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Discussion

Nursing Student

Hi everyone!

I am a nursing student, in an ADN program and I graduate May 2010. Home Health Nursing is one of the

areas that I'm seriously considering working in. One of my teachers was a Home Health nurse for years

and I have talked to her about it alot and I think it fits in well with my personality and my talents. I have

a couple of questions for all of you Home Health nurses out there. First of all, to work in Home Health, do I

have to get experience working in a Hospital first?? I have a friend who is an RN and she runs a Home Health

Agency in Vermont, and she seems to think that alot of agencies are loosening up on this requirement. Is

this true?? She said she would hire me, but I don't want to move to Vermont becasue my kids and grandkids are

here in Kansas City. My second question is, if you had to do it all over again, would you choose Home Health

Nursing?? Why or why not?? I would really appreciate any feedback I could get on this. I'm a little concerned

about the economy and the hiring freezes that alot of the Hospitals seem to have right now, so I'm hoping I

can find an agency that will hire me right out of school. Maybe I'm dreaming, I don't know.

Featured Replies

In answer to your first question, The agency that I work for does not hire new grads. They want 1 yr expierence in the hospital.

Your second question.. I would not go back to a hospital. I love homecare!

  • Author

Thanks so much for your comment!

This is a very common question for new nurses considering HH and basically it boils down to you need to be competent in assessment, critical thinking, teaching as well as hands on skills. It is difficult for a new nurse to be independent and confident going to a patient's home and being there alone for all the judgment calls when you do not have experience to fall back on. Occasionally HH agencies will orient a new nurse, but just be sure that it is a very THOROUGH orientation...becuase it is ultimately your hard-earned license at stake. That being said...HH is WONDERFUL! I feel I actually get to be a nurse...not just a pill pusher, or being pulled to 6 different patients at once. I love the independence, flexibility and autonomy. It may not be your first choice to go to a hospital initially, but the experience will give you a solid foundation to then come join the HH ranks!! Good luck to ya!

  • Author

You have made some really good points and they are all things that have already been going through my mind. I guess I'm just worried about not being able to find a job when I get out next May, so I'm just trying to plan ahead. I live in Kansas City, and I can already see the new grad jobs dwindling. The community college that I am attending graduates roughly 60 nurses a semester, so that's 180 new nurses pounding the pavement with me, most wanting jobs at hospitals in the area. It's a scary time in our economy and I just pray that I can find a job in this area and ultimately with Home Health. Thanks so much!

  • Expert

Most agencies require from one to two years acute care experience, but there are some that will hire new grads. It is possible to work in hh as a new grad, but the amount of orientation and support needed is great and most agencies will not provide this. As for hh, I say it is the best kept secret in nursing and wouldn't trade it for the world.

I think back to when I graduated, and boy did I think that I knew it all! HA!!! I even interened in SICU, so I could do EVERYTHING! HA HA!!! Reminds me of my teenagers. I knew NOTHING!! I knew just what I needed to know to pass the NYCLEX, and that was it. THe past 10 years have taught me all the things that the books didn't, and won't. So, 1st question, you'd be doing yourself and your patients a BIG dis-service if you didn't have that year under your belt.

Second question, I literally "fell" into Home Health. BUT, I LOVE IT!!! LOVE IT, LOVE IT!

If you are scared about finding a job, you might want to become a CNA, and work a weekend or two while you go to school. Show the hospital you are a great employee, and then you will be first on the list to get a job. Even volunteer (candy striper) should get you a leg up. Plus, once the nurses find out that you too will soon be a nurse, they will take you under their wings, and want to show you all the crazy stuff they can.

Good luck!

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