Home nursing -

Home nursing is the care and assistance provided by family and friends in the patient's own home. Home nursing provides comfort, support, and care for a sick, convalescing, injured, or older member of the family. It consists of looking after the family member who is unable to perform without assistance the things he/she usually does for himself/herself. Essentially, home nursing is looking after the health and welfare of the entire family.

Importance of home nursing -

We can never know when a family member will get sick or be injured. IlIness and injury happen unexpectedly. But the hospital is no longer the only place for treating patients. Some hospital techniques and routines can now be adapted at home that even some seriously ill patients can be taken care of within the comfortable surroundings of the patient's own home. The home is actually an excellent place for treatment and recovery when the patient's medical and nursing needs can be adequately met there.

Home nursing focuses on the patient. It is concerned with the patient's needs and well-being. In the home, the patient is cared for as a loved one rather than a sick individual because of the fact that home nursing encourages open communication among family members. Members of the family have the opportunity and time to confer with the patient and gain better understanding of the patient's needs and feelings. In all instances of sickness, this is important because it provides patients with greater peace of mind about their condition. The fact that home nursing helps patients cope with their emotions may actually hasten their recovery. The care of a dedicated and loving family promotes the physical, emotional, and psychological health of every patient.

Changing attitudes towards home care -

Home nursing is increasingly becoming an accepted alternative to hospitalization. Doctors now recognize the importance of home nursing in the treatment of illness. Three important reasons for this development are the following:

Medical advances -

Medical Advances. Modern methods of treatment and the discovery of new drugs have simplified the responsibility of taking care of patients at home Moreover, information initiatives by government health agencies, nongovernmental organizations, as well as from the private sectors, have brought greater awareness to the people about health and illnesses. These developments have reduced some of the complications of taking care of the patient at home.

Financial advantage -

One of the great advantages of home nursing is that it is usually less expensive than hospital care Hospital fees vary greatly, depending on factors such as the medical condition of the patient, the type of room, the services, and facilities provided in the institution. Families who prefer to take care of their loved ones in their own homes can save much money from hospital charges which may include daily room rates, laboratory tests, supplies, medicines, and one of the biggest part of the hospitalization expense--the professional fees of the doctors and other medical personnel.

Psychological and emotional value -

Patients often feel more comfortable and secure, being cared for in their homes by their family and friends. To some, just the thought of going to the hospital unduly stresses them even more and this may contribute to the delay of their recovery. Some patients manage better in a familiar place like the home where the people are more intimate and multigenerational interactions are often displayed. Assurance of a personalized and loving attention in a home setting often helps patients recover more quickIy.

The home nurse -

Caring for a patient at home is essentially a family concern. It involves the genuine cooperation of the whole family. Taking care of a patient at home can be difficult, especially when the family is unprepared for the new responsibility. Much of the anxiety that comes with it could be minimized if any member of the family has the knowledge and skills to gIve home nursing care.

The home nurse may be any member of the family, a relative, or a close friend who has the time and commitment to care for the patient. The family members must discuss with each other the situation and find the most suitable arrangement that would be to the best interest of all concerned. It is ideal if the patients are Involved in decisions concerning their care. Patients need to feel that they still have some control over what is happening to them.

Behavior and skills of a home nurse -

Being the home nurse is not easy .You have to be prepared to face a difficult situation that could be a round-the-clock care for a loved one who is sick. In order to carry out your duties properly, reflect if you have any of these qualities.

1. Emotionally prepared. The emotional attitude of the home nurse is sometimes more important than the knowledge of home nursing techniques. In many cases, patients recover more rapidly when the home nurse is pleasant and show real concern for their welfare. The home nurse must willingly accept the responsibilities of taking care of a patient at home.

2. Organized. The home nurse should plan, organize, and complete tasks on time. Often, the home nurse follows a strict schedule of procedures

3. Knowledgeable. Basic knowledge and practical skills on home care and nursing are necessary for the comfort and safety of the patient.The home nurse must know how to do everything that is expected of him/her.

4. Perceptive. The home nurse should be aware of the patient's needs. He/She should be alert and mindful of whatever developments or changes in the patient's condition.

5. Responsible. The home nurse must act in a reasonable and careful manner. He/She must perform his/her tasks prudently so as not to harm or injure the patient.

6. Physically fit. Caring for a patient at home is physically and psychologically demanding. The home nurse cannot afford to get sick because the patient is dependent on him/her. The home nurse must practice habits that promote good physical and mental health not only for himself/herself but also for the patient and all the rest of the members of the family.

Duties of a home nurse.

As a whole, the duties of the home nurse are similar to the general responsibilities of a professional nurse. All aspects of nursing are important to the home nurse. The scope and purpose of nursing as perceived by the professionals are as follows.

1. Provide physical and emotional care for the sick or disabled person. Caring is the essence of nursing. It is the home nurse's duty to implement a plan of care for the patient's total needs. Understanding the patient to help cope with his/her emotions and pain is of utmost importance.

2. Carry out the doctors orders. Home care is not meant to replace the doctor or health care professionals. Medical professionals are still the best source of information and they should be consulted regularly. The home nurse should follow the doctor's prescription accurately and report the patient's progress promptly to the doctor.

3. Help encourage the patient to be self-sufficient. Home care helps the patients do as much as they can in a way that maintains their dignity and independence. Patients should not be deprived of all sense of self sufficiency. Home care activities should be undertaken to preserve, if not increase, the functional ability of the patient to attain recovery.

4. Be alert to the need for special services and know where to get them. The home nurse should be able to recognize some problems that need special care and know how and where to get additional help when it is needed. This means he/she should have access to supportive services and professionals.

5. Work regularly for the maintenance of good health and the prevention of illness. Home nursing is also about preventing illness, as well as treatment of disease. This is not for the patient only but for the whole family as well. It is the home nurse's responsibility to maintain a comfortable and healthy home environment for the entire family.

Career opportunities.

There are wide options available for those who wish to purse a career in the exciting world of health care. Your home nursing experience is a good foundation on which to build your basic knowledge and skills for a future profession in nursing.

The nursing career structure involves a broad spectrum of work and responsibilities in different health settings. The home nurse can upgrade his/her qualifications to become either a health-care professional. i.. the licensed medical personnel, or become a health-care worker who gives informal or nonmedical care Health-care professionals involved in the formal care to patients are primarily the registered or licensed practical nurses. Other allied care providers are the health professionals such as therapists, midwives, dieticians, and nutritionists Caregivers and health-care assistants offer informal care to help ensure the continuity of patient care. Other work streams that a home nurse can pursue include research work and social work as volunteer staff to government agencies, medical and specialty societies, and the church.

The prospect to a professional nursing career is bright but requires the proper educational foundation and experience. Licensed medical practitioners start their careers with at least an associate degree or diploma or certificate course before any future specialization. There are many universities and technical vocational schools offering nursing and caregiving associate degree programs. Most of these courses have a practicum component as part of their curriculum. The practicum is an essential part of the program which will expose and provide the students actual experience in the real workplace. Nursing and medical schools would normally have their own facilities for the on-the-job training for their students like hospitals or clinics. If not, these educational institutions often link with private and government agencies that can provide the students the necessary exposure.

Those who do not wish to get the formal educational training, however, can opt to attend short-term training programs or do voluntary work related to the delivery of health care. The Department of Health and its links, like the Philippine Medical Association and the Philippine Red Cross, are good sources of information for further training in home nursing.