Safety Standards for Home Health Nurses

When on the job, home health nurses must maintain their own health and safety.

Although a career as a home health nurse is based on caring for and tending to the safety of their patients, home health nurses must be aware of safety precautions to maintain their own health and safety when on the job.

Hand-Washing

A home health nurse can easily pick up infectious bacteria on her hands and introduce them to her own body, according to Barbara Acello, in her book, "Nurse Assisting: Tips for Long-term Care." Frequent hand-washing prevents prevents the spread of infection by killing harmful bacteria.

Body Mechanics

Home health nurses are frequently required to lift, move and properly position patients. When performing strenuous procedures, a home health nurse should always bend from the knees and hips rather than from the waist.

Be Aware of Surroundings

A home health nurse should always be alert and safe, according to AllNurses.com. New dangers that wouldn't normally affect a home health nurse may arise depending on the neighborhoods they are assigned to work in. Home health nurses should always be cautious and aware of their surroundings.

References

• "Nursing Assisting, Essentials for Long-Term Care"; Barbara Acello, MS, RN; 2005
• AllNurses.com: Tips for Home Health Nursing

Resources

• "Nursing Assisting, Essentials for Long-Term Care"; Barbara Acello, MS, RN; 2005
• allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses