The proper home health nurse can help make independent living more achievable while still closely monitoring and managing your health condition. Well-organized health experts with lots of experience, home health nurses are there to make you feel at ease and make sure your treatment goes according to plan. They can also help you to understand the intended outcomes of your treatment and provide a listening ear. 

If you’re planning your first home health nurse visit, here are a few things to expect (and ask) to help make the most of the experience. 

Before the visit 

Before their first visit, you’ll be contacted by a representative or a nurse, who will help you get to grips with what to expect. This representative is there to smooth the transition between hospital care and home care. 

You should be notified of when they’ll be visiting and anything you may need to do to prepare. 

Evaluation 

One of the first steps your nurse will undertake is to evaluate your current condition. This will help them to organize a plan of care that suits your needs. The evaluation process will differ, depending on your condition and your medical team’s needs. You should be fully involved in this process and leave the session with more information about what to expect in the coming weeks and months. 

Your home health nurse will be responsible for helping to plan your care from other applicable healthcare professionals – for instance, dietitians or physical therapists – ensuring a well-rounded and effective treatment schedule that works for you. 

If anything seems unclear or any of the treatment dates scheduled aren’t workable for you, let your home health nurse know. 

Discussion 

This is also a great time to chat with your home health nurse about any questions or concerns you might have. Remember, you’ll be seeing them often – so this is an opportunity to find out about anything you’ve not yet been able to ask and to establish open lines of communication. 

Your home health nurse is likely to ask you a few questions, too – making sure you know exactly how things will progress as you move forward with treatment and helping to put your mind at rest. If anything is unclear or you have any worries, this is a great time to make sure your home health nurse knows. They’ll be happy to talk you through the way your visits will develop and find solutions to your queries or concerns.  

Medication 

Your home health nurse will also take the time to plan and administer any medication you’re currently taking, whether post-operatively or in the long term. They’ll help devise a schedule for medication that has to be taken outside of their visiting hours. They will likely either give or show you how to provide yourself with any injections, tablets, or tests that you need to carry out throughout the day, week, or week month of your treatment. 

As with every other stage of their first visit, be sure to flag any questions or concerns you have. You must know when to take your medication and understand the aims of the treatment you’ve been given. Be sure your home health nurse also provides you with information on any side effects that may occur.  

Monitoring 

One of the main aims of a home health visit is to monitor your condition and help keep you out of the hospital. Home care is a fantastic solution for many diverse conditions – and can often be both less costly and more comfortable for patients. 

Expect your vital signs to be taken during the visit and jotted down so that the nurse can keep a close eye on your progress throughout treatment. 

How long is the visit? 

The length of your first home health nurse visit will differ, depending on your condition and the complexity of the treatment plan which is being developed. 

The first visit could take as long as three hours or much less time if your needs are not as comprehensive. Please don’t feel like you have to rush this stage, as it’s necessary to get to know the person who will be helping you manage your health at home.

At Nurses Registry, we can schedule a free personalized in-home health care assessment with just a few clicks. Head to the official website and get in touch for more information.