Graduate Home Health Education: A Survey of Home Health Educators and Agency Personnel

Abstract

To determine if there is a body of essential content that should be common to master's-level home care programs, a purposive sample of 200 nurses involved in home health or community health nursing was selected. The respondents (N = 118), including faculty and educational administrators (N = 61) and supervisors and administrators of home health agencies (N = 57), were asked their perceptions of the knowledge needed and their priorities for curriculum content for master's-prepared home care specialists in both clinical and administrative roles. There was agreement in most content areas, but significant differences were found between faculty and agency personnel in their priorities for community health concepts, and in their evaluation of nursing theory and epidemiology as essential content in both roles. We believe these results have important implications for nurse educators. As schools prepare students for leadership roles in today's home care environment, it is critical that pertinent content be well integrated into the curriculum.

Home‐based nursing care competencies: A scoping review

“…The included articles were published from 1992 to 2020, with most conducted in the United States of America ( n = 25, 39.1%) (Ark & Nies, 1996; Badzek et al, 2006; Benefield, 1996; Borrelli et al, 2001; Brown et al, 2003, 2010; Bryant & Cloonan, 1992; Buckley et al, 2005; Campinha‐Bacote & Narayan, 2000; Canton et al, 2009; Cuyar, 1998; Dansky et al, 2003; Ervin et al, 2004; Flynn & Deatrick, 2003; Glajchen & Bookbinder, 2001; Hyde, 1996; Irani et al, 2018; Narayan & Scafide, 2017; Potter & Peden‐McAlpine, 2002; Starren et al, 2005; Sun et al, 2019; Thiel et al, 2019; Truglio‐Londrigan, 2013; Vallerand et al, 2004; Zoeteman, 2002), followed by the United Kingdom ( n = 10, 15.6%) (Aitken, 2006; Bennett & Mansell, 2004; Birtwistle et al, 2002; Cantrell, 1998; Davies et al, 2010; Griffiths et al, 2010; Irvine, 2005; Kennedy, 2004; Kennedy et al, 2011; Shipman et al, 2008). Others were conducted in Australia ( n = 3, 4.69%) (Annells et al, 2008; Brownhill et al, 2013; Felembam et al, 2012); Brazil ( n = 1, 1.56%) (Valle et al, 2016); Canada ( n = 2, 3.13%) (Higuchi et al, 2002; Mildon & Underwood, 2010); Denmark ( n = 1, 1.56%) (Bauer et al, 2020); Finland ( n = 3, 4.69%) (Aro et al, 2018; Stolt et al, 2013; Vaartio‐Rajalin et al, 2020); Hong Kong ( n = 1, 1.56%) (Chow et al, 2008); Japan ( n = 2, 3.13%) (Asahara et al, 2013; Iwasaki et al, 2017); Norway ( n = 6, 9.38%) (Aasgaard et al, 2014; Berland et al, 2012; Finnbakk et a...…”

“…The reviewed articles also discussed a broad range of assessments that nurses performed in home‐based care. This includes social‐related assessments (Bryant & Cloonan, 1992); environment‐related assessments (Higuchi et al, 2002); first‐visit assessments (Kennedy, 2004); clinical‐related assessment; and safety‐related assessments (Berland et al, 2012; Buckley et al, 2005; Chow et al, 2008; Fjørtoft et al, 2021; Stolt et al, 2013). Apart from the clear emphasis on care assessments in home‐based care, the most commonly reported skills and knowledge needs among home‐based care nurses were found to be undertaking physical assessment (Ark & Nies, 1996).…”

“…The included articles were published from 1992 to 2020, with most conducted in the United States of America (n = 25, 39.1%) (Ark & Nies, 1996;Badzek et al, 2006;Benefield, 1996;Borrelli et al, 2001;Brown et al, 2003Brown et al, , 2010Bryant & Cloonan, 1992;Buckley et al, 2005;Campinha-Bacote & Narayan, 2000;Canton et al, 2009;Cuyar, 1998;Dansky et al, 2003;Ervin et al, 2004;Flynn & Deatrick, 2003;Glajchen & Bookbinder, 2001;Hyde, 1996;Irani et al, 2018;Narayan & Scafide, 2017;Potter & Peden-McAlpine, 2002;Starren et al, 2005;Sun et al, 2019;Thiel et al, 2019;Truglio-Londrigan, 2013;Vallerand et al, 2004;Zoeteman, 2002), followed by the United Kingdom (n = 10, 15.6%) (Aitken, 2006;Bennett & Mansell, 2004;Birtwistle et al, 2002;Cantrell, 1998;Davies et al, 2010;Griffiths et al, 2010;Irvine, 2005;Kennedy, 2004;Kennedy et al, 2011;Shipman et al, 2008). Others were conducted in Australia (n = 3, 4.69%) (Annells et al, 2008;Brownhill et al, 2013;Felembam et al, 2012); Brazil (n = 1, 1.56%) …”

“…In addition, unlike nurses in hospitals, home-based care nurses are expected to be familiar with the availability of community resources and the concepts of home health support (Ark & Nies, 1996;Bryant & Cloonan, 1992;Kennedy, 2004). This familiarity includes knowledge of the different types of available financial aid (Bryant & Cloonan, 1992) and the availability of the healthcare services required to coordinate the patient's care plan and match the patient's needs to appropriate resources (Higuchi et al, 2002;Mildon & Underwood, 2010).…”

“…Therefore, the concepts of home health and community health involving working with groups were proposed to be one of the most essential clinical curriculum elements for home-based care nurses in Bryant and Cloonan (1992) study.…”