Most people rely on unpaid medical care from friends and family members, or by making daily trips to hospitals to receive the same services, which makes the former a better option for them. However, more and more families are recognizing the benefits or hiring nurses to help them in their family medical issues as this gives the families comfort, safety, and peace of mind.
Here are tips for selecting an in-home nurse:
Assess the level of medical care required
First, evaluate the level of care required regarding physical therapy, dressing, meal preparation, bathing, medication management, or just a companion.
Write a job description
The job description should be based on, but not limited to the level of training required, driving license, and the ability to operate special requirement.
Develop the job contract
The job contract should include wages (when and how to pay), weekly hours, employee’s social security number, unacceptable behavior (smoking, tardiness, abusive behavior, etc.), termination, and signatures of both parties.
Identify where to find the nurse
The best places to source for a good prospective nurse include the neighbors, the church, and inquiries from family members. For all the reasons, hire a professional nurse if you can afford to pay them.
Be ready for the interview
The preparation for the interview should include a list of questions to ask, the referral source, and the referees to call after or during the interview to confirm the credibility of the applicant. After screening the applicants online or on the telephone, it is now the time to interview them in person. It is advisable to invite another professional to help you at this stage.
Check references
Talking to all the references helps to pick out the dependable candidates, and thus determine those qualified for the job.
Get a criminal background check
Professionalism means the candidate must have a clean record to avoid presenting safety risks to the persons the nurse would be attending to.
Hire thoughtfully
When hiring, it is good to hire someone who has the qualifications you are looking for. For instance, if the patient has Alzheimer’s disease, they often need assistance with bathing and toileting, which means the nurse should have experiences in these areas.
Monitor
Finally, set up a monitoring program to assess the quality of services provided. If you are unable to monitor yourself, hire an independent geriatric care manager. It is also advisable to have a backup plan in case the nurse fails to follow through.