Home Care Jobs for Nurses – Part 1 – Benefits of Home Health Care

Jobs for home care nurses will increase as the population ages, along with all nursing jobs. Many times you can recuperate in the comfort of your home but need visits from a nurse to provide medical care.   Or perhaps you are elderly and can’t get around but are sufficient enough to remain independent.  Having a nurse attend to your needs at home is becoming more popular than ever.  Due to modern technology, more patients than ever are able to receive treatment in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by their family.

This article will cover what services you could be expected to provide, the benefits to patients and who is best suited for this occupation.  We will assume the patient needs medical care and not just activities of daily living such as feeding, clothing, bathing, etc. Those services are typically provided by an aide and not a nurse.  We also won’t discuss hospice home care because that is a subject by itself.

Benefits of Home Health Care
Perhaps you have an illness, are recuperating from surgery, are too ill to travel or are homebound due to your age.  Children with illnesses or disabilities that can be treated at home will be more cooperative and comfortable.  These patients would be perfect candidates for home health care visits by a nurse.

Home health care has many benefits.  Most importantly it allows the patient to remain in a comfortable, familiar setting.  There is nothing like sleeping in your own bed!  It is easier and more pleasant for families to visit:  not limited by visiting hours, not visiting in the cold, sterile confines of a hospital or nursing home and increases the chance they will stay overnight when needed.  It is less expensive than being treated in a hospital, nursing home or assisted living facility and eliminates being institutionalized and provides independence which is especially important to seniors.  Studies have even shown that receiving medical treated at home improves the patient quality of life and is less stressful.  Being treated at home also provides one-on-one personalized treatment.  And last, but not least, the patient can avoid infections that travel through hospitals and nursing homes.

Please enjoy the entire series:
Part 1 – Benefits of Home Health Care
Part 2 – Services a Nurse Can Expect to Provide
Part 3 – What Type of Nurse is Suitable for Home Health Care Work?
Part 4 – Questions to Ask a Prospective Home Care Agency Before Accepting a Job Offer