What do you LOVE about HH nursing?

Farawyn · Sep 6, 2015

I just started. So far, I'm liking the flexibility. I like the patients, who have been grateful that someone is there to help and sort it out. I like the teaching.

HHRN81 · Sep 7, 2015

I like the autonomy, the one on one time with patients and the opportunity to be use critical thinking and come up with creative solutions to problems.

Idaho_nurse · Sep 11, 2015

I LOVE home health... ok, 90% of the time I LOVE home health, lol. I love the fact that I get to spend as much or as little time as is needed on each client. Some can be quick, in and out, while some I have stayed over an hour with just because they wanted to talk. I work in an office agency that is very rural, so sometimes, it is just us nurses who see these people, so if I can make their day a bit brighter, or make them feel better, or even just give them an ear, then I have done my job. Often times we are THE ONLY people to find the problems and alert their PCP. We are not only a rural office, but our territory is often those who can barely afford to eat, let alone afford their medications, so they do not drive much or go to the MD office unless we send them, or tell them basically to go to urgent care now. I love the fact that I get that one on one time with them.

I also love the fact that I get to make my schedule, or rather, I try, lol. sometimes things just fall apart, but if you learn to "go with the flow", keep a positive outlook and not take it personal, its really not that bad. The schedulers do not normally screw you over for the heck of it, unless there is a personal vendetta and then I think its them who should be fired.

I also enjoy the challenge of it all, as often I am out of cell reach with my clients and often times you must think on your feet and quickly. I have went into calls at times carrying a CPR mask and vent bag just in case. Did I mention we are rural, but sometimes we can get a client on a rural outreach program so we can check on them daily, but we are usually all they see, and the hospital will not keep them. again.. did I mention we were rural?

I also work with a close group of people, both nursing staff, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech and social work. and its a VERY small crew of like 20 people.. so think about how many clients we see weekly so short staffed. In general, we all get along, but of course there are tifts and we do have some that come on board and just cannot handle the pressure of it all, drop the ball all the time and in the end, leave the rest of us hanging.. in the later case, we vent, someone will pick up the slack and carry on. harboring resentments is unprofessional and it does not benefit the client at all.

I am also very good at multi tasking and it is nothing for me to be able to carry on a full conversation with education, etc, while I am charting something totally different at the same time, lol. Yes, I DO have OCD and Hyperactive disorder, lol. So its a good job for me to be in.

In general, it takes a certain person to be a home health nurse, juggle, not give up, give the patients your best and not crack under the pressure. I also think that sometimes you have to admit to yourself that you cannot do it all and ask for help and communication is the key. I also do not think it is for everyone, nor does it make you a bad nurse if you cannot handle it. some of us were just made to be in certain specialties, and those that can admit it is not for them when they are miserable, makes you a better nurse. If we were all made to work all specialties and fields, there probably wouldnt be anyone working clinics. LOL. yes that was a joke on the clinical nurses... and yes, we all have to be able to laugh at ourselves and not take things personally.

jennrn52 · Sep 19, 2015

I love the autonomy and my schedule being so flexible. I'm full time, I generally start my day around nine and am done by 4-430, but stick around my area in case something pops up. No big deal because I live ten minutes down the road, but if I let the babysitter go home and a patient calls I'm stuck. But if my son has something at school, I can take an hour off and go. I love spending time with the patients, and their pets! One lady I had had this cat who would never come to anyone except me. Every visit I'd pick her up and love on her and she would just purr like crazy, it amazes my patient because she couldn't even pick her up.

this job definitely isn't for everyone, you have to be confident in your skills and knowledge, especially because some of these patients know more about their diseases than you do! When I get those patients I talk with them about their experiences and get tips and ideas for other patients, it's great!

RunHeatherRun · Sep 19, 2015

I love home health. I love the autonomy, flexibility, the relationships I develop with my patients, how much I have learned about wound care, being able to provide quality education on disease processes and medications. I am a loner by nature so being able to decompress in my car between patients is valuable to me. I love being able to critically think on the fly and come up with some truly creative ideas to problems I run into out in the field. I love being able to advocate for my patients. I love that I truly feel like I am helping my patients on a daily basis. It's not always flowers and unicorns, but the majority of the time I love what I do. I feel passionate about what I do.

spiritualnurse913, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Oct 9, 2015

I Love the autonomy and flexibility, I enjoy making my schedule to fit around personal things I have to do, without taking off of work. For example, Dr's appointments, dental appointments, car wash etc. I also enjoy the teaching and educating aspect of home care. I love teaching on safety,medication, disease process, infection control etc. I feel when I am teaching a patient in HH they better understand how to take care of themselves. The downside can be the charting. It has gotten better with a lot of agencies having charting on laptop or iPad.