Nursing Position in Home Health Care

Nursing Position in Home Health Care

Overview of Position

In an increasingly diverse health system, home health care nursing has emerged as an important nursing position. Home health care nursing includes the provision of one-on-one health care for home-based patients. The goal of home healthcare nursing is to keep patients out of the hospital and ensure compliance with treatment regimens, thus reducing hospital stays and expensive readmissions. Homeo-based patients may include the elderly, the critically ill, or people with disabilities (Home Care, n.d.). Home health care nurses may also assist persons recovering from surgery, accident, or injury. Alternatively, they can assist pregnant women and new mothers with ongoing support, care, and education. Home health care nurses may be registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), or nurse assistants (NA). The scope of duties and responsibilities vary for the three classes of nurses. The responsibilities vary from providing basic nursing care to monitoring vital signs (Ligita, 2017).

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In-home healthcare, RNs are responsible for assessing patient needs and developing a care plan with the physician. They are also responsible for coordinating and overseeing care plans with the patient, their family, and other health care and social care professionals (Melby, Obstfelder, & Hellesø, 2018). Additionally, registered nurses are tasked with monitoring and evaluating patient response to treatment, overseeing case management, performing physical assessments, and assisting with daily living activities such as bathing, toileting, and mobility for patients under home care. On the other hand, the functions of LPNs in home health care are limited and include taking vital signs and managing wounds, assisting with daily living activities, and monitoring patients and reports status. Nursing assistants are responsible for assisting patients with daily living activities and performing other task-based nursing care duties.

Several benefits are associated with home health care nursing. The primary benefit is the enhancement of the quality of nursing care for patients at home. Home care nurses also play the role of coordinators to ensure that patients follow recommended medications. They also act as links to hospitals, general practitioners, and patients (Melby et al., 2018). There are also several advantages associated with a home health care nursing career. The first advantage is career flexibility. Unlike traditional hospital nursing, which is characterized by specific shifts and strict structures, home health care is characterized by more flexible shifts, depending on patient needs. Home healthcare nursing also offers greater independence since it involves more critical thinking and opportunities for innovation. Home health care nursing also offers nurses the chance to foster rewarding patient relationships and achieve a greater impact on the patient’s quality of life.

There are specific skills that nurses need to possess to help promote positive health outcomes for patients in home health care. The first important skill is integrity. Home health care nurses are responsible for offering safe and effective care for clients. Therefore, a home health care nurse should be dependable, trustworthy, and act with integrity (Robbins & Abraham, 2020). The second vital skill for home health care nurses is physical stamina. The roles of home health care nurses include assisting patients to perform daily living activities such as mobility, bathing, and grooming. Therefore, they need to have the physical and mental strength to perform such tasks. Home healthcare nurses must also possess strong interpersonal skills to help foster positive patient relationships with their clients (Robbins & Abraham, 2020). Further, home health care nurses also need to adhere to set rules and protocols. Therefore, they need to be organized and detail-oriented.

Educational and Certification Requirements

Like other nursing positions, home health care nurses also need to meet specific educational and certification requirements. The three steps to becoming a home health care nurse include earning a degree, getting licensed, and gaining experience. Before becoming a home health care nurse, one needs to get a nursing degree, such as an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing, in the case of registered nurses. RNs also need to pass a National Council Licensure Examination. Home healthcare nursing organizations also hire licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) with a certificate or diploma from an accredited institution. Like RNs, LVNs and LPNs must also undertake the National Council Licensure Examination to get a practising license (Home Care, n.d.). Other nurses may also pursue a two-year master’s degree in nursing to build on their knowledge and skills in home healthcare settings. Home health care nurses can also specialize in fields such as pediatrics, mental health, gerontology, and public health.

After earning a degree, home health care nurses need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination to become licensed to work as a nurse. The licensing requirements vary from one state to another and depend on one’s specialty. After getting licensed as a nurse, it may also be necessary to gain relevant working experience. Though not mostly mandatory, working in different settings as a nurse can help acquire the relevant skills for home health care nursing responsibilities. In the past, Home Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification was offered by the American Nursing Association, but currently, it is available for renewal only.

References

Home Care. (n.d.). How to Become a Home Healthcare Nurse. https://www.homecare.org/becoming-a-home-healthcare-nurse/

Ligita, T. (2017). Home Care Nurses’ Roles in Enhancing Quality of Nursing Care for Patients at Home: A Phenomenological Study. Belitung Nursing Journal, 3(4), 345-351.

Melby, L., Obstfelder, A., & Hellesø, R. (2018). “We tie up the loose ends”: Homecare nursing in a changing health care landscape. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, 5, 2333393618816780.

Robbins, D. & Abraham, S. (2020). Evaluation of Nursing Home Nurses’ Basic Skills Competency. 15. 19-29.

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Research and identify a nursing position in the home health care field;

write a 2 to 3-page paper that includes information about the position, additional education and certification requirements in APA format using a minimum of two current peer-reviewed scholarly sources.