Have you ever thought about making a life-changing impact on people of all ages, young and old? You can develop deeper relationships and work in a more personal setting than in a medical office or hospital as a home health nurse. You’ll work with your patients directly in the comfort of their homes.Providing one-on-one care to patients in their homes is part of the duties of a home health care nurse. In-home nurses can provide ongoing care, support, and education to pregnant women and new mothers who may be elderly, critically ill, disabled, or recovering from surgery, injury, or accident.A nurse assistant, an LVN, or an RN can be categorized as a nurse in home health care depending on their credentials and experience. Their daily assignments are usually received at a facility and they then drive to their patient’s homes to provide nursing care as prescribed by their physicians.In a variety of healthcare settings, home care nurses typically perform the following duties and responsibilities:
Nurses with registered credentials:
- Develops a care plan with the physician based on the patient needs
- Provides care coordination and oversight with patients, families, and support staff, such as nurse assistants and licensed practical home health nurse
- Evaluates the progress of healing or mobilization and the response of the patient to treatment, medication, and treatment
- Manages cases under her supervision
- Helps with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, grooming, toileting, and mobility
- Provides intravenous infusions and medications
- Assists with wound care, vital sign taking, and drawing labs
- Provides wound care and other services to patients receiving home health care
- Assists with the coordination of home care with the help of clinical healthcare professionals
- Assesses physical health
Vocational nurses licensed to practice
- Provides nursing care through the supervision of nurse assistants.
- Ensures that the patient’s status is monitored and reports any concerns to the supervising nurse.
- Supports mobility and ADLs.
- Provides intravenous infusions and medications.
- Manages wounds and takes vital signs.
The home care nursing field offers a great deal of flexibility. You can work with one patient for a long time, full-time, or visit multiple patients each day if you choose to. In addition to specializing in one area of home care, you can also choose from a variety of specialties, including gerontology, pediatrics, medicine, or surgery, and public or community health. A variety of agencies employ home nurses, including:
- Service providers that provide home health care and hospice care
- Systematization of hospitals
- The medical industry
- Companies that insure
- Organizations of government
- Communities for retirees