Becoming a visiting nurse requires training and certification as a nurse, and experience in a clinical setting. Visiting nurses provide skilled nursing services to patients at home, allowing for greater independence. They can work for agencies or hospitals, or start their own agency.
Someone wanting to become a visiting nurse will need to receive training and certification as a nurse and then decide whether to work independently or for an agency or hospital. Visiting nurses are a very important part of the healthcare system, providing skilled nursing services to people at home. By using the services of a visiting nurse, people can be at home rather than in the hospital, and a greater degree of independence can be achieved for patients who require skilled nursing services.
Training as a registered nurse requires attendance at nursing school. Nursing programs vary in size depending on the final certification, such as Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), and Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). The program includes classroom work as well as clinical training with patients. Once trained, a nurse can pass a certification exam that admits her into practice as a registered nurse.
Often, someone who wants to become a visiting nurse starts out by working in a clinic or hospital to gain experience. This can be valuable when applying for home health care positions, because employers and patients alike want to see evidence that a nurse practices in a clinical setting. Other visiting nurses apply directly to agencies that place visiting nurses, and may begin by shadowing a qualified nurse and eventually seeing patients.
For someone looking to become a visiting nurse who wants to gain experience first, experience can also be used to make connections. Some hospitals, for example, have a visiting nurse program and it can be easy to transfer with some hospital experience. Similarly, hospitals can refer patients to programs run by private companies; in that case, the hospital may recommend a nurse when he or she seeks a position there.
Another advantage of gaining experience in clinical practice is that it allows someone intending to become a visiting nurse to gain experience in a specialty, which they can later use to apply for specialty certification. Being a pediatric or cardiac nurse can provide a nurse with skills that patients who want the option of receiving care at home may rely on.
In addition to seeking placement with a home based nursing agency, someone wanting to become a visiting nurse might also consider working independently or starting a new agency. This requires a significant outlay of money as the nurse needs supplies and also needs to purchase insurance. It can also take time to build a network of patients who will provide a steady supply of work.
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