Skip to Main Content

Home Health Care and Hospice Nurses

Work Environment

Most hospice and home health care nurses care for their patients in the patients' homes, nursing homes, or in the homes of their caregivers, so the work environment can be as varied as their patients' lifestyles. In addition, patients and family members can be very tense during this stressful period of their lives and they may be unpleasant and uncooperative at times. Some nurses are on call 24 hours a day and may be required to travel to homes in all neighborhoods of a city or in remote rural areas day and night. Safety may be an issue at times.

All nursing careers have some health and disease risks; however, adherence to health and safety guidelines greatly minimizes the chance of contracting infectious diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS. Medical knowledge and good safety measures are also needed to limit the nurse's exposure to toxic chemicals, radiation, and other hazards.

Related Professions