Home health nurses must be available for evening, night, holiday or weekend shifts. They must be self-starters with good time management skills because they usually work away from supervisors. They need good listening and communication skills combined with compassion for patients and their families. The ability to work with people from different cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds is essential. Their need to analyze information and make crucial and life-or-death decisions requires keen critical thinking skills. Home health nurses also need emotional strength to deal with the daily stress of working with sick people.

Requirements

• At least 1 years of home health experience required- 2 or more years of experienced preferred
• LPNs and RNs must fulfill state licensing requirements to serve as home health nurses and a current clean active Georgia state license . The specific mandates vary from state to state. However, all states require an approved nursing education plus a passing score on the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX, at the LPN or RN level. Contact your state board to find out the current licensing requirements for practical or registered nurses.

Home Health Nurse duties and responsibilities

Home Health Nurses provide a variety of tasks during patient visits depending on the specific plan of care and type of patient. They often have the following duties and responsibilities: 

• Assess and chart observations of the patient’s condition at each visit
• Complete evaluation tasks, including reviewing medication and vital signs
• Administer Physician-prescribed medication
• Dress or redress wounds and assess the healing progress
• Provide education to patients and families on proper home health care procedures and strategies
• Coordinate with physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists and other individuals in the patient’s care plan
• Keep the patient comfortable through palliative care
• Recommend tools or devices that may improve the quality of life for the patient

Home Health Nurse skills and qualifications

A successful Home Health Nurse uses a variety of soft skills and clinical knowledge to provide the most comprehensive care. These skills can include: 

• Strong interpersonal skills that allow them to get to know their patients, build personal rapport and establish trust to provide high-quality care while increasing patients’ enjoyment and comfort
• Initiative so they can make independent decisions when required and accept direction and requests from patients
• Ability to act swiftly in emergencies and work efficiently
• Flexibility and patience to work in a variety of living environments 
• Knowledge of clinical skills including changing bandages, giving tube feedings, administering shots and setting up and monitoring Ivs
• Bilingual or fluent in Spanish is a plus
• Is able to lift, turn and transfer clients weighting up to 150+ pounds.
• Is able to carry bundles upstairs weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Must be able to stoop and bend.
• Must be able to travel to prospective client’s place of residence.
• Must be able to hear and effectively communicate in English.

Qualifications:

• A High school diploma or equivalent.
• Completion of a training for personal care services.
• Will have a minimum of one (1) year experience as a professional.
• Must have a criminal background check and current CPR certification.
• Speaks, reads, and writes and able to communicate effectively in English.
• Bilingual or fluent in Spanish is a plus

Responsibilities:

• Perform tasks assigned by the Supervisor.
• Report in writing, on agency forms, to the Supervisor on each client assignment.
• Promptly report any significant changes observed or reported in the client’s condition to the Supervisor.
• Confer as required with the Supervisor regarding client’s progress.

Provide Personal Care services which may include: 

• Assistance with bathing
• Getting in and out of bed
• Teeth, mouth, denture and hair care
• Assistance with mobility and ambulation including use of walker, cane or crutches
• Changing of bed and laundering the bed linens and personal clothing
• Skin care excluding wound care
• Care of glasses and hearing aids
• Assistance with dressing and undressing
• Toileting, including use and care of bedpan, urinal, commode, toilet
• Light cleaning in essential areas of the home during personal care activities
• Meal prep, food purchasing, meal serving
• Simple transfers, including bed to chair or wheelchair and reverse
• Accompanying the client to obtain medical diagnosis and treatment
• Other as outlined on service plan.
• Follow Standard precautions/proper infection control when providing client service.
• Maintain client confidentiality per HIPAA and Agency policy guidelines.
• Perform ONLY tasks specified for each individual client on the service plan.
• Follow emergency procedures in the event of any medical or non-medical situations.
• Follow client rights at all times.
• Record each activity performed on each case on a daily basis.
• Report any incidents or client changes immediately to the Supervisor.
• Submit Daily Activity Sheets and record accurately on a timely basis (weekly).
• Follow instructions, is punctual and is at work as scheduled.
• Follow all agency policy and procedures.
• Attend in-service education annually per agency policy.
• Maintain effective communication with client, family, supervisor and other team members.
• Follows instructions, is punctual and attendance is acceptable.
• Other duties as assigned.

Functional Abilities:

• Is able to lift, turn and transfer clients weighting up to 150+ pounds.
• Is able to carry bundles upstairs weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Must be able to stoop and bend.
• Must be able to travel to prospective client’s place of residence.
• Must be able to hear and effectively communicate in English.
• Bilingual or fluent in Spanish is a plus