What is the role of a skilled nurse?

Skilled nursing is a highly trained level of care provided by licensed healthcare professionals, including registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Our licensed nurses perform a variety of specialized and highly skilled services for our patients. Our nurses advise and teach the patient and their family members, coordinate the treatment plan with other NPHC care team members (such as physical, occupational, and speech therapists, home health aides, and medical social workers), and communicate with the patient’s physician and family.

If you or a loved one is recovering from a medical procedure, accident, injury, or illness, our expert and compassionate skilled nurses can come to you and help you recover in the comfort of your own home. 

Our staff works directly with your case manager, physician, and family to develop a personalized plan for your care and recovery, so that you can maintain more of your independence and privacy in your own familiar surroundings. 

Services of our licensed skilled nurses include:

• Assessing and observing your medical condition
• Educating and teaching the patient and their family about their medical condition, such as diabetes or heart failure
• Evaluating the patient’s response to a new medication or to a change in dosage
• Teaching the patient and family a new procedure such as an IV or dressing change
• Performing complicated procedures such as urinary catheter insertion and care
• Performing injections
• In-home coagulation therapy monitoring
• I.V. therapy
• Pain management
• Wound care

Our skilled nurses can provide care in your home on a short-term or long-term basis, for as few or as many hours as needed. Nurses are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If ordered by your doctor, skilled nursing is often covered by Medicare, Medicaid, the VA, or your private insurance carrier.

What makes someone a candidate for at-home skilled nursing:

• You have a surgery or other medical procedure that requires the professional assistance of a skilled nurse for proper recovery
• You’re managing an illness or recovering from an injury and require the monitoring and treatment of a skilled nurse
• You are homebound due to illness, injury, post-operation or hospital stay
• Leaving your home isn’t recommended because of your condition
• Your condition keeps you from leaving home without help (such as need for a wheelchair or walker, special transportation, or a personal aide)
• Leaving home takes a considerable and taxing effort.
• You do NOT have to be bedridden to qualify. A person considered homebound may leave home for medical treatment or short, infrequent absences for non-medical reasons, such as attending religious services or adult day care. (Source: medicare.gov glossary)
• Services are medically necessary and reasonable. This includes skilled nursing on an intermittent basis, physical, speech or occupational therapy on a continuing basis
• Services are performed in your place of residence (home, assisted living facility, etc.).
• You wish to maintain your at-home comforts, routines, and connections during the recovery process

We all want to remain as autonomous and independent as possible during the recovery process. Northeast Professional Home Care’s skilled nurses understand this and can help you or your loved one maintain your freedom and independence, live safely in your own surroundings, and recover with the comfort, security, and privacy that comes from being cared for in your own home.

Benefits of in-home skilled nursing care:

• Ability to rest and recover where you are most comfortable – at home
• Your in-home skilled nurse will have more time to educate and empower you about your own health status and recovery
• Learn techniques from your skilled nurse to help you more easily, effectively, and safely complete hands-on healthcare procedures, such as wound dressing, injections, IVs, etc.
• Enjoy the privacy and autonomy that comes with receiving in-home care
• One-on-one attention from a skilled nurse that is not rushing between patients
• Your skilled nurse can assess your home environment and reduce potential home hazards from falls or other injuries
• Northeast Professional Home Care works with you, your family, your case manager, and your physician to ensure your care is safe, supportive of your medical goals, and tailored to your needs

Click below for more information about how in-home skilled nursing care can work for your family.