| Home Health Care Nursing Information and Overview | | | | patient the correct dose, time of administration, and |
| Home health care is allowing the patient and their | | | | combinations. Home health care nurses should be |
| family to maintain dignity and independence. | | | | familiar with pharmacology and taught in training |
| According to the National Association for Home Care, | | | | about different medications used by patients in the |
| there are more than 7 million individuals in the United | | | | clinical setting. |
| States in need of home health care nurse services | | | | Many advanced practicing nurses are familiar with |
| because of acute illness, long term health problems, | | | | medication regiments. They have completed graduate |
| permanent disability or terminal illness. | | | | level programs. Home health care agencies believe |
| Home Health Care Basics | | | | that a nurse should have at least one year of clinical |
| Nurses practice in a number of venues: Hospital | | | | experience before entering home health care. |
| settings, nursing homes, assisted living centers, and | | | | Advanced practicing nurses can expedite that training |
| home health care. Home health care nursing is a | | | | by helping new nurses understand the home health |
| growing phenomenon as more patients and their | | | | care market and teaching. |
| families desire to receive care in their homes. The | | | | Employment and Salary |
| history of home health care stems from Public Health | | | | According to the United States Department of Labor, |
| Nursing where public health nurses made home visits | | | | there were 2.4 million nurses in America, the largest |
| to promote health education and provide treatment | | | | healthcare occupation, yet many academic and |
| as part of community outreach programs. Today | | | | hospital organizations believe there is a gross |
| academic programs train nurses in home care and | | | | shortage in nursing staff. The shortage of nurses |
| agencies place home health care nurses with ailing | | | | was 6% in 2000 and is expected to be 10% in 2010. |
| individuals and their families depending on the nurse's | | | | The average salary for hospital nursing is $53,450 |
| experience and qualifications. In many cases there is | | | | with 3 out of 5 nursing jobs are in the hospital. For |
| a shared relationship between the agency and the | | | | home health care, the salary is $49,000. For nursing |
| academic institution. | | | | care facilities, they were the lowest at $48,200. |
| Many changes have taken place in the area of home | | | | Training and continuing education |
| health care. These include Medicare and Medicaid, and | | | | Most home health care nurses gain their education |
| Long Term Care insurance reimbursement and | | | | through accredited nursing schools throughout the |
| documentation. It is important for the nurse and | | | | country with an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a |
| nursing agency to be aware of the many factors | | | | Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN), or a |
| involved for these rules and regulations resulting from | | | | master's degree in nursing (MSN). According to the |
| these organizations. Population and demographic | | | | United States Department of Labor, in 2004 there |
| changes are taking place as well. Baby boomers | | | | were 674 BSN nursing programs, 846 ADN programs. |
| approaching retirement and will present new | | | | Also, in 2004, there were 417 master's degree |
| challenges for the home health care industry. | | | | programs, 93 doctoral programs, and 46 joint |
| Technology and medical care in hospitals has lead to | | | | BSN-doctoral programs. The associate degree |
| shorter inpatient stay and more at-home rehabilitation. | | | | program takes 2 to 3 years to complete, while |
| Increases in medical outpatient procedures are also | | | | bachelors degrees take 4 years to complete. Nurses |
| taking place with follow-up home care. This has | | | | can also earn specialized professional certificates |
| resulted in the decrease of mortality rate from these | | | | online in Geriatric Care or Life Care Planning. |
| technologies and medical care has lead to increases in | | | | In addition, for those nurses who choose to pursue |
| morbidity and chronic illness that makes the need for | | | | advancement into administrative positions or |
| home health care nursing a greater priority. | | | | research, consulting, and teaching, a bachelor's degree |
| Home Health Care Nurse Job Description | | | | is often essential. A bachelor's degree is also |
| Through an array of skills and experience, home | | | | important for becoming a clinical nurse specialist, |
| health care nurses specialize in a wide range of | | | | nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse |
| treatments; emotional support, education of patients | | | | practitioners (U.S. Department of Labor, 2004). |
| who are recovering from illnesses and injury for | | | | All home health care nurses have supervised clinical |
| young children and adults, to women who have | | | | experience during their training, but as stated earlier |
| experienced recent childbirth, to the elderly who need | | | | advanced practicing nurses hold master's degrees and |
| palliative care for chronic illness. | | | | unlike bachelor and associate degrees, they have a |
| A practicing nurse must have the skills to provide | | | | minimum of two years of post clinical experience. |
| care in a unique setting such as someone's home. | | | | Course work includes anatomy, physiology, |
| The nurse is working with the patient and the family | | | | chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, psychology, and |
| and must understand the communication skills for | | | | behavioral sciences and liberal arts. Many of these |
| such dynamics. Rapport is evident in all nursing | | | | programs have training in nursing homes, public health |
| positions, but working in a patient's own living space | | | | departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory |
| needs a different level of skill and understanding. | | | | clinics. (U.S. Dep. of Labor, 2004). |
| There is autonomous decision making as the nurse is | | | | Whether a nurse is training in a hospital, nursing |
| no longer working as a team with other nurses in a | | | | facility, or home care, continuing education is |
| structured environment, but is now as a member of | | | | necessary. Health care is changing rapidly and staying |
| the "family" team. The host family has cultural values | | | | abreast with the latest developments enhances |
| that are important and are different for every | | | | patient care and health procedures. Universities, |
| patient and must be treated with extreme sensitivity. | | | | continuing education programs, and internet sites, all |
| Other skills include critical thinking, coordination, | | | | offer continuing education. One such organization that |
| assessment, communication, and documentation. | | | | provides continuing education is the American Nurses |
| Home health care nurses also specialize in the care of | | | | Association (ANA) or through the American Nurses |
| children with disabilities that requires additional skills | | | | Credentialing Center (ANCC). |
| such as patience and understanding of the needs of | | | | Conclusion |
| the family. Children are living with disabilities today | | | | There are many rewards to becoming a home health |
| that would have resulted in mortality just twenty | | | | care nurse. Some rewards include the relationship |
| years ago. Genetic disorders, congenital physical | | | | with a patient and their family, autonomy, |
| impairments, and injury are just a few. Many families | | | | independence, and engaging in critical thinking. The |
| are familiar with managing the needs of the child, but | | | | 21st Century brings with it many opportunities and |
| still need expert care that only a home health care | | | | challenges. We must meet these challenges head on - |
| nurse can provide. It is important that a home health | | | | there is an aging baby boomer population, a growing |
| care nurse is aware of the expertise of the family | | | | morbidity factor due to increased medical technology |
| about the child's condition for proper care of the child. | | | | and patient care, and the growing shortage in nursing |
| There are many complexities involved, but most | | | | care. |
| important, a positive attitude and positive | | | | Becoming a home health care nurse today is exciting |
| reinforcement is of utmost importance for the | | | | and an opportunity to make a difference one life at a |
| development of the child. | | | | time. With clinical experience and proper education, a |
| Medication coordination between the home health | | | | home health care nurse will lead the future of medical |
| care nurse, doctor, and pharmacist, ensures proper | | | | care. |
| management of the exact science behind giving the | | | | |