OVERVIEW
What is a Home Health Nurse?
A home health nurse is a nurse who works with individuals who need long-term care at home, providing regular care to keep patients healthy and progressing. Home health nurses work with a variety of different people, but most often they may work with the elderly or those with physical or mental limitations that make it difficult for them to leave their homes. A home health nurse travels to patients’ homes and may provide care ranging from measuring vital signs to changing wound dressings and encouraging physical or occupational therapy.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Home Health Nurse Do?
As a home health nurse, you’ll provide one-on-one care for patients in their homes. These patients can be elderly, critically ill, or disabled, or they may be recovering from a surgery, injury, or accident. In-home nurses can also assist pregnant women and new mothers with ongoing care, support, and education.
Home health nurses can be registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), or nurse assistants. Here are the general responsibilities of a home health nurse:
- Evaluating and treating patients. Homebound patients must be assessed daily as they often have chronic or serious conditions that require constant monitoring. Home health nurses should be able to quickly evaluate patients and assess which type of care needs to be given in order to keep the patient comfortable and as healthy as possible.
- Providing postoperative care. Many patients return home to recover after surgery. Home health nurses provide care to these patients in the comfort of their homes. Postoperative care might involve administering painkillers, redressing wounds, sponge bathing, and ensuring proper hydration.
- Monitoring stress-test evaluations. Patients must work to build or regain their strength, particularly if they are homebound and have a goal to progress. Stress tests often involve monitoring a patient's blood pressure and breathing while they ride a stationary bike or walk on a treadmill.
- Educating patients and their families. Keeping families informed and helping them know how best to care for their loved one is critical. Home health nurses have a responsibility to help families feel comfortable in this area. They should be aware of any specific areas of concern and have a good idea of how to keep their family member comfortable while helping them heal.
- Supporting and motivating patients' lifestyle changes. Many times, a patient must make considerable lifestyle changes in order to cope with their new condition. Perhaps they can no longer walk but still want to get outside and ride in their wheelchair. Maybe they must be extra careful about their diet and can no longer eat the number of salty snacks they once enjoyed. Support them, encourage them, and help them to live their new life.
- Monitoring tests and readings. Taking a patient's blood pressure is one of the most common at-home tests. Occasionally urine tests may also be necessary. Depending on the patient's condition, there are a number of cognitive tests that might be carried out. In general, the tests are aimed at ensuring the patient is healing from or coping with their specific condition.
There's a lot you should know about being a home health nurse before you embark on the path to become one. Also known as home care nurse, in-home nurse, and home health care nurse, home health nurses care for individuals and families in their homes. Many times, the clients or patients of home health nurses are aging, severely handicapped, or immunocompromised. As a home health nurse, you must be exceptionally patient, kind, and careful as you're providing care to these individuals. To be a home health nurse, you must have at least an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). That said, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is preferable.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Home Health Nurse?
There are many education, certification, and experience requirements to become a home health nurse. Here are the necessary steps to become one.
- Earn a BSN or ADN. Associate and bachelor's degree programs in nursing teach students the necessary skills to become effective home health nurses.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN to receive RN licensure. This exam evaluates nursing knowledge and skills. It's a requirement for RN nurses in every state.
- Gain nursing experience. There are many entry-level nursing roles that allow you to gain experience. Many nurses become certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to prepare to earn a full nursing degree and specialize as home health nurses.
- Get certified. There are a number of specialties within nursing. For instance, you might opt to specialize in gerontology, pediatrics, or hospice care. Decide which area of nursing interests you most and gain the necessary certifications.
Best Degrees for a Home Health Nurse
Health & Nursing
Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S.
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a...
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a baccalaureate-prepared nurse:
- Locations: Due to in-person clinical requirements, students must be full time residents of Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin to enroll in this program. The coursework in this program is offered online, but there are in-person requirements.
- Tuition: $8,755 per 6-month term for the first 4 terms of pre-nursing coursework and $8,755 per 6-month term for the remaining 4 terms of clinical nursing coursework.
- Time: This program has a set pace and an expected completion time of 4 years. Certain coursework may be accelerated to finish faster.
- WGU offers the prelicensure program in areas where we have partnerships with healthcare employers to provide practice sites and clinical coaches to help teach you and inspire you on your path to becoming a nurse.
- If you don't live in one of our prelicensure states or don't qualify to apply, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also working directly with patients who need help.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Community Health
- Women's and Children's Nursing
- Pathology
- Physiology
- Research
Health & Nursing
Nursing (RN-to-BSN Online) – B.S.
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added...
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added theoretical depth, employability, and respect that a bachelor's degree brings:
- Time: The program is designed to be completed in 1 year.
- Tuition: $5,325 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 23 total courses in this program.
- Transfers: Students can transfer up to 90 credits.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Healthcare Policy and Economics
- Information Technology in Nursing Practice
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Applied Healthcare Statistics
If you don't currently have an RN and don't qualify for your nursing prelicensure program, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry in a unique way.
Health & Nursing
Nursing – Leadership & Management (RN-to-MSN) – M.S.
This program for RNs includes a BSN component and is a substantial leap...
This program for RNs includes a BSN component and is a substantial leap toward becoming a nurse leader.
- Time: 62% of RN-to-MSN grads finish within 37 months.
- Tuition: $5,325 per 6-month term during undergraduate portion and $5,035 per 6-month term during graduate portion.
- Courses: 32 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program:
- Quality Outcomes in a Culture of Value-Based Nursing Care
- Nursing Leadership and Management
- Advanced Pathopharmacological Foundations
- Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care
If you're driven to lead, this online nursing degree will provide you everything needed to make that career a reality. This program is ideal for current RNs who are interested in earning both their BSn and MSN in an accelerated program.
Compare degrees
This program is not the only degree WGU offers designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.
Health & Nursing
Nursing – Leadership & Management (BSN-to-MSN) – M.S.
For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for...
For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for additional career opportunities.
- Time: 61% of grads finish within 23 months
- Tuition: $5,035 per 6-month term
- Courses: 15 total courses in this program
This program is ideal for current RNs who have a BSN and are ready for the next step in their education.
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program:
- Quality Outcomes in a Culture of Value-Based Nursing Care
- Nursing Leadership and Management
- Advanced Pathopharmacological Foundations
- Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care
Compare degrees
This program is not the only degree WGU offers designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.
Health & Nursing
Nursing Leadership and Management – Post-Master's Certificate
A certificate for registered nurses with a master's degree in nursing who...
A certificate for registered nurses with a master's degree in nursing who are ready for greater responsibility in a leadership and management role.
- Time: Students typically finish this program in 12 months.
- Tuition: $5,035 per 6-month term. The cost to sit for the NAHQ Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) exam is included in tuition.
- Courses: 8 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Strategic Planning
- Resource Management
- Business Case Analysis
- Evaluating Healthcare Improvements
How Much Does a Home Health Nurse Make?
$75,459
According to ZipRecruiter, the national average annual salary for home health nurses in 2023 is $75,459 with the top three percent making more than $100,500. Pay can vary depending on the state and level of education and experience.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
22%
According to the BLS, the demand for home health and personal care aides is projected to grow by an astounding 22% from 2022 to 2032. This number will likely be similar for home health nurses. As the population ages, the need for home health will continue to grow.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Home Health Nurse Need?
Because providing home care can be unpredictable, a successful home health nurse should have a positive attitude and be lighthearted. And since they often work alone, they should be excellent problem-solvers that work well independently. Home health nurses are responsible for many aspects of a patient's life, so they need to be ready to take on that challenge. Some important skills for home health nursing include:
- Catheterization. Many homebound patients use a catheter. It's important that home health nurses are well acquainted with the proper techniques for catheterization to ensure their patients remain comfortable and get the best care.
- Defibrillation. If a home health patient goes into cardiac arrest, the home health nurse must be ready to provide defibrillation. Knowing how to use a defibrillator is critical as it could save a patient's life should their heart stop beating.
- Condition-specific treatment abilities. Home health nurses treat patients with many different conditions. They should know how to treat patients dealing with conditions ranging from diabetes to dementia, cerebral palsy to cystic fibrosis, and so many more.
- Patient care. Home health nurses must be skilled at working one-on-one with individual patients. Providing personalized patient care should be their top priority and skill they've honed.
- Communication. A home health nurse must be skilled in both verbal and written communication. They should be able to communicate well with individuals who have hearing or mental impairments, and they should take extra care to be specific in their instructions to family members and caregivers.
- Critical thinking. Making decisions quickly and being able to change directions and switch plans is key. Emergencies may arise frequently, so knowing the correct protocol and remaining calm is important. Being a skilled and calm critical thinker is a crucial skill as a home health nurse.
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