To the ones who said I'd lose skills or be bored in home health:

Published

Boy were you wrong! I went from a very hectic telemetry floor to home health care last September. Upon leaving my hospital job, I received comments that I would be bored or would lose my skills in home health care. Obviously, these comments were from nurses who have only worked in the hospital setting. I have learned so much more as a nurse in these past 8 months. I can honestly say that I love being a nurse now, especially a home health nurse. Yes, it is a lot of work at times, the first 6 months were up and down as I was learning the new charting and all the new rules and "ins and outs" of home health care. It can be stressful, but nowhere near as stressful or as soul crushing as working on the floor. I love the relationships I build with my patients, the teaching, the focus on the whole patient and not just making sure meds are passed in time and all of the other craziness that you have to put up with during a typical day on the floor. Plus, instead of losing skills, I have actually GAINED a whole lot of skills. First and foremost, your assessment skills really have to be top notch. Many times, you are the first line of triage. If somebody is having a problem, you have to be the one to catch it and respond in the appropriate manner, either calling the dr to get new meds ordered or knowing when it's appropriate to send the patient to the ER. Mainly, the focus is catching problems to fix them before somebody is so bad off that the must go to the ER.

Next are all of the actual technical skills you might do in home health: Lab draws, foleys/suprapubic caths, ostomy's, patients on critical drips such as dobutamine, chest tube drainage/maintenance/teaching, specialized wound care/wound vacs...you really learn a lot more about wound care, diabetic and vascular ulcers and management, pressure ulcers, etc. Not only are you doing all of this wound care, but many times, you are the one to decide what kind of wound care a patient needs and makes the recommendations to the dr's...and more skills than I have listed. I can honestly say that I am never bored and have gained more skills than I did in the hospital and overall have become a better nurse and actually feel like a real professional part of the healthcare team. I think home health nurses have a bad rap for some reason and just don't really get the respect they deserve.

Anyways, I just wanted to put this out there to nurses who might be wondering what home health is really like.

**Edited to say that I'm not putting down working on the floor, I would not be the nurse that I am today if it wasn't for that floor experience. That experience has been invaluable to my success as a home health nurse. I do not think I would be able to do this if I hadn't already had that hospital experience.**

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Home Health is a specialty in itself...glad you found this as your niche! :up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with everything you said. Your assessment skills have to be top notch, and home care really does tie everything in nursing together nicely.

I enjoyed really getting to know my patients, and having time to spend with them- when I was a home care nurse.

I think as far as respect goes, I felt more respected by the providers when I worked home care than when I worked at the bedside. They really do rely on your expertise.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I couldn't agree more! I have been working per diem home health since october and feel like i wrote this post myself! lol. My very first day in the field I remember saying to my preceptor "wow we are getting paid to teach this patient about his diabetes and meds" I really del like a professional! Yes we do patient teaching in the hospital as well but teaching is a huge part of home care . Im hoping one day I will do home health full time

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion