- Build relationships with your patients. Having trusting and positive relationships with your patients is an important part of providing them with quality care. …
- Set patient expectations. …
- Stay organized. …
- Maintain inventory. …
- Bring extra clothing. …
- Practice communication. …
- Be flexible. …
- Ask for help.
According to Robert Espinoza, vice president of policy at PHI, “our nation is at a critical point regarding this workforce.” The pandemic highlighted how important these workers are, the difficulties they continue to face, and how these issues put both workers’ and the people they care for’s lives in danger. ”.
As seniors try to stay out of hospitals and nursing homes when possible, according to CNBC, the job outlook for home health care nurses is expected to grow 19-26% over the next 10 years, which is much faster than most professions In Georgia, home health aide positions have been projected to increase by 44% between 2014 and 2024, according to healthcarepathway com.
Frequently, your list of necessities is longer than what you might require if you worked as a nurse in a hospital or doctor’s office. You’ll need to be ready for a variety of situations, so an expanded list of necessities is necessary, advised nurse. org. You can work in homes with little to no light if you have a flashlight, and you should have wasp and flea repellent on you to prevent bites. In the event that you come across unsanitary conditions or are around patients who smoke, having an extra set of scrubs and shoes is also a good idea.
Hospital nurses may not get to know each patient as well as they’d like to because they see a lot of patients, some of whom are discharged fairly quickly. It’s simpler to establish a connection with your patients in a home setting because you’ll probably see some of them frequently.
You won’t have anyone watching you as a home care nurse. You will need to resolve many issues on your own rather than asking a fellow nurse for assistance. Home health nurse Laura Silverstein told Minority Nurse that while solving problems on your own can be satisfying and exciting, it can be a real challenge for newer nurses. She still appreciates the independence her work affords even after eight years.
However, you won’t be able to bring or foresee everything you’ll need, so you should have a variety of medical supplies in your car. It’s possible that you need to hang an IV after hours but the pharmacy forgot to send the IV pole. You’ll have to think outside the box in situations like this, a home care nurse advised all nurses. Of course, you’ll need to make sure your modifications are appropriate and safe. For example, you might discover that placing the hanger over the door works well or that attaching a broom handle to an upright vacuum creates a wheeled IV pole.
HOME HEALTH NURSING | What You Should Know | RN case manager
Why are tips important for home health nurses?
Instead of in a typical hospital setting, home health nurses frequently work independently to provide care to patients in their homes. They could make unique care plans, keep track of supplies, and finish the necessary paperwork for each patient. Home health nurses must have access to the tools, advice, and knowledge of the industry required to give their patients the best care while adhering to the law and industry standards because they work with little to no supervision.
Additionally, it’s crucial to recognize that providing care in unfamiliar and non-medical settings, such as patients’ homes, presents a number of difficulties specific to this line of work in healthcare. Useful advice may assist home health care nurses in overcoming these challenges.
10 useful home health nurse tips
You can use the following 10 helpful tips in your work as a home health nurse:
1. Build relationships with your patients
A key component of giving patients high-quality care is developing trusting and enduring relationships with them. Think about developing a personal relationship with your patients while still maintaining your professional one. You can do this by probing them about their neighborhood, interests, hobbies, and families. Creating these kinds of connections can make your patients feel more at ease while you are taking care of them and can aid in your research of the best procedures and methods for their particular needs.
2. Set patient expectations
Setting clear expectations of respect and understanding before entering a patient’s home or other private space can help your patients feel more at ease throughout their treatment. To make your patients feel as comfortable as possible, think about talking to them about boundaries, such as rooms in the house they want to keep private or types of care they want to avoid.
You can also use this as an opportunity to make sure they fully comprehend your requirements as a healthcare professional, such as the amount of room needed for equipment or the length of time required for procedures. For both you and your patients, setting expectations in these areas can help avoid unpleasant surprises or misunderstandings and make the experience more satisfying.
3. Stay organized
Being organized may be the key to finishing a busy day as a home health nurse. Organizing your supplies and procedures could assist you in better managing your time when you have a lot of patients and home visits to attend. For convenience while working, think about keeping a bag filled with necessary supplies like pens, chargers for your phone and laptop, blank replicas of frequently used forms, and notepads. In order to clearly understand the amount of time required to travel from patient to patient, you can also plan your navigation route before making your first visit.
4. Maintain inventory
It’s crucial to have all the medical tools and supplies you’ll need to care for your patients. Due to the fact that this care is provided outside of a typical hospital setting, it is frequently your duty as a home health nurse to keep track of inventory and order equipment as necessary. Consider allocating one day per week to inventory your supplies and place any orders that are required. Making an effort to maintain your inventory could help you and your patients have access to crucial tools and resources.
Larger equipment could be kept in the patients’ homes, and smaller, more portable items could be kept in storage bins in the hatchback or trunk of your car. Think about keeping these things in hygienic, airtight containers, and shield any medications or delicate instruments from harsh sunlight or cold.
5. Bring extra clothing
You’ll probably spend the majority of your day traveling as a home health nurse, so you might not have access to laundromats or extra clothing. In case of a spill or contact with biohazardous material, think about bringing along an extra pair of clean scrubs and shoes. You can maintain sanitation standards by making sure your attire is clean before seeing each patient, and changing into new scrubs can help ensure your comfort and safety throughout the day.
6. Practice communication
Improved communication abilities could make it easier for you to interact with your patients and comprehend their needs and preferences for treatment. Clearly explaining to your patients how they should care for themselves without you around can also help them understand. By using online training tools, reading books on the subject, and engaging in active listening exercises with patients and others, you can hone your communication skills.
7. Be flexible
Being flexible is crucial to being successful as a home health nurse because working with patients in their homes may be more unpredictable than in a traditional hospital setting. Try to modify your approaches to allow for flexibility, and inform yourself that things might not go as planned today.
Emergencies, changes in patient needs, delays in traffic that prevent you from seeing a patient on time, a backlog of paperwork, or any other unanticipated event may change the details of your shift. You can respond well to these situations and maintain productivity by being aware that they may happen and remaining composed when they do.
8. Ask for help
Being a home health nurse frequently entails being the only medical expert present during home visits. It’s crucial to know how to get in touch with the right support sources when issues arise. Think about carrying a fully charged phone with you at all times, along with a list of contacts you can use to ask questions or get more information, such as your employer or other home health nurses.
9. Continue your education
A great way to ensure that you are familiar with the most recent policies and procedures is to continue your education. To maintain and update your knowledge of the industry, take into account taking courses at a nearby university or online. The more you are aware of new, modified, or discontinued procedures, the better care you can give your patients. To keep up your education as a home health nurse, you can also read books on the subject, go to professional conferences, and attend seminars.
10. Remain positive
Even though your main responsibility is to your patients is clinical care, it’s crucial to make their experience receiving home care positive. Do your best to provide each patient with compassionate care, encouragement, and emotional support as needed. As their caregiver, you may be approached by your patients to talk about any emotional distress that their illnesses or injuries have caused them. They may find comfort in your positivity and your support, which will enhance their recovery and experience receiving home care.
FAQ
How do I prepare for home health nursing?
- Top off the Fuel and Kick the Tires. Maintaining and filling up your vehicle is important whether you drive a personal or company vehicle.
- Take Stock of Supplies. …
- Safety First. …
- Lunch on the Run. …
- Planning Makes Perfect. …
- HIPAA Still Rules.
What should a home health nurse know?
Home health nurses, like RNs working in hospitals, can anticipate handling a variety of job responsibilities, such as taking vital signs, assisting patients with mobility issues, cleaning wounds, administering medication, and drawing blood.
Is home health nursing stressful?
Due to aspects of their workplace that have an impact on their ability to perform professionally, home care nurses report feeling more stressed out at work. This embedded multiple case study examined the stressors and elements of the professional practice environment that moderate nurses’ feelings of job stress.
Which two major skills are needed for a nurse working in the home care setting?
…
- Assessment and teaching.
- Communication and planning.
- Assessment and documentation.
- Communication and documentation.
