New LVN to Home Health

caliotter3 · Feb 2, 2011

You can find lots of input in the home health forum.

Trina22 · Feb 2, 2011

Thank you, I did find a lot about what skills I will need to refresh on but can anyone tell me what their training process was like? Do they go over skills? Thanks so much, I really appreciate it!

CloudySue · Feb 5, 2011

I've worked with two agencies. One, who will be nameless, just asked, "Can you do this?" and if I said yes they just took my word for it and threw me in. They actually threw me in cold on a vent case, saying my short experience in nursing school was enough, and "the orientating nurse can go over it with you" when I was there for a three hour orientation. The more I learned about vents the more I realized what a dangerous situation I was in. I went to another agency, Bayada, and they gave me a huge book to read and review before giving me a big test and then had to demonstrate my skills on a dummy in a little clinical laboratory. I was so appreciative that they took the time to be sure I knew the skills which I'd be doing in the field. Incidentally, they were horrified that the other agency threw me in on a vent like that, it's their policy to give hours and hours of instructional time and clinical orientation before putting someone on a vent case, and that's only after they've been with the company for up to a year. If a company isn't even going to bother to acertain what skills you know, they're not going to support you if you make a mistake. Protect your license.

Trina22 · Feb 5, 2011

Yeah I have worked for a few different home health agencies that were pediatric long term care. Its so important to choose a good one that will train properly. I am pretty comfortable with vents, trachs, and G-tubes. It is the more acute skills I have lost from only doing long term care. I have been reviewing my nursing books and looking at you tube videos to refresh my memory but I know I will just have toget out there to be comfotable again. The company I got hired with said I will have a 5 day orientation/training. Does that seem normal for home health? I thought it would be more like 2 weeks? I start this Monday and Im so nervous. Thanks!

KateRN1 · Feb 6, 2011

I'm assuming that you will be doing Medicare skilled nursing visits. A lot of what you will be doing in home care is educating the patient and family to care for themselves. Medicare home health benefit differs from the long-term peds cases you may be used to in that it is inteded to be of short duration, just until the patient or caregiver is independent. Long gone are the days when patients were on service for years at a time with a home health aide three days per week.

Much of what you should be doing is teaching on disease process, medication, wound cares, and labs. Make sure that you are familiar with what is on the 485 plan of care as that is your treatment plan. Brush up on documentation skills to make sure that your visits meet Medicare criteria.

Five days is a pretty short orientation IMHO, but may be okay for a seasoned LVN. Make sure that you have an identified resource person you can go to for questions.

Congrats on the new job and good luck!

Trina22 · Feb 8, 2011

Thanks so much KateRN1! Yes, it is mostly medicare visits but also private insurance as well. I had my first day of orientation to day and boy was it a long day! A lot of videos to watch! I wont be going out into the field with a preceptor until later this week and I think maybe next week as well. I can tell that documentation is very big in home health. I just hope I can pick it up quickly and hoping they will go over some skills like wound care and labs. Especially labs, I have never had to do it so kinda nervous about that!

Thanks again!