Related Career Categories

• Cardiac Nurse
• Case Management Nurse
• Clinic Nurse
• Diabetes Nurse
• Emergency Room Nurse
• Endoscopy Nurse
• Gerentology Nurse
• Home Nurse
• Hospice Nurse
• Hospital Nurse
• Intensive Care Nurse
• Maternity Nurse
• Nurse Assistant
• Nurse Practitioner
• Nursing Administration
• Obstetrics Nurse
• OR (Operating Room) Nurse
• Orthopedic Nurse
• Pediatric Nurse
• Recovery Nurse
• Rehab Nurse
• School Nurse
• Triage Nurse
• Wound Nurse

Best & Worst Things About This Career

"I am always thrilled when I see a client, or their family members, smile. Seeing someone grasp the ideas to make care easier for everyone involved is exciting. I think the best part of this job is giving people the hope and tools they need to carry on for another day. The worst part of the job is often seeing a client need to be institutionalized or, even worse, die. This is a job that leads to an emotional attachment that can cause great joy or great pain."

"The best part of my job is the people I care for. I enjoy helping people and teaching them to take care of themselves and then speaking with the physicians, sharing information about their patients and coordinating patient care. This type of nursing is also more flexible than others, which makes it ideal for those with families to care for. The only thing I really dislike about my job is the amount of paperwork required. Everything I do and say has to be documented."

"The best parts of my job are the hours and the special relationship I have with my client and family. I told the family the hours and days I am available to work and then we fine tuned what I could provide. I do not work weekends unless I switch with the weekend nurse. I truly cannot think of a bad part of my job. But I would not accept a client who is in a medical condition I could not handle or a family situation I wasn't comfortable with."

"The best part of the job is the satisfaction I get knowing I am keeping this child safe and healthy at home. It is knowing that the parents trust me to care for their child. It is also being able to provide a somewhat normal life for a child who would otherwise be institutionalized. The worst part of the job is knowing that someday my time with this child and family will be through. Also, in this line of work, most children have a poor prognosis and never actually improve."

Tips for Succeeding in This Career

"I think you need the ability to be sympathetic, without becoming empathetic, with those people looking to you for guidance and care. A sense of humor is also a must, as is a good support system for yourself outside of your circle of coworkers. In each new case, you must have a plan for the day and be prepared to repeat even the most mundane teachings until your clients are capable of performing necessary care in your absence."

"1. I would strongly advise you to have what the industry calls "strong clinical experience" before taking a job as a visiting nurse. This means working in a hospital for experience because as a visiting nurse you need to be able to work independently. 2. As with all nursing jobs, you need to be flexible and ready for change at a moment's notice. 3. Take advantage of any opportunity to increase your education and experience. There are a lot of opportunities for continuing your education and many of these will make you a better nurse and care giver."

"I recommend working in a hospital or nursing home setting before becoming a home care nurse. A new nurse needs to build confidence, assessment and leadership skills that are needed in a home setting."

"For anyone who would like to pursue a career in pediatric home care, I would suggest working in a hospital setting for at least two years. You need to gain experience in a variety of situations with many different diagnoses and treatments in order to have the skills and confidence to function independently. Excellent communication skills are a must. Caring and compassion are also a requirement. You must be able to care for your patient but also take into consideration the needs of the family as well. A sense of humor is important too!"