Definition of Home Visit Is a formal call by a nurse on a client at a client place of residence for the purpose of providing nursing care.

Home visit technique Aims: 1- To provide family health services to prevent diseases, promote and maintain health of family members. 2- To carry out simple nursing care at home for the needy clients. 3- To provide treatment for minor ailments. 4- To rehabilitate the sick and the disabled members of the families. 5- To help the family to help themselves to maintain their health.

Principles of home visits: 1- Home visit should be made according to the need f the family. 2- Be sensitive to the members feelings and needs at the time of the visit. 3- Understand the other persons point of view and accept useful suggestions made by the family. 4- Be sure of the scientific soundness of the subjects you discuss. 5- Use safe technical skills and nursing procedures. 6- Have a full understanding of your agency’s policies.

Cont. 7- Attain a working knowledge of the community resources and use them wisely. 8- Collect background information about the client, home and environment and make an objective analysis of the information as an initial step in home visiting. 9- Work with client and family and plan jointly. 10- Be kind and courteous and show concern for the family with a view to gain their confidence.

Phases and activities of the home visits. Phase Activities 1 Initiation Phase: - Clarify source of referral for visit. - Clarify purpose for visit. - Share information for reasons and purpose of visit with family. 2 Pre visit phase: - Initiate contact with family - Establish shared perception of purpose with family. - Determine family’s willingness for home visit - Schedules for the home visits. - Review referral and family records.

Cont. 3 In–Home phase: - Introduce self and professional identity. - Social interaction to establish rapport. - Establish nurse-client relationship. - Implement nursing process. 4 Termination phase: - review visit with family . - Plan for future visits. 5 Post visit phase: - Record visit. - Plan for next visit.

Advantages: - Convenient for the family. - Client control of the setting. - When client is unable to travel. - Nurse identify minor health changes. - Nurse can see other factors influence client health.

Disadvantages: - Pre-visit preparation - Travel to and from the home. - Time spent with family. - Post-visit activities. - Paper work. - Making referrals. - Consulting and collaborations.