Home Health Journal

1214 Words3 Pages

Home health care has become an increasingly acceptable and popular form of health care provided to patients for acute, chronic, and terminal illnesses. Home health continues to rise in demand for a variety of reasons. Home health is a cost effective method of providing patients with the care that they require (Phipps, Monahan, Sands, Marek, & Neighbors, 2003, p.154). Patients can receive needed care without the added cost of a hospital stay or an extended hospital stay. This helps to lower the cost for hospitals, insurance companies, public assistance, and the patient. Other added benefits to patients receiving home health care are a decrease in nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections, improved nutritional status, personalization of care, increased sense of control, encouragement of autonomy, quicker return to normal routine, increased privacy and comfort, and increased family support and involvement (Phipps et al, 2003, p154). The fore mentioned benefits help the patient to heal in their own environment at their own pace with the support of their family and friends and also includes the assistance of a skilled registered nurse to help manage their health care needs during the healing process. For this process to be successful, the home health system relies on skilled registered nurses that are not only educated in medical surgical nursing; but, who also possess excellent organizational skills, communication skills, assessment skills, creativity, flexibility, and managerial skills (Phipps et al, 2003, p.154). These skills are necessary to maximize patient potential and adapt health care practice to the needs of their patients. The nurses must also be able to use their communication and managerial skills to collaborate w...

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...as the use of patient education, the promotion of a healthy well balanced diet, non-pharmacologic interventions to assist in correcting symptoms, removing potential hazards from the environment, and cleaning hands and supplies before and after contact with patients. The use of communication and organizational skills also appropriately crosses over the many health care settings. The home health observation was a positive experience and served as an excellent example to follow in the course of professional health care practice.

Works Cited
Black, J. & Hawks, J. 2009. Medical surgical nursing: Clinical management for

positive outcomes. (8th Ed.). St. Louis: MO. Elsevier Saunders.

Phipps, W., Monahan, F., Sands, J., Marek, J., & Neighbors, M. 2003. Medical

surgical nursing: Health and illness perspectives. (7th Ed.). St. Louis:

MO. Elsevier Saunders.

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