A person who wants to work as a visiting nurse must first obtain nursing training and certification before deciding whether to work independently or for an agency or hospital. Visiting nurses are an important part of the health-care system because they provide skilled nursing care to people at their homes. People can be at home rather than in the hospital when they use the services of a visiting nurse, and patients who require skilled nursing services can achieve a greater degree of independence.
Nursing school is required for training as a nurse. The length of a nursing program varies depending on the end certification, such as Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) (APN). The program consists of both classroom and clinical training with patients. After completing training, a nurse can take a certification exam to be admitted to practice as a nurse.
Often, someone who wants to work as a visiting nurse begins by gaining experience in a clinic or hospital. Employers and patients alike want to see evidence that a nurse has worked in a clinical setting, so this can be useful when applying for home health care jobs. Other visiting nurses apply directly to agencies that place visiting nurses, and they may begin by shadowing a skilled nurse before taking on their own patients.
Experience can also be used to establish connections for someone who wants to become a visiting nurse but wants to gain experience first. Some hospitals, for example, have a visiting nurse program, which you might be able to transfer into with some hospital experience. Similarly, hospitals may refer patients to private-sector programs, in which case the hospital may recommend a nurse when he or she applies for a job.
Another benefit of gaining clinical practice experience is that it allows someone who wants to be a visiting nurse to gain experience in a specialty that can be used to apply for specialty certification later. Working as a pediatric or cardiac nurse can equip a nurse with skills that are useful for patients who prefer to receive care at home.
A person who wants to work as a visiting nurse has the option of working independently or starting their own agency in addition to working for a home nursing agency. This will necessitate a significant financial outlay, as the nurse will require supplies as well as insurance. Building a network of patients who will provide a steady supply of work can also take time.