Skilled Nurse Visits

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Is there anyone on here who does skilled nurse visits?

Barbra

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Specializes in ICU, OR.

I do. What is your question about them?

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Specializes in infection control, peds, home infusion.

I do, what can I help you with?

Jenn:heartbeat

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I do in home health. Is that what you mean?

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I am doing visits and it is quite different, especially the documentation. How long do you spend in each pts. home on average....do you have a protocol as far as when to call the doctor or contact the case manager if for example vitals are not within normal range or O2 sats on not normal....does your agency have ranges?

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Specializes in ICU, OR.

My agency doesn't have a protocol,per se, but I list my paramaters on the 485 and call the doctor if they are outside parameters.

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Specializes in ICU, OR.

Also, I spend between 30 min to an hour in most homes, some longer depending on why I am there. Home health is pretty autonomous, and in part that is why I like it. Lots of critical thinking and judgement calls. Now is the time that you get to use all the experience you have worked for to make decisions. Another thing I love is the avoidance of office/hospital politics. Just me an my talk radio while I drive. Nice.

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Visits can be anywhere from 20 minutes on, depending on what you're doing. I expect my field staff to call me whenever anything is out of range and tell me what they did about it. They're very good about letting case managers know about abnorms, calls to docs, etc. I will call the doc or suggest a call when "home remedies" don't work for the abnorms......increasing fluids on a hot day for hypotension, taking an OTC binder for diarrhea, etc.

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