What do you learn/do in Home Care?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Aug 12, 2015

Is it an extensive internship/residency program? Medicare regulations state nurses providing skilled home health have at least a year of facility based nursing experience. Is this skilled visit home health or shift work private duty?

Ruger8mm · Aug 12, 2015

Not sure. Just starting to explore the option of there are no floor nursing options available around here.

I did not know that. Up here I know the Home Care places are always in dire need. How could they possibly remain staffed with those requirements?

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 12, 2015

Thread moved to Home Health forum.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Aug 12, 2015

My skills from previous employment are utilized in home care. If anything I learned how to work with what is available (manpower, equipment, supplies) without a charge nurse, other staff nurses, respiratory, housekeeping, biomedical services, phlebotomy, or a full stock room. How to troubleshoot a vent during a storm with limited power and no phone service and how to negotiate delivery of gas to a home to power a generator so I could maintain my clients needed technology. (I also learned how to trouble shoot and operate gas powered generators). I've learned how to preserve medications that require refrigeration when there is a power outage risk.

How to assess and prioritize and communicate to EMS why a complicated client needs transport now when they don't "look so bad".

I learned how to advocate for my patients when a different level of care or specialized equipment is needed.

I learned to develop a trusting relationship with local providers that I can provide a current assessment over the phone and get a new prescription based on my patient needs now rather than wait for an office visit or better yet avoid an ED visit or inpatient stay. I've developed confidence in my assessment, knowledge and skills to care for and educate my patients and caregivers to the best of my ability in the field.

HDHRN · Aug 18, 2015

I have been in HH for about 2 years. I do like it and make a decent living. I love my patients. Basically I go and assess them every week. I do a med set up for only one. All of them are totally alert and with it. In fact two of them are married and still drive. Not far, just to the store and the pharmacy mostly. They just have chronic problems that need monitoring. If there is any problems I will call the doc and report changes to their RN case manger. I also go to a group home that my company is contracted with. These men are MRDD like, but sweet as can be. I pass their meds and am in and out pretty quick. The house is set like a duplex. There are 4 on one side and 3 on the other. They have their own staff who cooks, cleans, and bathes them. They go to workshop M-F. I live in Ohio and I believe you must be an RN to case manage. I am taking my RN boards next month, so hopefully I can move into a case manager position. HH is great if you are in school or have kids. My son just started preschool so flexibility is a must for me.