What nursing skills will I never learn if I start my RN career in home health?

[Lemon Bars]

I just got my RN license on Tuesday of this week. I did not like the multi-tasking environment of the hospital during my nursing school program and I'm interested in trying home health. Although a nurse is a nurse wherever she or he works, what important/traditional nursing skills will I never develop if I start my RN career in home health instead of in a hospital setting?

Thanks for any advice!

[Wsmith16, ADN, BSN]

If possible it is always best to start off in the hospital however I train/supervise new grads at our HH agency and what Ive learned is if you have a good foundation from a good nursing program you will and can succeed. I see it all the time. If there is a particular skill that you are unable to do it is always best to let your manager know in order for the field supervisory to go out with you on that visit. We all have to start somehewere. A reputable agency will give you support and training. When I started in HH I had hospital experience however my coworkers were new grads and they did exceptionally well. Just make sure the agency will allow you to shadow an experienced nurse and that the field manager will go out with you on a few field visits to assess if you are doing tasks/skills correctly. If the agency does not offer supportive training find one that does. But it can be done. Most of the new grads I worked with are successful HH Nurses today. Good Luck!

[Lemon Bars]

My interview with at the home health agency went as most of you might have predicted. They asked how many times I had performed various procedures and I answered either zero or few for each procedure. They wanted me done with orientation and seeing patients independently within four weeks maximum. I told them that there was no way I could make it without more training and that I would take a different job that I had already been offered. I told them that I was still interested in home health and that I might come back in a year or two. One of the interviewers said, "Or maybe in six months" which I interpreted as them being interested in interviewing me again when I had more experience. I accepted a job offer at a rehab/SNF.