Pros & Cons for Nurses That Do Home Care Nursing
Nursing is a versatile field, allowing practitioners to work in a number of different clinical settings. One of these settings may be in the patient's home; home care nurses are also known as "visiting nurses." But before you embark on (or continue) your career in nursing, there are a few things that you need to know about this practice setting.
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Flexibility
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One of the best attributes of a home care nursing job is the flexibility that it allows the practitioner. The nurse gets to travel from home to home, constantly seeing new faces and new surroundings. Hours are less rigid as well, as visits don't necessarily have to be completed in traditional nursing shifts. Many practitioners appreciate this flexibility, as it allows them more time for their personal lives. They also enjoy the excitement that comes with a constantly changing work environment.
Patient Interaction
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Many times, when patients are in facilities (such as a hospitals or nursing homes), they aren't feeling their best, emotionally or physically. When nurses see them at home, they are likely to be dealing with less complicated physical problems, which means less intense work for the home care nurses. The patients can also be calmer and more agreeable in their own environments, and therefore easier to work with. These factors help to make patient interactions more pleasant overall.
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Cost
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Unfortunately, home care nursing has its downsides as well. One of these is that nurses are often required to use their own vehicles for transportation. This increases the cost of gas, car maintenance, or the possibility of a breakdown on the road. Few agencies offer the use of a comany car, although some do give gas allowances to help offset the additional cost. Nurses should also determine if they can deduct gas or mileage on their tax returns as part of a work expense.
Emergencies
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Finally, another "con" of home care nursing for the employee is that she may be called upon to handle emergencies which would be better dealt with in a hospital. Home care nurses can arrive at a patient's residence to find them unconscious, unresponsive or having a seizure or attack. Whereas a hospital has the equipment and staff to handle this urgent matter immediately, a home care nurse often must call her agency or 911 in order to deal with the issue. Often, she must also accompany the patient in the ambulance to the hospital to communicate with other health care staff.
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References
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