What You Need to Know About Home Health Nursing
Home Health Nursing is a young specialized nursing field. It evolved from nurses who served in the community as Community Health Nurses. Today, it is one of the fastest growing nursing fields. It is estimated that around 7 out of 10 families in the United States require Home Health Care. With Home Health Nursing, nurses can provide individualized health care to people within the comfort of their own home.
How to Become a Home Health Nurse
In order to become a home health nurse, future nurses must first obtain a degree in Nursing. In the United States, nurses can choose between a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) or an associate degree (ADN). A license is also required from all nurses before they can practice professionally.
Before entering the home health care field, some nurses start out working for hospitals. In order to smoothly transition from a hospital nurse to a home care nurse, they may be required to undergo trainings. Some employers also prefer (but not require) their nurses to become certified home health care professionals. Certification may be obtained from Home Health Care Nursing Organizations like the Visiting Nurses Association of America (VNAA).
In the Philippines, Home Health Nursing is still intricately intertwined with Community Health Nursing. Nurses in the country will perform home visits in the locales they are assigned to. They may also be asked to serve in Barangay Health Centers too. In order to become a Home Health Nurse in the Philippines, nurses need to have a valid license. Once they have that, they can inquire from local health centers or the DOH as to where they can submit their resumes.
Who Benefits From Home Health Nursing Care?
Both the nurses and the individuals they care for benefit from Home Health Nursing. The community that the nurses are involved in also gain from the services provided by Home Health Nurses. Nurses practicing Home Health Care benefit from the regular hours afforded by the job. They may be required to travel – but at least, they won’t be working rotating shifts like they do in hospitals. Of course, some nurses may be called to respond to emergencies – but these are rare occasions.
Aside from nurse working regular hours, home health care is also important for people who do not have the time and means to visit the hospital. This means that they won’t have to leave home to seek healthcare. Healthcare is also important to new mothers who have returned home from the hospital. Home Health Nurses can help them adjust to their new home life. These nurses will also be able to give young parents tips on how to care for their newborn.
Home health care also branches out into medical surgical and geriatric nurses. These nurses will be the ones to follow the home progress of post surgical patients. They will also provide care to geriatric patients – the nurses will ensure that they have the things they need. Home Health nurses may also refer geriatric patients to institutions that can assign people to help them perform everyday activities.
Work Opportunities for Home Health Nurses
Home Health Nurses have a lot of opportunities available to them. The Unites States as well as other countries abroad are experiencing shortages in their nursing workforce. It is estimated that the US is home to over 2.4 Million nurses, but despite that number, most healthcare facilities are still experiencing shortages. The country’s current need is expected to rise in the years ahead.
Published at: 04/10/2015
