State of Maryland

A Home Health Nurse is the full performance level of work providing in-home acute care nursing services to patients requiring complex nursing care under the direction of a Physician.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other Registered Nurses, but may oversee the work of other health care staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Home Health Nurse Supervisor or higher-level Nurse.  Employees may be assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts which may include holidays and weekends.  Employees are subject to call-in and overtime based on staffing needs.  The work is performed in patients’ homes.  Travel is required and the work environment is often unpredictable.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and spread of disease.  The work may require lifting and positioning non-ambulatory patients and lifting wheelchairs and other heavy equipment.  The work may require long periods of standing, walking, bending and reaching.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Home Health Nurse is differentiated from the Home Health Nurse Supervisor in that the Home Health Nurse performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision providing in-home acute care nursing services to patients requiring complex nursing care under the direction of a Physician while the Home Health Nurse Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for Home Health Nurses and may supervise Community Health Nurses.  The Home Health Nurse is differentiated from the Community Health Nurse in that the Community Health Nurse performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision providing primary preventive or routine nursing care to patients in various non-acute care community settings and local health department clinics.

Provides in-home nursing care of acutely ill patients requiring complex nursing care under the direction of a Physician and in conformity with accepted home health nursing standards;

Assesses the home environment to determine the ability of the patient and primary caregivers to manage care in the home;

Develops patient care plans using nursing diagnoses and measurable outcomes in coordination with members of the health care team and the patient;

Assesses the ongoing health status of the patient and the effectiveness of nursing intervention; and, in collaboration with attending Physicians, adjusts patient treatment plans;

Provides telephone consultation, assessment and coordination of patient care;

Monitors health status and instructs patients and caregivers on appropriate home care, medical treatment and management of the condition;

Makes appropriate referrals to a variety of health care services and community resources;

Provides guidance and instruction to team members in the implementation of the patient care plan;

Documents and maintains accurate statistics on nursing care provided;

Identifies home health needs, including need for emergency services, and develops alternative solutions using health department and community resources;

Participates in nursing research, investigations of communicable diseases and orientation of staff;

May provide hospice care;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of nursing treatments of acutely and chronically ill persons and home health nursing;

Knowledge of disease processes;

Knowledge of the programs and resources of federal, State and local agencies concerned with home health nursing;

Knowledge of federal, State and private insurance and certification regulations;

Skill in the application of the nursing process and performing nursing procedures;

Skill in evaluating the effectiveness of nursing interventions; and nursing measures;

Skill in assessing physical, emotional and social needs of patients;

Skill in developing a plan of care for the patient;

Skill in adapting nursing interventions to the home setting;

Skill in performing specialized nursing care procedures;

Skill in providing accurate nursing documentation and recordkeeping;

Ability to observe and evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions in a home setting;

Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, professional and nonprofessional staff, the general public and personnel of other agencies;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, individuals and staff.

Education:   Determined by the Maryland State Board of Nursing under the licensing requirements for Registered Nurses.

Experience: One year of experience as a Registered Nurse in an acute care, critical care or home health care setting.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Nursing classification or Nursing  specialty codes in the Nursing field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess a current license as a Registered Nurse from Maryland State Board of Nursing, 4140 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215.

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employee assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

3. Employees in this classification may be required to successfully complete and maintain current certification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.

1. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in and, therefore, will be required to provide the agency with a telephone number at which they can be reached.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit E- Health Care Professional classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.