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5 Reasons You Should Consider a Career in Home Health Care at UNMH

When patients are treated at UNM Hospital, the ultimate goal is to send them home to resume a normal, healthy and happy life. Many patients, however, require additional care after they’ve been discharged from the hospital. Without that necessary care, they may relapse or need to be re-admitted. With home health care, patients are able to recover in the comfort of their home, receiving care and support from health care professionals who specialize in treating patients in the home setting. At UNMH, our team is able to provide basic nursing care, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as assisting with daily living activities and monitoring a patient’s medication regimen.

There are many reasons why becoming a home health care professional is a great career choice. Some of our team shared their insight on what they love about working in home health. Let’s see what they had to say!

1. You’ll have the flexibility to create your own schedule

One of the greatest benefits of working in home health care is the job flexibility. A career in home health fosters autonomy where you’ll have control over your hours and freedom to create your own schedule. Just ask Home Health RN Carrie and Director of Adult Home Care Janine (featured in video to the right)!

“I enjoy the freedom to create my own schedule to best fit my patients’ needs. I love having the autonomy to work with my patients on developing a treatment plan that best fits their goals.”

2. You build relationships with patients you wouldn’t in the hospital

In the hospital, patients come and go. When working in the patient’s home, you’re able to build rapport and relationships with them, supporting them at every step of the way on their journey towards recovering. RN Carrie came to home health from bedside nursing at our Med Surg Unit and loves the bonds she’s able to build with her patients.

"I often felt like the hospital was a revolving door. Our patients were in and out, and I never got to see the end result. Seeing them in their home, I get to see the whole picture, see them get better and teach them the tools they need to take control of their health. For me, that’s very rewarding."

3. Home health care is a unique kind of patient care

Home health care is unlike any other kind of care – it goes beyond the standard care that a health care professional would provide in the hospital. When treating patients in their home, your tasks could include educating your patient on their medication or simply just sitting with them to talk about how their day is going. This aspect of home health care is what made RN Jeremy choose to pursue a career in home health.

“In the hospital setting, nurses often don’t have adequate time to help educate our patients due to being overwhelmed with other patients. In the home setting, we get an opportunity to sit down and spend much-needed time with the patient.”

4. It’s an opportunity to expand on your skills

Working in home health care is a great way to expand on your clinical skills and broaden your horizons. Every patient case is different, and our team needs to be equipped to be able to handle all kinds of situations. Home health care has allowed RN Carrie to learn how to be resourceful in her role.

“You bring all your skills you would learn in the hospital and expand on them. When you’re in a patient’s home, you don’t have all the equipment that you would in the hospital. You have to work with what you have and collaborate with other disciplines such as physical and occupational therapists as well as NPs and PAs to create a productive and healthy environment.”

5. You’d be making a real difference in a patient’s life

When you choose a career in home health care, you’re ultimately choosing to become a vital part of a patient’s recovery process. Home Health Physical Therapist Jocelyn finds fulfillment in the difference she’s able to make in her patients’ lives.

“Without our home health care services, many of our patients would require hospital readmission or would relapse. Our patients are very appreciative of our team as we teach them and their families how to care for their own or their loved one’s medical well-being. We are truly making a difference for many patients coming out of the UNMH system."

Are you looking for a rewarding career that fosters growth and flexibility where you’ll feel like you’re making a real difference in someone’s life? Home health care might be the right fit for you. Explore home health opportunities at UNM Hospital!

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