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The Nurses Of The Home Health Nurse

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1. Describe at least five roles (not jobs) of the Home Health nurse. (10 points)
(example: Teacher – the nurse teaches the patient how to clean their wound).

A. Supplier: The nurses will supply many needs that the patients may not have in order fulfill basic care, such as bedside commodes, dressings, washers/dryers and many other supplies. In various situations, patients may not have the proper finances to purchase certain items and the nurses will supply important items for the patients if it enhances their day-to-day care.

B. Teacher: The nurses play a vital part in teaching the patients and family about all around care. The nurses may teach about wound care, diet, physical therapy and more. It is very important for nurses in home health to be competent and confident in their practice, especially because the patients are at home, rather than a hospital setting and do not have access to medical care 24/7.

C. Coordinator: Many patients do not have the ability to keep track of all doctor visits, prescription refills, appointments, etc. The nurses will schedule doctor visits while at the patient’s home to ensure the patient is receiving referred care if needed. It is no guarantee that the patient’s will schedule appointments that are needed, therefore the nurses may take matters into their own hands and schedule appointments to make sure things are getting done, rather than relying on the patient to make it happen, of course with the consent of the patient to do so.

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