, benefits, etc. And it's 8-5!!! (Oh yeah, with on-call every other weekend. But you know what? I hardly ever get out on time now; it's as if I am working 12 hour shifts with all the damn charting we have after taking care of 5-7 VERY SICK patients :bluecry1:). Recommend reading, suggest ways of preparing, tell me I'm crazy, etc.,---whatever you have to say, I want to hear it. Thanks---and I look forward to your answers! :redpinkhe

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

OK here is some advice and a bit about me. I have been practicing IV Therapy for 21 years of my 27 year career. I work on an IV/PICC team for 30 hrs per week and at least 10 per week for a home infusion company.

I will suggest some references,but you will find that most IV books only will have a chapter specifically related to home infusion,but they all still wonderful resources b/c the standard of care is the essentially the same. The one main difference,in a lot of cases,is that the patient or caregiver will be doing the monitoring and reporting any complications to the HCWs.

In home infusion you will be doing a lot of teaching as,most therapies can safely be given by the patients and caregivers. These are some of the therapies you will see.......TPN and Lipids (usually in a 3 to 1), all classes of antibiotics,IVIG,PICC and CVC care,Port care and monthly access,hydration fluids,SQ instruct on a variety of drugs,Remicade,Chemotherapy and other biologics. You also need to be good at peripheral IV cannulation.

I would purchase the IV book by Sharon Weinstein 2008 IV therapy Clinical practices and procedures. I would definately,not be without Intravenous Medications By Betty Gahart. This will list all current IV medications and by far is the best Intravenous medication book around.

You may also want to review some basic teaching principles as this is a large part of home infusion. Documentation is also very important in Home Infusion and the Weinstein book will help you with that. Also take the time to read the companies policies and procedures. Hope this is a good start for you and good for you for wanting to prepare. Any other questions feel free to ask;).

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Thanks so much! I already have quite a collection of books and materials (including Weinstein, and the one the new company uses, by Lynn Dianne Phillips); I am trying to learn as much on my own as I can before the new job starts. I have also been a teacher (and I currently tutor at my nursing school), so I am hoping that experience will translate well into the new job. IV just fascinates me! I only wish I had more time to learn. Really, I appreciate all your input and information. It's just what I needed! Enjoy your day, wherever you are! :redbeathe

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Brainyheart...you are welcome....keep us posted how your new job goes.

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