Why is home health considered an "easier" area of nursing, suitable for beginners?

Guest27531 · Jul 15, 2011

Whoever said that?

I worked as a Visiting Nurse with VNSNY and it is not for a new grad! Although home care agencies may hire new grads I do not recommend it. Before I worked for the VNS I worked in the OR, the Open Heart Recovery, ICU, CCU and Labor & Delivery units I still found it to be challenging - both clinically and administratively. You must be prepared for anything clinically and you must be clear-minded enough to be able to write a comprehensive care plan and order the correct supplies and equipment for the diagnosis. It requires extensive clinical knowledge, good planning skills, good management skills, and good people skills. IMHO it is not for a beginner.

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 15, 2011

Whoever said that?

I read it here all the time. In fact, I read it here twice just today (which prompted this thread).

linsmirn · Jul 15, 2011

Down here in south florida that is not the issue, Home Health agencies will not hire you without one year experience, to me it is a harder job because you are on your own.

my3girls81 · Jul 15, 2011

Thank you for this message. I am new to home care, although I have been a RN for 11 years. This is by far the most challenging job I have ever had. You have to be a smart cookie to be good at this cause you are it baby! You have little to no back up and forget getting calls back from the Dr. office. :nurse:

szeles23 · Jul 15, 2011

I think home health is definitely a harder area than a new grad should be in. I'm not a nurse yet but my grandmother was with two different hospice companies before she passed. The RNs essentially had the role of dr, and nurse, but she didn't have any need for a dr to have to come out. It takes a dedicated and special person to be a home health or hospice nurse. I don't think I could do it, at least not until I got older, way older, and I'm not young. I do know a few CNAs that start off right away in home health but essentially all they have to do is vitals and baths (in her case that's what they did) but the ones she had were older and were excellent.

OldNurseEducator · Jul 15, 2011

ETA: If I could, I would change the title from "lesser" to "beginner's". That's more what I was trying to convey.
It seems when new grads are lamenting the difficulties of finding acute care (hospital) nursing jobs, the suggestion is to try SNFs or home health, that they might be more willing to hire a new grad.
To me, home health seems like a more difficult area of nursing, requiring more experience and strong assessment skills. Thus, wholly inappropriate for a new grad nurse. Am I wrong?
My husband is a manager for a home health hospice company, and he says they would never consider hiring a new grad. Likewise, I've been looking around for jobs outside of the hospital that offer more sane hours, and every home health agency I've applied to has not been interested in me, due to not having home health experience. Yet, they're a viable option for a new grad? Doesn't seem to make sense.

I have never heard it said that home Health is not a DIFFICULT area of nursing. Where are you hearing this?? Maybe nurses who have never done Home Health?? :uhoh3:

dudette10, MSN, RN · Jul 15, 2011

I did a home health rotation in school, and the mere fact that the nurse doesn't have someone in physical proximity to help her tells me that the specialty is NOT a place for new grads. Her good judgement is absolutely critical. She must be able to make appropriate referrals, and the RN works as the case manager until skilled nursing is no longer needed (then it's a lateral throw to one of the therapists until discharge from HH). The patients ask a million and one questions of the nurse, and she had better be able to answer them. I personally think it's the most autonomous of all the specialties.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2011

Same with where I live. Generally, every home health agency wants one year of experience for all the reasons mentioned. Most new grads would not function well with limited assessment and other skills.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2011

ETA: If I could, I would change the title from "lesser" to "beginner's". That's more what I was trying to convey.
It seems when new grads are lamenting the difficulties of finding acute care (hospital) nursing jobs, the suggestion is to try SNFs or home health, that they might be more willing to hire a new grad.
To me, home health seems like a more difficult area of nursing, requiring more experience and strong assessment skills. Thus, wholly inappropriate for a new grad nurse. Am I wrong?
My husband is a manager for a home health hospice company, and he says they would never consider hiring a new grad. Likewise, I've been looking around for jobs outside of the hospital that offer more sane hours, and every home health agency I've applied to has not been interested in me, due to not having home health experience. Yet, they're a viable option for a new grad? Doesn't seem to make sense.

I think it's just about encouraging new grads to try to think outside the box. Some of my classmates DID get jobs in home health as new grads. Were they ideal jobs? No, but it got them working as RNs.

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 15, 2011

I have never heard it said that home Health is not a DIFFICULT area of nursing. Where are you hearing this?? Maybe nurses who have never done Home Health??

Like I said, I see it here all the time.

Example:

New grad: I'm having such a hard time finding a job. I've applied to 18 different hospitals and nobody wants to hire a new grad.

Helpful ANer: Have you tried applying to SNFs or home health agencies? You might have better luck finding employment.

I saw it suggested twice just yesterday.

OldNurseEducator · Jul 15, 2011

Like I said, I see it here all the time.
Example:
New grad: I'm having such a hard time finding a job. I've applied to 18 different hospitals and nobody wants to hire a new grad.
Helpful ANer: Have you tried applying to SNFs or home health agencies? You might have better luck finding employment.
I saw it suggested twice just yesterday.

You're right, klone. I used to do Home Health. It requires a long orientation, exoerience you can fall back on when you need it (almost every day), and lots of good skills. I constantly learned new things in Home Health. I would not hire a new grad into this area only because of the needed autonomy. I wouldn't think a new grad would feel comfortable in this position. Just my :twocents: ! Peace!