Tips for Families with Home Nursing

The following resource from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is for patients receivcing home nursing services.

Keep a daily schedule (care plan)

Create a tip sheet that includes:

• Strength, dose, and frequency of each medication

• Feeding schedule

• Emergency contact phone numbers

• Health care providers contact information

• This is not a legal document

• Keep checklist in “Go Bag”

Keep a nurse communication log

Keep a notebook in a designated location for:

• Communication between nurses

• Communication between nursing agencies

• Cleaning of supplies (feeding bags, medication syringes, medical equipment)

New nurse orientation

• Create interview questions

• Identify a time to give a tour of your home

• Review expectations and guidelines, for example, when to wake or call parents

• Allow nurse to interact with the family to determine if they are a good fit

• Include the child if appropriate

• Allow nurse to ask questions

Identify primary nurse responsibilities

Partner with primary nurse to discuss task management:

• Prescription refills

• Medical supply inventory

• Schedule for cleaning child’s room

• Maintenance of nurses’ log

Communicate with the entire nursing staff what the roles and responsibilities are for your home.

Contacts for home care management

• Nurse manager, director, scheduler, and insurance case manage

Perform a weekly review

• Review the nurses’ notes that are submitted to the insurance company.

• Review of emergency equipment and “Go Bag.”

Keep a tip sheet for room environment guidelines

• Temperature of room

• Storage of personal belongings

• Electronics guidelines

• Lights and noise

• Overnight environmental instructions (TV usage, movement of child)

• Oxygen storage

• Fall risks (tubing, clutter, throw rugs, stair gates)

Keep a cleaning schedule and supply list

Notify family when cleaning and medical supplies need to be purchased.

• Maintain a clean work area

• Keep track of medical supplies

• Items not covered by insurance company and DME such as cleaning supplies, disinfectant wipes, distilled water

Keep an activity list

• Activities your child enjoys doing

• Activities they dislike

• Comfort measures

Patient-specific instructions

Specific needs for your child

• Approach to trach changes

• G tube care

• positioning strategies

Reviewed November 2023, by Trish Ruch, RN, MSN