Have you ever wished to impart your nursing services and knowledge to the community, but without being restricted to the confines of a hospital setting? There are people out there making a difference by working directly in their communities, helping senior citizens and other individuals in need, and helping to turn the neighborhood into a healthier place. If the idea of working as a nurse on the go entices you, then odds are that you would enjoy becoming a home health nurse. 

Home Health Nursing

Home health nursing is a type of health service practiced by nurses, that has been garnering attention as of late, and that consists of lending medical attention to the patients directly in their homes. The idea behind this rising trend is to help patients exactly when they require it, forgoing the need for hospitalizations, and preventing a small situation from escalating into a life-threatening condition. Evidently, this practice is indicated more for senior citizens that are of delicate health, and that could develop complications on the way to the hospital, should an emergency present itself. In this sense, by having a home health nurse on standby, the person can rest easy and receive the necessary care directly at home.

Although not everyone is cut out for this lifestyle as, aside from the nursing knowledge required by any and all workplaces, the professional must also be skilled in time management. Furthermore, their bedside manners must always be on point since it’s going to be their livelihood—you will seldom create a loyal clientele if you don’t show proper bedside manners. Other than that, the only legal requirement for working as a home health nurse is a BSN and, at the very least, 2 years of experience working in a medical setting. Once you’ve achieved these prerequisites, you can start squeezing some home visits to your schedule, or even quit your job and dedicate your time entirely to home health nursing.

What Type of Patients do They See?

While you may encounter all sorts of patients in a home healthcare setting, they are usually senior citizens over the age of 65. Furthermore, most if not all patients in this setting have multiple conditions, some of which could be chronic, and require expert care and assistance. Some of the most common conditions treated by these nurses revolve around cardiopulmonary diseases, including heart failure, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, among others. Metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes are also frequent in this setting, as are immune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia, to name a few.

Another common service that a nurse must perform in a home healthcare environment, especially in older patients, is wound care, including cleaning and dressing any lesions on the patient’s body. In patients who are bedridden, pressure sores are a common sight. They are also one of the most important conditions to treat thoroughly since they can create complications in the form of infections if left untreated. Luckily, a home healthcare nurse is well versed in the treatment of these sores and much more.

An Advisory Role

Even though the objective of home healthcare nurses is, mainly, to provide care at home and avoid hospitalizations, a nurse must also use their critical assessment skills to determine the best course of treatment for any patient. In some cases, this means that the nurse will have to strongly advise taking the patient to the hospital as the staff there has the means for providing treatment that, otherwise, couldn’t be performed at home. Once the treatment is complete, and the patient returns home, the nurse can continue advising, treating, and providing care.

Another critical responsibility of a home healthcare nurse is the proper administration of pills and other medication. People today are taking more pills than ever, to which we can attribute the high life expectancy of these times. However, this means that every patient must stay on top of a treatment plan that involves tens of pills, which sometimes have to be taken at different times every day. Sadly, for a senior citizen, it’s easy to mix up these medications and cause more harm than good. 

In this sense, one of the most important responsibilities of a home healthcare nurse is to monitor their medicine intake to make sure that they’re taking the right ones at the correct times. In the case of patients who are living with their families, they can instruct caregivers on how best to administer their treatment plan so that everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Is it Right for You?

In a way, a home healthcare nurse is more an advisor than a healthcare provider. Sure, these nurses are prepared to provide aid should things go awry, but they’re usually limited to advisory and maintenance roles. If you like treating patients directly, in a more familiar setting, then home healthcare nursing might be for you.