Home health care typically involves nurses serving patients in the patient's home when they are discharged from a medical facility. Home health nurses are involved with not only treating patients but also providing emotional support to their patients and educating patients and their caregivers in regard to follow-up care.
Function
The typical duties of a home health nurse include noting symptoms, recording and maintaining the medical records of the patient, administering treatments, prescribing medications and performing certain diagnostic testing. Teaching patients how to manage their own health care is also an important part of the nurse's job. They may also give caregivers instructions regarding nutrition, diet and exercise for the patient.
Education
Most nurses who work in home health care are registered nurses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a person can take three educational paths that lead to becoming a registered nurse. The first option is receiving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a four-year college or university. The second option is receiving an Associate of Nursing degree in a two-year program from a community college. The third option is obtaining a diploma from a nursing program offered at a local hospital.
Licensing
Once educational requirements have been met, potential nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination to become a licensed registered nurse. This licensing is required in all 50 states and some states may have additional license requirements. The board of nursing in your state can provide a list of all requirements for interested candidates.
Considerations
Nurses that work in the home health industry don't have access to the normal team setting of other health care fields. They must have excellent communication skills and be able to make independent decisions. Since they perform their duties primarily in the home of the patient, they must remain sensitive to the family's differing levels of understanding as well as their cultural values. While they frequently work alone, home health care nurses act as a liaison between the patient and other people in the health care community, such as the pharmacist and physician.
Employment Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses make up the largest component of the industry. Employment in the registered nursing fields is expected to increase by 22 percent by 2018. One-third of these jobs will be in the home health field. As of May 2008, the BLS estimated that the median earnings for home health nurses to be $58,740 per year.
