What Supplies Are Needed/Recommended?

[Unequaledbeauty_30]

Hi, I'm a new LPN starting my first job as a contract, PRN home health nurse. I have one client so far.

There is no stock supply of items such as gloves, thermometer probe covers or alcohol wipes, etc... we provide everything for ourselves.

What supplies do you recommended keeping a stock pile of in my car... Just incase the client doesn't already have supplies?

I know that I need the basics... Stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, digital thermometer & probe covers, alcohol wipes, gloves, hand sanitizer, accu check machine (maybe if client doesnt have one), hand-held pulse oximeter, etc...

Any other suggestions?

Thanks

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

No no no! Do not provide your own accucheck! Do not provide your own pulse ox. If the patient has orders for those assessments they mustcome from their DME. Your agency is obligated & responsible for gloves, soap, PPE & hand sanitizer. Your patient should have their own thermometer otherwise dollar store is a great back up.

Are you doing skilled visits or shift work?

You do not check pulse ox if not ordered by physician in the plan of care. If a diabetic does not have a glucometer then their case manager or physician needs to be contacted. If they don't have orders for blood sugar monitoring then you do not check the blood sugar. If they seem hypoglycemic refer to urgent care or ED if not their physician.

New grads don't belong in home health without extensive training, shadowing and orientation. Some states mandate 2yrs experience for home health nurses. You are on your own.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

I have my stethoscope, backup cheap digital thermometer, extra paperwork, pens, measuring tape, paper towels, disinfecting wipes, extra bags (never put your bag on a surface), $1 box of alcohol wipes from Walmart, and gloves*, soap*, PPE kit*, hand sanitizer*

(*provided by agency per OSHA regulations)

My patients have BP cuffs if needed (otherwise office supplies one) if orders are for any DME (pulse ox, glucometer, nebulizer) all require MD order and supplied by their pharmacy or DME vendor. A nurse just had issues for using her personal pulse ox that was inaccurate and affected the assessment. The patient had a unit but needed probes but no one bothered to call DME to let them know!

[Unequaledbeauty_30]

Hi, I am new and that's why I am inquiring. I'm doing skilled nursing with this one client that I have been assigned. I know not to check BG without orders but in school was trained to check pulse ox for all patients as apart of taking vitals. I admit that I am new to this and I'm still learning.

My staffing agency didn't provide me with anything. Nada... Zip... Zero... The nurse that I oriented with for this client told me that she provides her own because they weren't provided. She literally brings her own gloves, hand sanitizer, thermometer, etc.

I specifically asked did he have these items on hand. The only thing my client has is his own Accu check but his wife checks his BG before I arrive for my skilled nursing visit.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Pulse ox (and blood pressure) is only assessed if specified in the 485/plan of care. Most of my clients are T/R/Apical HR.

You can get your own. Walmart is economical for gloves.

I would start looking for another second job. Consider private duty (skilled shift nursing) with an agency employer. Newborn Nurses, Preferred, PSA, Bayada, Maxim, Epic are a few of the regional agencies that will likely fall over themselves if you can work weekends (some may require 6-12 months experience though)

I keep a thermometer mostly as back up. Dollar store, sleeves from dollar store or Walmart.

In school you were likely in a facility and therefore physician approved facility protocol would dictate which vitals are assessed. Just like in a facility you can use a common glucometer & pulse ox

[Unequaledbeauty_30]

Thank you for all of your advice and feedback.