This course has been written, designed and developed to provide the RN with tools to use in planning homehealth care nursing visits and to provide a basic foundation to meet the criteria of a "generalist" home health nurse as described in A Statement on the Scope of Home Health Nursing Practice by the American Nurses Association, Council of Community Health Nurses. Click on this link for specific responsibilities of a nurse "generalist".
The course is designed to build on information,knowledge and skills already acquired by an RN and to serve as a bridge into the home health environment.
Prerequisites: Registered Nurse
This program requires the student to demonstrate:
- The ability to use e-mail to include sending and accessing attachment
- Conduct a WWW search for an assigned topic
- Use discussion forums
- Uses online quiz and exam tools
- Upload and download document
The Course
Each module follows the same format with an assignment, objectives, content, self-test and asynchronous discussions with the instructor and other students. The self-test provides immediate feedback with rationale. Each module also has a resource page with references and direct links which provides background information and supports the data in the module. The student is expected to read the assignments, review assigned link information and review local policies and procedures that apply to the topic.
The first module is designed to give a historical background on home health with economic, social and political factors that have influenced the home care industry. The second module provides background information dealing with financial aspects, patient's rights, rules and regulations and responsibilities of the care manager. The nurse is expected to know this information before making the first home visit. Module three provides the information for the application process with patient assessment, education, advocacy, team management, safety, infection control and documentation. These are skills and knowledge that the nurse should know and apply when making the home visit. The fourth module is clinical application where the nurse transfers known knowledge and skills to apply them in the home setting. Home health nursing knowledge and techniques are provided in this section. Case studies are used throughout the course in order to stimulate critical thinking and application of knowledge.
It is anticipated that the learner (nurse) under the guidance of a preceptor in his or her facility will successfully complete the course and possess the competencies required of a nurse manager, provider, patient advocate, professional and teacher that are based on the 1997 Colorado Alliance For Nursing list of competencies for a novice home health nurse.
Accessing the Course
There are four modules to this course. Each module has a set of units to support the overall goal to assist the novice home care RN transition into the home health care environment. The modules may be accessed from the Course Menu on the side of the Screen by clicking the mouse on the modules name. Clicking on Content Module in the Action Menu will open up links to all of the units.Each module is self contained so the user can move from one unit to the next within the module by using the links in the Action Menu at the top of the page. When ready to start the next module, select that module in the Course Menu.
Each unit has an Assignment Page, Content Page, and a Self Test. There are discussion questions within each assignment. These questions may be accessed through the Action Menu within that unit or by clicking Discussions in the Course Menu.
The student may move through each module by clicking on the Next button in the Action Menu at the top of the page. By clicking on Previous, the student may move back a page.
The Assignments and Objectives may have a number posted after them the if accessed, will link the student to the resource page and numbered reference.
Depending on the size of your screen, you may want to click on "Hide Navigation" in the upper left corner of the page and/or click on the double windows in the upper right hand corner to expand the screen in order to see the full page.
