The Role of The Nurse in Home Care - The Many Faces of Caring

When people think of home care, many envision services in which clients receive short-term recovery care such as nursing or therapy services after a surgery, hospitalization, or injury. These types of skilled services—called ‘home health’—are ordered by a physician, must meet certain eligibility requirements and care goals, and are usually paid for by an insurer such as Medicare. Home care, by comparison, usually refers to non-medical, personal care services (such as help with bathing and dressing), supervised by a nurse but delivered by a certified home health aide or personal care assistant. It does not require doctor orders, is generally not covered by traditional health care insurance, and can be customized to meet the clients’ specific needs and preferences.

The role of the nurse in home care generally, and with BAYADA personal services, specifically, is a unique and somewhat less formal relationship than a nurse who provides skilled nursing care—such as wound care—during short-term home health visits. Many registered nurse (RN) clinical managers, as they are referred to at BAYADA, develop longstanding professional relationships with their clients (and their families) for many months—and even years.

What do Clinical Managers do?

BAYADA Clinical Managers are all employees of the company and are focused on overall client wellness and committed to optimizing independence. Think of them as the “gatekeepers,” as they are the care coordinators and main points of contact for care needs and oversight. They are responsible for:

• Developing, implementing, and continually updating a plan of care (tasks, duties, preferences and needs of each client) based on their clinical individualized assessment
• Identifying the need for other specific services or resources from which the client could benefit and direct or assist accordingly
• Serving as an advocate of the client by communicating and collaborating with all members of the multidisciplinary team
• Supervising and directing the home health aide/personal care assistant team to ensure adherence to the individual care plan
• Communicating observed changes in status of the client’s condition to physicians
• Reviewing medications and managing orders
• Educating clients and their families about their diagnosis and symptoms, and are a compassionate and supportive resource to help ease fears of aging

Home care and beyond: we’ve got you covered

There’s no clearer vision into someone’s life than being in their home. As home care professionals, we get an up-close-and-personal view of what everyday life is like and sometimes, we find that clients need assistance beyond the scope of home care services. That’s when we—usually the nurse clinical manager—call upon a network of resources to assist.

We refer to and work collaboratively with Aging Life Care Professionals, for example, to help clients and their families access the support services they require to help with legal, emotional, financial, or social issues. Referrals can also be made to physician specialists, elder care attorneys, potential sources of payment for home care services, and alternate residential options when home care is no longer a viable option.

Perhaps the single most important role of the BAYADA Clinical Manager is to be a trusted friend who listens compassionately, treats their clients the way they would like to be treated, and embodies an unwavering commitment to service, reliability, and dignity. They stand by you, so you can stand on your own.

All BAYADA Personal Care at Home offices are on call 24/7. Please feel free to request a visit from one of our clinical managers at your local BAYADA Personal Care office and discover the care—and more—we bring to you.