[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Home Care Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-card] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-button variant=”textOnly” href=”/careers/home-healthcare-nurse///”]Home Healthcare Nurse Salary[/hen-ui-button][/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Does a Home Health Nurse Do?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Home health nurse jobs provide clinical healthcare to patients in their homes under the supervision of a physician or [hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-practitioner/how-to-become-a-np/”]nurse practitioner[/hen-ui-link]. While most home health nurses take care of older adults with disabilities or provide hospice/palliative care, they also serve patients recently discharged from hospitals needing additional care.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Key responsibilities include the following:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Where Do Home Health Nurses Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Home health nurses provide care in patients’ homes, but work from a variety of settings, including hospice and homecare organizations, community facilities, and hospitals.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Hospice/Homecare[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses administer medications, treat injuries and wounds, communicate with or educate family caregivers, and ensure patient’s physical comfort.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Community Facilities[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses administer medications, conduct tests, and coordinate care with other agencies or organizations.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Hospitals[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses treat patients recovering from surgeries who no longer need inpatient care, administer medications, monitor and report vital signs, and conduct tests.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Become a Home Health Nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Home health nurses help patients to remain in their homes during treatment rather than a hospital, and they get to know patients in a more personal way than hospital nurses. Like all registered nurse (RN) salaries, home health nurse salaries are above the national average. Home hospice nursing holds particularly powerful [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/pros-and-cons-of-hospice-nursing/”]pros and cons[/hen-ui-link] from an emotional perspective.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How To Become a Home Health Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Learn More About How to Become a Home Healthcare Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-article-card title=”Become a Home Healthcare Nurse” href=”/careers/home-healthcare-nurse//” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Much Do Home Health Nurses Make?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Home health nurses with the RN credential earn a median annual salary of $73,300, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) earn a median $29,640, below the $39,810 annual median salary for all jobs in the United States.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Both home health nurses and CNAs remain in demand. BLS projects nursing assistant jobs to increase by 8% between 2019 and 2029, with nursing positions expected to increase by 7%. Home health nurse jobs and home health nursing assistant jobs may grow at a faster rate because of the rising emphasis on providing care in homes rather than hospitals and the aging population of the United States.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns=”1″ columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”][hen-ui-article-card title=”Find State-Specific RN Salary Data” href=”/registered-nursing/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-article-card title=”Find State-Specific CNA Salary Data” href=”/cna/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How Home Health Per Visit Pay Works[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Many [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/home-healthcare-nurse///”]home healthcare nurses receive salary pay[/hen-ui-link], but others are paid per visit. Those paid per visit usually receive earnings through private insurance companies or government programs, such as Medicaid or Medicare, that use set fees. Usually, the first visit pays more than subsequent visits, since the first visit often takes longer to complete paperwork, meet family members for the first time, and assess the patient’s needs.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Laws about overtime pay are often in flux, but [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/Homecare_Guide.pdf” target=”_blank”]according to federal law[/hen-ui-link], home health nurses paid by visit are not eligible for overtime pay. However, state laws may vary.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Questions About a Career as a Home Health Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How long does it take to become a home health nurse?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It takes two years to earn an ADN or four years to earn a BSN and obtain RN licensure. Most employers prefer at least 2-3 years of experience in an acute care or surgical setting before becoming a home health nurse. [hen-ui-link href=”/cna/”]CNA[/hen-ui-link] requirements vary by state but do not call for a college degree.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Can home health nurses prescribe medicine?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/articles/meet-a-home-health-nurse/”]Home health nurse[/hen-ui-link] practitioners and other advanced practice nurses can prescribe medicine, including controlled substances. Other home healthcare nurses without that extra education or certification cannot prescribe medication.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What is the difference between a CNA and an RN?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]CNA certification requires a high school diploma or GED certificate, the completion of a state-approved training course with a minimum of 75 hours, and a passing score on the nurse assistant certification test. RNs must hold at least an ADN degree, though many jobs require or prefer a BSN, and must also pass the national licensure test.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Who do home health nurses work alongside on a home health team?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Home health nurses carry out the treatment prescribed by physicians or nurse practitioners. They may supervise CNAs or home health aides. In addition, they may work with other care providers, such as social workers or hospice/palliative care, psychologists, counselors, or chaplains.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Resources for Home Health Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.nahc.org/” target=”_blank”] National Association for Home Care & Hospice[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] NAHC offers education, conducts research, engages in advocacy, and posts a job board for hospice care providers at all levels, including homecare nurses. Membership is open to agencies, providers, and solutions providers, among other organizations. Financial managers can join NAHCs Home Care and Hospice Financial Managers Association subsidiary.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”http://aahpm.org/” target=”_blank”] American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine provides education, job listings, resources, and networking for physicians and advocates engaged in hospice and palliative care. Membership is also open to hospice nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals in hospice or palliative care.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://ihcno.org/” target=”_blank”] International Home Care Nurses Organization[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] IHSNOs mission is to promote global connections among homecare nurses and provide resources for best practices in home healthcare. IHCNO offers networking, education, and guidelines for homecare nurses. Free membership is open to all home healthcare nurses.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″] Home Healthcare Now[/hen-ui-heading] Home Healthcare Now is a journal for home healthcare nurses. Access to some articles is free while others require a paid subscription. Homecare nurses can earn continuing education credits for reading certain articles through CEConnection. The site also includes home health nurse job listings.[/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Pages[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”34163,34170,33917″][/hen-ui-article-row]