Home Health is a fiercely independent field, but we ensure that our Connectors know someone is there to help when they need it. connectRN clinical liaisons act as preceptors while Home Health nurses are onboarded. They are based throughout the country to ensure our nurses receive the clinical support they need to thrive when they’re in the field. When our liaisons are not orienting or training clinicians, they are picking up shifts on our app.
Pam and Rachael from connectRN recently sat down with Cheryl Bruce, North Carolina-based RN and Home Health Clinical Liaison, to chat about nursing and the benefits of working per diem home health through connectRN.
Q. First question: How did you decide to work in home health over other types of nursing?
I’ve been a hospital nurse, and I’ve been a nurse in a Skilled Nursing Facility. There was something about the personal touch with Home Health. The patients being in their own home environment made it really feel like the impact of nursing was there. The patients are in their own setting, and you can really drive home what their needs are. That’s what sold me, I felt like I had something to offer in that space.
Q. How long have you been in nursing in general, and then specifically in Home Health?
In general, since 1992, and about 22 years of experience in Home Health alone.
Q. What was your deciding factor in making the transition to Home Health? Were you recommended to try home health or did you make the leap on your own?
Inpatient nursing was so structured as far as hours, whether it was in a hospital or a skilled nursing facility. The biggest thing with home health is that you have flexibility.
A friend was working inpatient with me, and they said “hey, you may want to check this out [home health].” She was able to tell me about how it worked, and I said “You know, that may be something I would like to try.”
Q. Can you share a favorite memory working in home health?
One situation always stays with me. Memories like this push you to be consistent in what you’re doing.
There was a gentleman who just got home from a couple of months at a nursing facility, and he did not have a lot of support at home at all. His home was in shambles, dishes in the sink, table was a mess... my heart went out for this man.
I did what I needed to do, I did my assessments and all the required pieces. And at the end of the visit, I had to ask, “Where’s your mop?” and I mopped his kitchen floor.
And I remember him saying, “You're such a good nurse.”
That wasn’t what got to me, but I said to myself that this really doesn’t have anything to do with nursing. It has to do with the type of person that you are, the heart that you have. It’s about more than just your title, first we need to be human.
Q. What’s the one thing you must have while working in home health?
I don't know if I can narrow it down to one, but I have a few things:
Hand Sanitizer
Shoe covers
Lysol and Febreeze
Q: Can you elaborate on those?
You don’t always know what you’re going to encounter in the home setting. But you do what you got to do, and you do the visit.
Q: What is something non-physical that you carry into each home health visit?
Love and compassion.
Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.
Patients have been through a lot at in-patient facilities whether they are coming from the hospital or a skilled nursing facility, but life really begins when they get back to their home environment. Some people are really anxious, it’s like facing a fire. They’re not sure if they can manage at home. But I’m there, I’m going to support them. I think that puts people at ease, like “okay, I can really do this at home. I can manage this tube at home.” We highlight a 24/7 nurse number and remind them to call us before they jet off to urgent-care or to the hospital. That love and that support is something I carry to every home.
Q. What is the key to success in Home Health?
Either it’s for you or it’s not. And if it’s for you, #1 key is compassion.
Because in home health, you are independent. You don’t have the oversight of someone looking over your shoulders. You have to have compassion toward your patients and not just do it for the paycheck.
The other key is the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) Guidelines. You may not always agree with them, but you have to understand and accept them in order to make it in Home Health.
Q. Okay, now tell me about per diem home health using the connectRN app – how is it different from standard per diem home health?
The benefits with connectRN are different from per diem I’ve done before. With connectRN, you get the freedom of being in absolute control of your schedule.
You’re not tied down or obligated. With a typically per diem position, there’s still an expectation of working a weekend rotation or holidays. Even if it’s just one holiday a year, the expectation is there because of the nursing shortage.
With connectRN you have the ability to work when it works for you and to shape your schedule around your goals.
Q. What’s the secret to work-life balance in nursing? How does connectRN help with that?
connectRN really helps with work-life balance. You can plan your schedule and pick up visits based on your lifestyle and what you have going on. Maybe you have something special coming up, or you’re planning for something big and you need X amount of money. connectRN makes it possible to decide how you want to work to earn that, and you receive pay very quickly.
Q. What advice would you give to a nurse just starting out in home health?
My advice for home health in general is don’t be afraid to ask questions. There are going to be things whether it’s application-related, patient-related, or the EMR that you’re working on, where you will get stuck. Or you’ll feel like “what is this saying? What is this asking?” There is support here. Reach out and utilize the resources that are available in order to make your day smoother and get your work done quicker.
connectRN is the leading nurse community reimagining a healthcare system where nurses and healthcare partners thrive. Created to provide nurses with flexible work opportunities, and help eradicate the healthcare staffing crisis, connectRN is a trusted advocate and workforce ally for nurses and healthcare partners alike. connectRN is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts and serves clinicians across the U.S. To learn more, please visit www.connectrn.com.