Home Health Nurse Career Overview
Nursejournal.org is committed to delivering content that is objective and actionable. To that end, we have built a network of industry professionals across higher education to review our content and ensure we are providing the most helpful information to our readers.
Drawing on their firsthand industry expertise, our Integrity Network members serve as an additional step in our editing process, helping us confirm our content is accurate and up to date. These contributors:
- Suggest changes to inaccurate or misleading information.
- Provide specific, corrective feedback.
- Identify critical information that writers may have missed.
Integrity Network members typically work full time in their industry profession and review content for Nursejournal.org as a side project. All Integrity Network members are paid members of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.
What Does a Home Health Nurse Do?
Home health nurse jobs provide clinical healthcare to patients in their homes under the supervision of a physician or nurse practitioner. While most home health nurses take care of older adults with disabilities or provide hospice/palliative care, they also serve patients recently discharged from hospitals needing additional care.
Key responsibilities include the following:
Primary Responsibilities
- Treating wounds or injuries
- Administering treatments
- Monitoring vital signs and performing tests
Career Traits
- Empathy
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Flexibility
Where Do Home Health Nurses Work?
Home health nurses provide care in patients’ homes, but work from a variety of settings, including hospice and homecare organizations, community facilities, and hospitals.
Hospice/HomecareNurses administer medications, treat injuries and wounds, communicate with or educate family caregivers, and ensure patient’s physical comfort.
- Community Facilities
Nurses administer medications, conduct tests, and coordinate care with other agencies or organizations.
- Hospitals
Nurses treat patients recovering from surgeries who no longer need inpatient care, administer medications, monitor and report vital signs, and conduct tests.
Why Become a Home Health Nurse?
Home health nurses help patients to remain in their homes during treatment rather than a hospital, and they get to know patients in a more personal way than hospital nurses. Like all registered nurse (RN) salaries, home health nurse salaries are above the national average. Home hospice nursing holds particularly powerful pros and cons from an emotional perspective.
Advantages To Becoming a Home Health Nurse
Establish personal relationships with patients and family members- Patients are generally happier at home
- Less clinical atmosphere than a hospital
- Can have more flexible scheduling
Disadvantages To Becoming a Home Health Nurse
Some family members or situations can be unwelcoming- Need to travel from location to location
- More isolated from clinical colleagues
- Fewer medical resources immediately at hand if a patient needs them
How To Become a Home Health Nurse
- 1
Earn an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN)
The ADN degree takes two years to complete, while the BSN takes four years. However, the BSN is a requirement for advancement for most home healthcare nurse jobs.
- 2
Pass the NCLEX-RN to receive RN licensure
The National Council Licensure Examination for RNs is a national examination that takes up to six hours and covers medicine, nursing practice, psychology and communication, and legal/ethical aspects of nursing.
- 3
Gain required nursing experience
Most home health nurse jobs call for at least 2-3 years of medical-surgical or critical care nursing, given the high level of job autonomy.
- 4
Consider a certification in home health nursing
While it is not a requirement to practice as a home health nurse, the certification to become board certified can be valuable. However, it is no longer available for new certifications, only for renewals.
How Much Do Home Health Nurses Make?
Home health nurses with the RN credential earn a median annual salary of $93,600, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) earn a median $39,530, below the $49,500 annual median salary for all jobs in the United States.
Both home health nurses and CNAs remain in demand. BLS projects nursing assistant jobs to increase by 2% between 2024 and 2034, with nursing positions expected to increase by 5%. Home health nurse jobs and home health nursing assistant jobs may grow at a faster rate because of the rising emphasis on providing care in homes rather than hospitals and the aging population of the United States.
How Home Health Per Visit Pay Works
Many home healthcare nurses receive salary pay, but others are paid per visit. Those paid per visit usually receive earnings through private insurance companies or government programs, such as Medicaid or Medicare, that use set fees. Usually, the first visit pays more than subsequent visits, since the first visit often takes longer to complete paperwork, meet family members for the first time, and assess the patient’s needs.
Laws about overtime pay are often in flux, but according to federal law, home health nurses paid by visit are not eligible for overtime pay. However, state laws may vary.
Resources for Home Health Nurses
National Association for Home Care & Hospice
NAHC offers education, conducts research, engages in advocacy, and posts a job board for hospice care providers at all levels, including homecare nurses. Membership is open to agencies, providers, and solutions providers, among other organizations. Financial managers can join NAHCs Home Care and Hospice Financial Managers Association subsidiary.American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine provides education, job listings, resources, and networking for physicians and advocates engaged in hospice and palliative care. Membership is also open to hospice nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals in hospice or palliative care.International Home Care Nurses Organization
IHSNOs mission is to promote global connections among homecare nurses and provide resources for best practices in home healthcare. IHCNO offers networking, education, and guidelines for homecare nurses. Free membership is open to all home healthcare nurses.Home Healthcare Now
Home Healthcare Now is a journal for home healthcare nurses. Access to some articles is free while others require a paid subscription. Homecare nurses can earn continuing education credits for reading certain articles through CEConnection. The site also includes home health nurse job listings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Health Nurses
It takes two years to earn an ADN or four years to earn a BSN and obtain RN licensure. Most employers prefer at least 2-3 years of experience in an acute care or surgical setting before becoming a home health nurse. CNA requirements vary by state but do not call for a college degree.
