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