Home nursing refers to health care or supportive care that is provided in the home of the patient rather than at a doctor's practice or at a hospital. A home nurse will visit the place of resident of a patient, who is in need of regular assistance - this is normally a person who is either old or infirm and someone who has trouble taking care of himself or herself independently.
Home nurses are usually employed by a social service agency, to provide medical care to the sick in their own homes or to implement any other public health programs, such as the general promotion of public health schemes or initiatives.
A home nurse might also be known as:
• A visiting nurse
• A public health nurse
• A home health carer
• A formal carer
• A skilled carer
Generally speaking, references to home care and home nursing tend not to distinguish between the care given by medically trained professionals and the care that is given by friends and family members of the patient who do not have any medical expertise themselves.
Home nursing, however, focuses on the care provided by medical professionals who tend to visit the patient on a regular basis (for instance daily or weekly) in order to administer treatment and provide specific medical care.
Professional home care services could include:
• Medical or psychological assessment
• Wound care
• Providing medication
• Pain management
• Physical, speech or occupational therapy
Home nurses are usually employed by a social service agency, to provide medical care to the sick in their own homes or to implement any other public health programs, such as the general promotion of public health schemes or initiatives.
A home nurse might also be known as:
• A visiting nurse
• A public health nurse
• A home health carer
• A formal carer
• A skilled carer
Generally speaking, references to home care and home nursing tend not to distinguish between the care given by medically trained professionals and the care that is given by friends and family members of the patient who do not have any medical expertise themselves.
Home nursing, however, focuses on the care provided by medical professionals who tend to visit the patient on a regular basis (for instance daily or weekly) in order to administer treatment and provide specific medical care.
Professional home care services could include:
• Medical or psychological assessment
• Wound care
• Providing medication
• Pain management
• Physical, speech or occupational therapy
