Choosing a Career as a Home Health Nurse

As the proportion of older adults grows, more and more older individuals are looking for affordable healthcare options that allow them to remain as independent as possible. A home health nurse can help fill this gap for many patients.

Home health nurses are helping to meet the needs of patients with personalized, quality care. If you’re interested in a career as a home health nurse, read on to learn more. 

In this article:

• What is a home health nurse?
• Where do home health nurses work?
• Requirements for home health nurses
• Specific types of home health nurses
• Home health nurse careers
• How to become a home health nurse

What is a home health nurse?

A home health nurse provides home-based care for patients. In general, a home health nurse will provide follow-up treatment after a patient is discharged from the hospital or another healthcare facility. Additionally, they will use their skills and experience to track the progress of their patients. This is done by monitoring vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse rate, and blood oxygen. 

A home health nurse will carry out the physician’s orders as well. For instance, the physician might request lab tests, requiring the home health nurse to draw blood or other biological samples. Along with this, a nurse might perform tasks such as make meal plans and show patients how to use medical equipment.

The ultimate priority for a home health nurse is to meet the needs of the patient as they would in a medical facility. For this reason, the nurse’s daily job roles will depend on the patient’s needs at the time. 

It’s also important to note that the duties of a home health nurse will depend on their credentials. Here is an overview of what a nurse can do for their patients based on the credentials they’ve acquired.

Nursing Assistant

A nursing assistant helps patients perform daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and skincare. In the home health care environment, a nursing assistant might do the following:

• Take vital signs
• Report to the supervising registered nurse about any concerns regarding the patient
• Assist with mobility
• Assist with daily living

Licensed Practical Nurse

A licensed practical nurse (LPN) is a nurse who cares for people who are sick, injured, or disabled. An LPN works under the direction of physicians, mid-level practitioners, and registered nurses. In the home health care environment, a licensed practical nurse might perform the following tasks:

• Administer medication
• Provide wound care and dressing changes
• Take vital signs
• Report to the supervising registered nurse about any concerns regarding the patient
• Assist with mobility
• Assist with daily living

Registered Nurse

A registered nurse is someone who holds at least a nursing diploma or an Associate Degree in Nursing. In addition, RNs have passed the NCLEX-RN exam. The occupational function of a registered nurse can vary. In the home health environment, a registered nurse can perform the following tasks:

• Administer medication
• Take vital signs
• Perform physical assessment
• Draw labs
• Assist with daily living
• Assist with mobility
• Come together with a physician to develop a plan of action for the patient

Where do home health nurses work?

As the names suggest, home health nurses primarily work at their patient’s homes. However, some nurses have a central office where they keep their patient’s records and perform administrative tasks. Ultimately, a home health nurse is meant to fill the gap between hospitalization and long-term care facilities and independent living facilities. 

Since home health nurses don’t work in medical facilities, they are largely self-directed while on the job. Because of this, it’s important for these nurses to have effective time management skills and to be self-sufficient.  In addition, it’s essential that they have strong communication skills as they will interact with the patient’s families to discuss care needs.

Requirements for home health nurses

Licensing

There are many paths for individuals looking to become a home health nurse. It is possible to earn your LPN degree and work as a home health nurse. However, many home health care agencies look for registered nurses who have an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing. 

A two-year associate degree will focus on nursing skills and clinical care while a four-year degree will focus on clinical training in addition to research, management, and leadership training. 

It’s important to note that you will need to pass your NCLEX-RN exam and have at least 2 years of experience working in clinical patient care in order to pursue a career in home health nursing. In addition, for those looking to take on leadership roles, it is advised to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing. 

Continuing education

Many home health nurses seek continuing education in their careers, and many states require a certain amount of continuing education in order to renew your license . Continuing education keeps you up-to-date on the latest advancements in care and treatment and allows nurses to explore other opportunities in the healthcare industry.

There are various continuing education courses available to help meet your needs and budget. Incredible Health offers free nursing CEUs for continuing education accredited in all 50 states. Sign up to get started.

Other certifications and credentials

While there are no certifications specific to a home health care nurse, there are general certifications for nurses that those working in the home health industry could benefit from.  Here are 3 common certifications for nurses. 

Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN): This certification requires applicants to hold an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree. In addition, you will need 1,800 clinical hours completed within the last two years or 3,000 hours of pediatric experience. The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board must approve the application before the nurse can take the exam. 

Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN): This certification requires nurses to prove their competency in oncology. In addition, nurses will be required to show two years of work experience in the last four years. Applicants will also need 2,000 hours of specialty practice and 10 hours of contact hours of continuing nursing education in oncology. 

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA): This certification allows nurses to administer anesthesia. For this certification, a nurse must earn a master’s degree or higher from a nurse anesthesia program, which must be accredited by the Council of Accreditation. You must also hold a valid registered nurse license to qualify for the test. 

Specific types of home health nurses

There are various types of nurses who can provide home health care to patients. Here are three types of nurses to consider.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): A CNS is usually highly specialized in a particular area of medicine or treatment but are looked at as experts who are qualified for many areas of medicine. They are commonly found in emergency room settings and intensive care units for specific diseases such as cancer.

Operating Room Nurse (OR): An OR specializes in perioperative care for patients who are prepping and recovering from surgery. The OR nurse will help to evaluate the patient and create a plan an action for before and after surgery care. Hospitals on Incredible Health are actively hiring for OR nurses across the United States. Sign up for free to find your next job.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): A CNA helps RNs and LPNs with daily tasks. A CNA will respond to the patient’s immediate needs such as bringing them food and personal hygiene.

Home health nurse careers

The demand for home health nurses is certainly growing, especially with the need for more affordable healthcare options. There are competitive salaries across the U.S for nurses who seek a career in home health care. 

Salary

Here is the median salary for home health nurses based on experience.

• Entry-level: $53,600 yearly
• Mid-Career: $60, 570 yearly
• Experienced: $63, 460 yearly

[More: States with the highest average RN salaries]

Career outlook

The career outlook for home health nurses is relatively good. The aging population requires nursing assistance with things such as chronic illness, which creates opportunities for more nurses who can help meet their needs and aid in their quality of life.

Because of these factors, among others, experts anticipate continued job growth of over 36% in the home health sector through 2028 – an increase of more than 300,000 home health jobs. This can be seen through states such as Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and many others.

How to become a home health nurse

Step 1: Get a nursing degree

The first step in becoming a home health nurse is to meet the educational requirements. This means you must complete an associate, or bachelor’s degree program in nursing. You can complete an associate program at a two-year community college. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree will require two years of general education along with two years of upper-division nursing units. 

Step 2: Get licensed

The next step in the process is to become licensed. Nursing graduates must take the NCLEX-RN exam, which is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Those who pass the exam can become a registered nurse through their state of residence. 

Step 3: Get nursing experience

After passing the exam, it’s important to gain experience as a registered nurse. This is because most employers generally look for candidates who have at least one year of experience working as a nurse. To become a more attractive candidate, consider working in critical care environments such as an emergency room, critical care unit, or intensive care unit. 

Conclusion

Working as a home health nurse is a rewarding experience. Home health nurses aren’t just in huge demand but these nurses can feel a great sense of accomplishment as they provide one-on-one care to their patients right at their homes. 

Nurses who work in this type of environment can expect to provide similar job duties that they would in other medical settings. However, a home health nurse will focus on improving the function of their patients and help them live with greater independence. In addition, a nurse will help to improve the overall well-being of their patients and work with them to ensure they can continue to live at home and avoid hospitalization for a better quality of life.