Senior citizens, persons with mobility issues, and other adults and children with functional independence problems can benefit from home care services. As a practical nurse (PN), working in home care is a challenging, rewarding career that comes with plenty of benefits.
Home care Is A Thriving Industry
There are more than 1.4 million seniors and 65 and above living in New Jersey and more than 577,000 under 65 who are living with disabilities. While some of these individuals live in long-term care facilities or receive support from family caregivers, many require the help of PNs or other caregivers who can visit them regularly at home. As of 2019, 13% of the country’s PNs were employed by home health care services, and with an anticipated 9% growth in the need for PNs by the year 2029, it can be assumed that opportunities for new graduates and experienced PNs alike will continually rise.
Flexible Schedule
When you’re providing care in your patients’ homes, it’s much easier to set your own schedule. Instead of working long hours, which hospitals and many other clinical settings are notorious for, home care nurses typically visit clients during daytime hours and, in some cases, may be able to limit their caseload to ensure a strong work-life balance.
You Can Face Challenges Independently And Quickly Develop Your Nursing Skills
Most home care nurses work alone, which means that when problems arise, you’re often required to troubleshoot them on your own. Although challenging, these situations are a great way to develop your clinical skills and gain practice in providing superior patient care. As you encounter these opportunities, you’ll find that you learn to be resourceful in the face of patient problems, and your decision-making abilities and knowledge of common patient problems will develop quickly. Of course, you can expect your home care agency to offer support and assistance when patient challenges are too difficult to overcome on your own.
You’ll Foster Meaningful Relationships With Clients And Their Families
When you work in a hospital or other ambulatory care settings, patients come and go. In home care, the patients you work with are yours for the long haul. While you may see some on a weekly basis, others you might spend time with every day. Before long, you’ll likely find that the bond you have with some of your patients is strong, and for many PNs, the patient-caregiver relationship is what makes a career in home care so rewarding.
Become A Professional Nurse With Career Training From Prism Career Institute
Nursing is often associated with long hours and heavy workloads, and while many PNs thrive in a busy environment, some yearn for something more low-key. Home care is an ideal setting for nurses who prefer to skip the high-stress environment but still enjoy being challenged on the job. Shorter shifts, a regular patient roster, and consistency help keep stress levels lower for home care PNs.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a home care PN, consider training with Prism Career Institute. Contact us to request info about our Practical Nursing program offered in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.