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