What does a home health nurse do?
At Santa Fe Home Care, our nurses provide a one-on-one experience for our patients. These patients can be elderly, critically ill, or disabled, or they may be recovering from a surger, injury, or accident. Our nurses can also assist pregnant women and new mothers with ongoing care, support, and education.
There are three tiers of Home Health nurses that we employ, which are based upon one’s credentials and experience – RNs, LVNs, and CNAs. Each type reports directly to Santa Fe Home Care and then drives to their patients’ homes to provide prescribed nursing care.
What type of duties do each type of nurse perform?
Registered Nurses (RNs):
- Assesses patient needs and develops plan of care with a physician.
- Coordinates and oversees care plan with patient, family, and support staff – LVNs and CNAs.
- Monitors and evaluates patient response to treatment, medication, and healing or mobilization progress.
- Oversees Case Management
- Assists with activities of daily living (ADLs) – mobility, bathing, grooming, toileting, etc.
- Administers medication and intravenous infusions.
- Takes vital signs, draws labs, and manages wound care.
- Tends to wounds and other needs of home health patients.
- Works with clinical healthcare professionals to coordinate home care.
- Performs Physical assessments.
Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs):
- Directs CNAs and task-based nursing care.
- Monitors patient and reports status or patient concerns to supervising RN.
- Assists with ADLs and Mobility.
- Administers medication and intravenous infusions.
- Takes vital signs and manages wounds.
Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs):
- Reports patient concerns to supervising LVN or RN.
- Assists with ADLs and Mobility.
- Performs task-based nursing care.
