Looking for a home care nurse for your loved one is not something that should be done overnight. There are a number of considerations to take when finding a nurse for home care that can make the decision very different from placing a loved one in a nursing facility. In a very real sense, you will be placing the life and welfare of someone in the hands of the nurse you choose, so it will need to be someone you trust. The following are some guidelines to make the decision easier.
Hiring Privately Is Risky
There are two ways that nurses for home care are usually found: privately and through agencies. Unless a certain home nurse has been recommended to you by someone close to you, or you are familiar with the person yourself, the private method of finding a nurse is not recommended. People who advertise for home care positions privately must be very carefully screened. Often they will offer a very low price for their services, but can be undocumented, inexperienced, or may lack credentials. They may also be a security risk.
Check Out An Agency Thoroughly
Agencies can make the selection process much easier, because they will do some of the screening work for you, and the agency itself can be checked and validated for reliability. They also have a larger pool of nurses that work for them, which becomes a concern when a nurse who is assigned to your loved one’s care becomes sick or needs time off.
Even if you hire through an agency, you should thoroughly check their licensing, years of experience, and most importantly, the amount and type of screening they do for the hiring of their employees. Once a home care worker has been chosen for you, you will have the chance to interview them yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask questions during the interview. You can opt for someone else, if you don’t like the agency’s first choice.
When A CNA Can Help
Many home care nurses are CNAs; that is, certified nursing assistants. They are certified to perform limited levels of care for seniors. If your loved one is partially mobile, needs bathing assistance, feeding care, or help taking medication, a certified nursing assistant can do the job admirably. CNAs are trained in the proper way to assist seniors with mobility challenges. For instance, they know how to help them get out of bed, transported into a chair, and assist them in daily tasks. CNAs also are trained to help seniors with mild Alzheimer’s.
When An RN Is Required
If your loved one is seriously debilitated, has extensive medical issues that require the use of medical equipment, or has late-term Alzheimer’s, the skills of a registered nurse will often be required. If you think your loved one will need 24-hour senior care, you may want to consider hiring multiple nurses. The work schedules of registered nurses are strictly regulated, so that three nurses on eight-hour shifts may be required. At that point, it may be a good idea to look into the possibility of residential nursing care.
Your loved one is depending on you to make the best possible choice of a home care assistant for them, so take the time needed to do it right.
