How to Become a Home Health Care Nurse

Home Health Care Nurse Job Description

Through an array of skills and experience, home health care nurses specialize in the wide range of treatments, emotional support, education of patients who are recovering from illnesses and injury for young children and adults, to women who have experienced recent childbirth, to the elderly who need palliative care for chronic illness.  

A practicing nurse must have the skills to provide care in a unique setting such as someone's home. The nurse is working with the patient and the family and must understand the communication skills for such dynamics. Rapport is evident in all nursing positions, but working in a patient's own living space needs a different level of skill and understanding. There is autonomous decision making as the nurse is no longer working as a team with other nurses in a structured environment, but is now as a member of the "family" team. The host family has cultural values that are important and are different for every patient and must be treated with extreme sensitivity. Other skills include critical thinking, coordination, assessment, communication, and documentation.

Home health care nurses also specialize in the care of children with disabilities that requires additional skills such as patience and understanding of the needs of the family. Children are living with disabilities today that would have resulted in mortality just twenty years ago. Genetic disorders, congenital physical impairments, and injury are just a few. Many families are familiar with managing the needs of the child, but still need expert care that only a home health care nurse can provide. It is important that a home health care nurse is aware of the expertise of the family about the child's condition for proper care of the child. There are many complexities involved, but most important, a positive attitude and positive reinforcement is of utmost importance for the development of the child.

Medication coordination between the home health care nurse, doctor, and pharmacist, ensures proper management of the exact science behind giving the patient the correct dose, time of administration, and combinations. Home health care nurses should be familiar with pharmacology and taught in training about different medications used by patients in the clinical setting.

Many advanced practicing nurses are familiar with medication regiments. They have completed graduate level programs. Home health care agencies believe that a nurse should have at least one year of clinical experience before entering home health care.   Advanced practicing nurses can expedite that training by helping new nurses understand the home health care market and teaching.   

Employment and Salary

According to the United States Department of Labor, there were 2.4 million nurses in America, the largest healthcare occupation, yet many academic and hospital organizations believe there is a gross shortage in nursing staff. The shortage of nurses was 6% in 2000 and is expected to be 10% in 2010. The average salary for hospital nursing is $53,450 with 3 out of 5 nursing jobs are in the hospital. For home health care, the salary is $49,000. For nursing care facilities, they were the lowest at $48,200.

Next » Home Health Care Nurse Education

Become a Certified Home Health Care Nurse

Explore these accredited online home health care nurse opportunities below and request free no obligation information from any that interest you. We recommend getting information from several so you can compare the programs, costs, time commitments and financial aid options.

University of Phoenix Nursing

Nursing Health Care Education Certificate

This certificate is designed for health care and nursing professionals interested in pursuing careers in educational or service settings. full degree description

Penn Foster Career School

Occupational Therapy Aide

Utilizing a self-care framework, working registered nurses are prepared as generalists who are able to apply progressional skills and knowledge to nursing, client, and health care systems. full degree description

Kaplan University Online

Advanced Start Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness

Many approaches to health and wellness are explored, integrating the mind, body, and spirit. You'll learn to critically evaluate the scientific literature and research in wellness, prevention, and complementary health care; then discover how to use this knowledge to educate individuals and communities. full degree description

University of Cincinnati

Master of Science in Nursing - Nurse Midwifery

This distance education program is accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), Division of Accreditation. It is designed to help prospective nurse midwives enter this rapidly growing field. full degree description

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