As a nurse, you are a highly trained professional with valuable, in-demand skills. When selecting a career path, there are numerous directions open to you. Why should you consider entering the world of home health care? There are several compelling reasons to be a home health nurse.
As the American population ages and healthcare budgets are stretched tighter, the demand for home health services grows stronger. Efficient, effectual, and cost-effective, home health care is an appealing option for both patients who prefer receiving needed care in the comfort of their own homes and insurers who appreciate the way it helps them get the most value for their healthcare dollars. It also offers attractive career opportunities to people with the right combination of professional skills and personal qualities. Still debating? Consider these 10 excellent reasons to be a home health nurse:
1. Flexibility
While nurses who work in hospitals and similar facilities are often locked into strictly scheduled 12-hour shifts, home health care nurses have far greater control over their work hours. Although they may have a set number of visits that they are expected to make, home health care nurses are generally able to schedule these visits as they see fit. This autonomy means that they have a great deal of flexibility, which can make it easier for them to balance their personal and professional responsibilities.
2. Independence
Although they are indisputably a part of a patient’s healthcare team, home health care nurses don’t work with anyone staring over their shoulder. Since they work in the field, they enjoy a great deal of independence. In fact, home health care nurses often derive a great deal of satisfaction from using their own skills and knowledge to meet the various challenges they encounter. They may delight in the need to think critically and creatively as they work to provide the services their clients need.
3. Variety
People of all ages, races, and backgrounds can benefit from home health care, so nurses working in this field routinely interact with an ever-changing array of individuals from a wide range of patient populations and circumstances. As their roster of patients changes, they get to meet new people, provide different medical services, and gain experience treating a variety of health conditions. No two workdays are exactly the same.
4. Opportunities for Specialization
Although many home health care nurses enjoy the challenge of meeting the needs of a wide range of patients, professionals who enjoy working with a certain segment of the population can find opportunities for specialization. For example, pediatric home health care nurses focus on providing vital healthcare services to children who are recovering from an injury or illness or living with a chronic health concern. Their efforts allow their young patients to spend more time at home with their family and friends and less time in hospitals and clinics. As another example, some home health nurses specialize in hospice care. Hospice nurses provide end-of-life care to people with terminal illnesses.
5. Respect
The positive impact that a nurse can have is widely recognized. As a result, nurses are trusted, respected, and cherished for their hard work.
6. Abundant Job Prospects
As people age, they tend to require more healthcare, so it’s no surprise that the demand for healthcare is increasing as seniors make up a larger percentage of the population. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of registered nurses is expected to grow some 15 percent in the decade leading up to 2026, so professionals with the right skills will find plenty of professional opportunities.
7. Excellent Pay and Benefits
Nurses are in high demand, and the pool of qualified professionals is limited. As a result, nursing jobs tend to come with excellent pay and benefits. In addition, home health care nurses who wish to plump up their paychecks can often sign up for extra hours.
8. Ongoing Professional Development
Home health care nurses are called on to educate patients and treat a wide range of conditions. As they do so, they are continually learning new skills, treatments, and techniques. So one of the many reasons to be a home health nurse is that you will always be encouraged to focus on your education and refine your knowledge, ensuring that you can keep up with the changes in the medical field.
9. Social Connections
Home health care nurses have a unique chance to connect with their patients on a personal level. Patients receiving care in the comfort of their own home are often more relaxed and sociable. They are generally more willing to share their stories and life experiences, so home health care nurses get to see perspectives that others miss.
10. The Matter of Meaningfulness
When asked about reasons to be a home health nurse, professionals often cite a desire to make a difference. Home health care nurses rarely have to wonder if their efforts are meaningful. As they visit their patients, they get to see the positive impact their services have on their patients and their patients’ families.
Work at Phoenix Home Care & Hospice
Are you interested in working in the rewarding world of home health care? At Phoenix Home Care & Hospice, we understand the value of quality. We work diligently to deliver excellent, client-focused home care services, and we need a top-quality team to get the job done. That’s why we strive to provide meaningful opportunities to caregivers and clinicians. An equal opportunity employer with locations in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Illinois, and Texas, we delight in seeing our employees realize their full potential. If you are searching for a home health care position, visit our career page today.
