Responsibilities of Home Healthcare LPNs

Home healthcare is growing at a rapid rate today as more and more people are choosing to receive the medical care they need in their own homes. As a result of this, there is an increasing demand for nursing staff to provide this care. If you are an aspiring LPN who wants to join a home healthcare team, you will be responsible for performing such tasks as those described below.

Basic Medical Care

Some of the tasks you will need to perform as a home healthcare licensed practical nurse will involve administering basic medical care to your assigned patients. While these tasks vary depending on your current patients' needs, some of the most common medical care-related responsibilities of home healthcare LPNs include:

Change Dressings
Administer Medications
Monitor Patients' Conditions
Record Changes in Patients' Conditions and Behavior
Take and Record Patients' Vital Signs
Administer Massage Therapy
Place and Monitor Catheters
Assist Patients with Rehabilitative Exercises
Place and Monitor IVs
Administer Oxygen Therapy

Personal Care Assistance

As a home healthcare LPN, you will also be responsible for performing a variety of personal care-related tasks for each of your patients. The exact duties you will need to perform at each home depends solely on your patients and their individual health conditions. However, some typical tasks in this category include:

Help Patients Bathe and Dress
Help Patients with Personal Grooming
Prepare Meals and Feed Patients if Necessary
Perform Basic Housework
Change and Launder Bedding
Help Patients to and from Bathrooms if Necessary
Provide Emotional Support to Patients and their Family Members

Miscellaneous Duties

Finally, in addition to the tasks listed above, licensed practical nurses who work for home healthcare companies are often responsible for various miscellaneous duties as well. The tasks in this category will depend on the company you choose to work for and your patients' individual needs. Nevertheless, some common miscellaneous duties for home healthcare LPNs are: