There has been a tremendous shift from location-based medical services to home health care. As such, home health nursing jobs are set to become the top jobs in the industry. Employment projections show an increase by 50 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. There were 921,000 home health nurses in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the number is expected to rise to 1.3 million by 2018.

Home health nursing jobs allow for flexibility in working with a variety of different companies, in many different capacities. Thanks to the explosion in the nursing industry, positions are available in almost every region of the nation and nursing salaries are strong.

What do home health nursing jobs entail?

Getting to know the daily responsibilities of home nursing positions is important before pursuing this career path. As a home health nurse, you will be responsible for a variety of tasks, depending on the patient and the company with which you work.

You might be responsible for administering medication, monitoring patient symptoms and progress, or home births. Home health nurses and aides help people who are disabled, chronically ill, or cognitively impaired. They work with older adults who may need assistance, whether they are living in their own homes or in care facilities. Others may work with discharged hospital patients with relatively short-term needs.

What education is required?

Home health nurses are registered nurses, or RNs. This means that the right education in necessary in order to take advantage of these job opportunities. You might choose to earn a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing, or you might determine that an associate’s degree is right for you. You might also choose to undergo a diploma program offered at a local hospital.

Most programs take between two and three years to complete. And they usually combine both coursework and real-world experience. After completing the course, you will have to undergo a test from the NCLEX-RN. A thorough NCLEX review will help prepare you for this important licensing exam.

What is the outlook for home health nursing jobs?

With the ongoing shift in the medical field, home health nursing jobs are set to grow very fast. The aging Baby Boomer population is the underlying cause of this trend, though the shift toward home care is also due to changing patient demand and a general patient desire to be more comfortable during prolonged medical treatment.

Other resources:

Home Health Nurses Association: The HHNA offers a range of different resources for those interested in pursuing home health nursing jobs.

Nursing job descriptions: Get a better understanding of home health nursing jobs and other nursing positions.

Home health nursing: AllNurses provides important information about home health nursing jobs, as well as information about the nursing industry at large.