Meeting the learning needs of home health nurses

Abstract

Nurses entering the rapidly expanding field of home health nursing face experiences and as signments different from those in acute care settings. A comprehensive approach to orientation and continuing education can assist the nurse in his or her professional development in a new role. Orientation must be designed to introduce the nurse to the skills and knowledge necessary to function in the home, and continuing education must focus on the development of the expert practitioner. The article describes an organized approach to orientation and professional devel opment based on a learning needs assessment of staff. Key words: home health nursing, orienta tion, professional development