Getting to the clinic isn't always easy: loss of independence, recovery from surgery, chronic illness, or simply feeling tired. The home nursing care allow a nurse to come to your home to perform many of the procedures typically associated with a healthcare facility: taking samples, giving injections, treating wounds, and monitoring vital signs. This article provides an overview of what can be done at home, who can benefit from it, how to arrange for a nurse to visit, and what concrete differences it makes to quality of life.
On this page
- What Is Home Nursing Care?
- What tasks can a nurse perform at home?
- Who Can Benefit from These Treatments
- The Role of Caregivers
- How to Arrange for a Nurse to Visit
- How This Affects Quality of Life
- Limits: What Not to Do at Home
- Myths and misconceptions
- Frequently asked questions
What Is Home Nursing Care?
Visit home nursing care refer to all the tasks that a nurse or nursing assistant performs in a patient’s home rather than in a clinic or hospital. These services are part of a home-based care model, an approach promoted in Quebec (MSSS) to enable people to receive care in their own homes for as long and as comfortably as possible.
Who comes to the house?
Depending on the required procedure, either a nurse (member of the OIIQ) or a nursing assistant (member of the OIIAQ) will be dispatched. Each profession has a scope of practice defined by law: certain procedures are the responsibility of the nurse, while others may be performed by the nursing assistant. In all cases, the procedure is guided by a doctor’s order or a care plan.
- The nurse assesses the patient's health status, plans, and coordinates care.
- The nursing assistant helps provide care and performs various technical procedures.
- The action taken always depends on a prescription or an established care plan.
What tasks can a nurse perform at home?
The list of procedures that can be performed at home is longer than one might think. Much of the care that does not require heavy equipment or hospital monitoring can be provided at home, with a doctor’s prescription. Here are the most common categories.
Sampling and analysis
- Blood tests (blood draws) by prescription.
- Collection of urine or other samples for analysis.
- Transport samples to the laboratory according to instructions.
Injections and Vaccines
- Prescribed injections (for example, certain regular treatments).
- Administration of vaccines in accordance with the current prescription or protocol.
- Monitoring for immediate reactions following injection.
Wound care
- Cleaning and dressing surgical or chronic wounds.
- Removal of stitches or staples by prescription.
- Monitoring the progress of a wound and reporting signs of infection.
Monitoring Vital Signs and Health Status
- Measurement of blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and oxygen saturation.
- Monitoring of parameters such as blood glucose levels, according to the care plan.
- General evaluation and referral of information to the attending physician.
Postoperative Follow-up and Education
- Monitoring recovery after surgery.
- Management and education regarding medication use.
- Educating individuals and their loved ones (first aid techniques, precautions, symptoms to watch for).
| Type of treatment | Can this be done at home? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Blood draw / specimen collection | Yes | Upon prescription, the sample was sent to the laboratory |
| Injections and Vaccines | Yes | In accordance with the applicable order or protocol |
| Wound Care and Dressings | Yes | Including points deducted by court order |
| Vital Signs Monitoring | Yes | Forwarded to the attending physician |
| Post-operative follow-up | Yes | Coordination with the healthcare team |
| Surgery, advanced imaging | No | Requires a healthcare facility |
To remember
- Many routine procedures are performed at home: blood draws, injections, vaccinations, and wound care.
- Vital signs monitoring and postoperative follow-up can be done at home.
- Educating patients and their loved ones is an integral part of care.
- Every action is based on a prescription or a care plan.
- Both registered nurses and licensed practical nurses have a scope of practice defined by law.
- Some medical treatments require a medical facility; they cannot be performed at home.
Who Can Benefit from These Treatments
Visit home care are intended for anyone for whom getting around presents an obstacle, a risk, or unnecessary fatigue. Several groups benefit from them in particular.
Seniors and people with reduced independence
For an older adult with limited mobility, every trip can be a challenge. Receiving care at home reduces fatigue, the risk of falls, and the stress associated with transportation, while helping the person remain in their own home.
People who are recovering
After surgery or a hospital stay, patients often look forward to returning home, but they still require care—such as changing dressings, having stitches removed, and monitoring their condition. The nurse ensures continuity of care between the hospital and the patient’s home.
People living with a chronic illness
- Regular monitoring of vital signs (blood pressure, blood sugar) without having to leave home.
- Administration of prescribed treatments at fixed intervals.
- Education to help manage the disease better on a daily basis.
The Role of Caregivers
Visit close caregivers play a central role in home care. The nurse does not replace the family member: she supports them, teaches them the proper techniques, and helps them avoid burnout.
- Learning simple, safe steps to take between visits.
- Recognizing the signs that indicate it is time to seek medical attention.
- Respite and support: Delegating certain technical care tasks lightens the load.
Quebec recognizes the role of family caregivers and provides them with information and support resources (Québec.ca). A family caregiver who feels overwhelmed should talk to a healthcare professional.
Need a home health nurse or some advice before arranging care? Schedule an appointment on our appointment page, quickly consult a professional by teleconsultation without leaving home, or check out our business solutions if you provide health care for your employees.
How to Arrange for a Nurse to Visit
Organize home care is simpler than you might think. The first step is almost always a prescription or a care plan, which specifies the procedures to be performed and their frequency.
Typical Steps
- Obtain a doctor's order (for a blood draw, injection, wound care, etc.).
- Contact a home care service to schedule the visit.
- Prepare the space: a clean, well-lit, and accessible area makes the process easier.
- Gather the necessary documents: prescription, list of medications, health insurance card.
- Meet with the nurse, who performs the procedure and relays the information to the attending physician.
Prepare Well for the Visit
- Clear a table or a clean surface nearby.
- Keep an up-to-date list of medications and supplements on hand.
- Write down your questions in advance so you don't forget anything.
- Please report any allergies or previous reactions to a treatment.
| Step | Who | What's Going On |
|---|---|---|
| Order | Doctor | Statute of limitations on the required action |
| Planning | Home Care Service | Choosing a Date and a Nurse |
| Tour | Nurse or nursing assistant | Conducting the procedure at the patient's home |
| Tracking | Healthcare Team | Reporting Results to the Doctor |
How This Affects Quality of Life
Beyond the practical aspect, the home care have a real impact on well-being. Staying in one’s familiar surroundings, surrounded by familiar landmarks, often boosts morale and aids recovery.
- Less travel means less fatigue and stress.
- Care in a familiar and reassuring environment.
- Maintaining independence and daily routines.
- Continuity of care, with regular communication with the doctor.
These treatments are not a substitute for medical care; rather, they complement it by bringing care closer to the individual. Any questions about your health should be directed to a healthcare professional.
Limits: What Not to Do at Home
Home has its limits. Certain types of care require equipment, monitoring, or technical facilities that are only available in healthcare facilities. Recognizing these limitations is part of safe practice.
- Surgeries and procedures requiring an operating room.
- Invasive medical imaging (X-rays, CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging).
- Continuous, intensive monitoring of an unstable condition.
- Any emergency situation that falls under the jurisdiction of emergency services.
If you experience a severe or sudden symptom, do not try to manage the situation at home: contact emergency services. For non-urgent questions, a healthcare professional can refer you to the appropriate resource.
Myths and misconceptions
Is home care only for the elderly?
False. Older adults often benefit from this service, as do people who are recovering from illness, those living with a chronic condition, or anyone who has difficulty getting around.
A home health nurse can do it all
Nuanced. Many procedures can be performed at home, but not surgeries, advanced imaging, or intensive monitoring, which require a medical facility.
A blood test taken at home is less reliable than one done in a lab
False. The collection process follows the same guidelines, and the sample is sent to the laboratory. What matters is compliance with the collection and transport guidelines.
You don't need a prescription for home care
False. Most medical procedures are based on a prescription or a care plan. It is this framework that authorizes and guides the procedure.
Receiving care at home isolates people from the healthcare system
False. On the contrary, the nurse serves as the link to the attending physician and relays information. The patient’s home becomes an extension of the care process, not a break in it.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of nursing care can you receive at home?
Blood draws, injections and vaccinations, wound care and dressing changes, monitoring vital signs and postoperative follow-up, as well as educating patients and their loved ones. Each procedure is based on a prescription or a care plan.
Do you need a prescription for a home health nurse?
Most technical procedures—such as a blood draw, an injection, or wound care—are based on a doctor’s order or a care plan that outlines the procedure.
Is a blood test taken at home just as reliable as one taken at a clinic?
Yes, provided that the collection and transport guidelines are followed. The sample is sent to the laboratory just as it would be for a sample collected at a clinic.
What types of care can't be provided at home?
Surgeries, advanced medical imaging, intensive monitoring of unstable patients, and any emergency situation are the responsibility of a healthcare facility or emergency services.
How do you arrange home nursing care?
First, you get a prescription, then you contact a home health care service to schedule a visit. The nurse performs the procedure and forwards the information to the attending physician.
Where can I get home nursing care?
Our UVO home care service serves our network in Quebec. You can learn more about the UVO page, schedule a visit through our appointment page or explore the entire our services.
Sources
- Quebec Order of Nurses (OIIQ) — oiiq.org
- Quebec Order of Nursing Assistants (OIIAQ) — oiiaq.org
- Ministry of Health and Social Services — Home Care — msss.gouv.qc.ca
- Québec.ca Portal — Home Care and Services — quebec.ca/sante
- Québec.ca Portal — Family Caregivers — quebec.ca
- National Institute for Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS) — inesss.qc.ca
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