Connecting New Nurses and Home Care

Abstract

Home health providers have traditionally held that nurses must have a minimum of 1 year of experience before considering becoming a home health nurse. As the number of nurses working continues to lag behind the number of nurses needed, home health agencies may want to reconsider their stance on hiring newly licensed registered nurses (RNs). This article explores the current and projected shortage of nurses. Establishing partnerships between nursing education programs and home health agencies can create a win-win situation for all concerned. Ideas for developing effective partnerships are discussed. Home health agencies are encouraged to consider ways in which they can develop new nurses in home health through a variety of strategies.

Development of a new graduate public health nurse residency program using the core competencies of public health nursing

“…Other factors that affect employment in the public sector include a poorly funded public health system resulting in reduced public health nursing positions, bureaucratic hiring practices, and invisibility of public health nursing in media and marketing campaigns (Quad Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations, ). In addition to these factors, traditionally public health agencies have not hired new graduate nurses, often requiring at least 1 year of acute care experience to be considered for a public health nursing position (Breakwell, ; Carignan, Baker, Demers, & Samar, ; Meadows, ). This requirement stemmed from the belief that a year of experience for the new graduate is essential in the development of confidence in their nursing skills and clinical judgments.…”