Personal safety and home health nursing

[Paleobug]

Hi, I haven't posted on this site for a while. I've been a med/surg nurse for 4 years in a hospital. I've always been interested in doing home health. I wouldn't mind the driving or the paperwork involved. The working climate at my hospital has become increasingly hostile do to managment coming down on the nurses because of the hospitals' HCAP scores. I've been offered offered a job as a home health RN working weekends fulltime on call. It seems that it would be less stressful than working on a med/surg. My concern is that I am a little leary going into peoples' homes and not knowing if there could be potential danger from someone living there. I have heard a few stories from talking to other nurses that it can happen but generally doesn't happen. Thanks for any feedback.

[caliotter3]

Always a possibility. If it concerns you, ask for orientation about personal safety while on the job. Do some research in this forum to find out some of the steps others have taken to insure personal safety. Best thing is to be prudent and remember to watch out for yourself because you can not count on the employer to watch out for you.

[Paleobug]

Thanks caliotter3. I did happen to ask about personal safety during the initial interview and the manager said that she fully understands my concern. She said to just leave if I don't feel safe and to get ask for a police escort if I need to. She did also say that she felt threatened once during her nine years doing home health and she left the situation before anything bad happened to her. Other than that, she said she enjoyed doing home health vs working in a hospital.

[caliotter3]

Yes, problems with personal safety are the exception and not the rule. You might want to be selective about the kinds of neighborhoods you are willing to visit, especially at night. Like she suggested, get an escort if you have to go to a bad neighborhood at night. Where I live, the agencies don't provide escorts and the police usually don't help. There are always things you can do to help yourself. One, is to postpone a visit until the daytime hours if it is not urgent. Make sure your car always has at least 3/4 tank of gas, carry a flashlight, a whistle, mace; some advise that they take personal weapons (I'll bet their employers don't know this!), keep your car in good repair, let your husband or another family member know where you are going and when to expect you back. For that matter, if you have to go out in the middle of the night, have your husband drive you and wait in the car! Best escort ever!