Home Health and Hospice Nursing

Overview

Home health nursing involves providing acute and chronic care to individuals in their place of residence. This setting requires the nurse to be autonomous and highly skilled in physical assessment and resource management. Hospice and palliative care are specialized areas within home health focused on end-of-life support.

Key nursing concepts

• Home health provides skilled nursing care in the client's residence.
• The nurse acts as a case manager coordinating various services.
• Hospice care focuses on quality of life and pain management.
• Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness.
• Documentation must reflect the need for 'skilled' nursing care.
• Safety assessments are critical for preventing home-based injuries.

Important nursing considerations

• Ensure the home environment is safe for the nurse to enter.
• Assess for fall risks such as throw rugs or poor lighting.
• Evaluate the patient's ability to perform activities of daily living.
• Verify that the patient has adequate refrigeration for medications.
• Observe family dynamics and the presence of caregiver burnout.

Patient teaching

• Teach caregivers how to safely assist with patient transfers.
• Review medication schedules and potential side effects with the family.
• Instruct on how to recognize signs of worsening health conditions.

Related practice questions

Real questions from the NursGuru bank, each with the answer and rationale.

1. Practice question 1 →
2. Practice question 2 →
3. Practice question 3 →
4. Practice question 4 →
5. Practice question 5 →

Home Health and Hospice Nursing flashcards

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