There really is a difference: home care competencies.
BACKGROUND
More nurses are turning to home care agencies as sources of employment because of mergers, alliances, and increased emphasis on outpatient services. The unique differences in the home care nursing role necessitate adequate orientation and ongoing competency validation.


METHODS
A review of relevant nursing literature was conducted. The author also relied on her experiences as a home care educator.


RESULTS
Nurses who enter the specialty of home care nursing can expect to learn specific competencies that are unique to home care.


CONCLUSIONS
Specific competencies unique to home care are proposed. There is scant published research regarding home care competencies to date.
Blevins
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Community Hospital Home Health and Visiting Nurse Association, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA.
D000068:Accreditation; D000339:Affect; D002322:Career Mobility; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003071:Cognition; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007587:Job Description; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D000078329:Workforce