| Once upon a time, patients recovering from surgeries | | | | an initial determination of the home itself to deciding |
| or serious illness once spent weeks confined to a | | | | how the patient's needs may best be met within that |
| hospital bed. These days more and more of them | | | | environment. Home health care nurses are responsible |
| are being sent home early. There are a variety of | | | | for wound care, monitoring of symptoms, the |
| reasons for the early discharge, including the superior | | | | delivery of medications, Educating the patient and |
| care provided in hospitals today that enables patients | | | | relatives about proper home treatment, and |
| to have their conditions stabilized much quicker and | | | | supervising any other health care workers who may |
| the frequent shortage of bed space within many | | | | assist the patient. Because of their close proximity to |
| facilities. One reason that often gets overlooked, | | | | patients, these nurses are often turned to for |
| however, is the availability of home health care | | | | emotional support as well. Work assignments can |
| nursing specialists who can provide treatment within | | | | vary from being responsible for only one patient on a |
| the patient's home environment. | | | | regular basis to providing specific care for multiple |
| The existence of home health nursing is in large | | | | patients each day. |
| measure the result of advancements in medical | | | | Beyond the education required for all registered |
| technology that have made it possible for many of | | | | nurses - a 2 or 4 year degree in nursing - home |
| the more complex medical treatments to be | | | | health care nurses need an additional 2-year degree |
| performed outside of the hospital environment. Clinical | | | | to become an MSN (Master of Science). The path to |
| nursing specialists are specifically trained to take | | | | this degree offers very specific training to enable the |
| advantage of this technology as they assist patients | | | | nurse to specialize upon graduation. Additional |
| with treatments for a host of injuries, diseases, and | | | | certification varies from state to state, but often |
| other ailments. Many of these home health nurses | | | | includes getting your state nursing board to |
| specialize even further and become experts on | | | | acknowledge your status as an APN, or Advanced |
| providing care in the home for patients suffering | | | | Practice Nurse. |
| from very specific disorders like cancer and diabetes, | | | | Those who employ home health nursing professionals |
| or with complex physical rehabilitation needs. | | | | range from hospital administrators to health care |
| In most cases, the patients receiving this care are | | | | firms devoted to home patient care. Income |
| either older individuals or persons suffering from | | | | opportunities vary in accordance with a nurse's |
| permanent disabilities, but many are also in need of | | | | education and experience level, but often rise as high |
| only temporary assistance. Beyond the medical | | | | as $75,000 for clinical nurses in some areas of the |
| treatment provided, these home nursing providers | | | | country. Perhaps the most attractive aspect of home |
| also assist patients with such basic tasks as bathing, | | | | health nursing is in the area of demand, as the trend |
| moving around the home, and dressing. Many times | | | | toward shorter hospital stays, combined with the |
| the assistance provided by these nurses is | | | | aging U.S. population, should ensure that more and |
| supplemented by visits from home health aides. | | | | more of these specialists will be needed in the |
| Home health nursing involves everything from making | | | | coming years. |