A question I often get when I walk into a patient’s home is, “Why home health?” And every time my answer is “For the relationship.”
From the moment I started home health, I never looked back. In the hospital, there is so much to do in so little time that there is rarely a moment that you are able to sit with a patient to talk. It sounds a bit silly when I attempt to explain it but there is so much more to nursing than just giving medication and treating immediate problems.
The one-on-one interaction without interruption is what sets home health apart. It’s truly understanding why a patient has gotten to where they are health-wise.
Where do they live? What is their environment like? What do they really know about their disease? Do they have the money to buy the items needed to control their disease? Do they have support from their family or friends?
Here in the home health setting, I have truly felt that I have a good understanding of what the patient’s barriers are. And only with that understanding can I truly make an impact on the patient and their health.
I can teach based on what I know about the patient, their environment and their family. I know that when their health improves, it is a direct reflection of the relationship that I have developed with that patient and it is one of the most rewarding jobs a nurse could ask for.
