Home Visit

DR Yahya Hussein
What is a Home Visit?
• Face-to-face interaction between the home visitor
and a parent or family.
• Scheduled in advance.
• Planned for a specific period of time – usually 60-90
minutes.
• Usually takes place in the home setting, but may
take place at a mutually convenient location (such
as a work place, library, etc.)
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• Goals:
> Prevention of negative birth outcomes (low
birth weight, substance abuse, criminal
activity, early prenatal care, and prematurity)
> Prevention of infant mortality
> Increase proper nutrition and physical
activity for families
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> Prevention of child abuse and neglect
> Prevention of unintentional injuries
> Improvement of family coping skills
> Promotion of positive family parenting skills
> Promotion of child development/school readiness
> Outreach and support for families to improve use
of community resources, including access to
provision of a “medical home”
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Responsibilities of Nurse Supervisor

• Start Home Visitor program manager to assist

in filling a home visitor vacancy if needed
• Supervise the activities of the home visitor
• Consult with the home visitor on a regular
basis and as needed

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• Complete an annual written personnel evaluation
• Ensure that a PHN will make follow-up visits to
families when the home visitor observes current or
potential problems
• Promote effective interagency cooperation with
other community resources and programs
• Consult with other professionals who have provided
referrals to the Home Visitor program

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• Ensure that all reports are completed in a correct
and timely manner
• Include home visitors in appropriate local staff
meetings
• Periodically accompany home visitor on home visits
to evaluate content of visit and effectiveness of the
visitor
• Assist home visitor in prioritizing workload
• Review and sign documentation of home visitor
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 Role of the Home visitors

• Advocate – Bridging cultural and other

barriers to early and effective prenatal
care/services; to advise or accompany
pregnant women to prenatal appointments
and other community services and to assist
children and families as needed.
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• Collaborator – Working with numerous
support and resource services available to
secure appropriate services for women,
children and families.

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• Consultant – Finds answers to families’
questions about their pregnancy,
relationships, and parenting.

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• Motivator – Motivates families to make
lifestyle changes and engage in healthy
behaviors with the ultimate goal of a healthy
pregnancy, and healthy children.

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• Record Keeper – Documents and maintains
accurate visitor records reviewed and co-
signed by registered nurse supervisor, with
appropriate completion of Client Visitor
Encounter Records sent to KDHE.

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Where do I begin? How do I conduct a
home visit?

• Every visit requires you to plan beforehand,

discuss planned topics during the visit, and
complete follow-up activities afterwards.
First impressions are very important and lay
the groundwork for future visits!
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• Consider cultural tradition/practices
• State clearly expectations of the visitor
• Stress issue of privacy and confidentiality
• Use clear statements
• Gain confidence of your families

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Before the Home Visit
• Call to schedule a time for your visit.
• Review the information about the client or
family and gather any other information you
need.
• Plan what you will discuss at the visit, and
identify appropriate educational information to
present.
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• Collect all the items you will need such as written
materials, safety devices, toys, bags, packets, etc.
Home Visitors should provide parenting
curriculum with clear objectives and structured
information that directly address the needs of
families within their cultural and individual
contexts.

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Topics and educational information
• Prenatal/Postpartum changes
• Feeding, nutrition, and weaning
• Attachment behaviors and nurturance, such
as reading and responding to infant cues (ie
crying), by soothing, making eye contact,
providing tactile response and communicating
verbally and nonverbally
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• Safety of the home environment and infant first aid
• Babies’ biological cycles of sleep, feeding,
elimination
• Normative development and milestones
• Developmentally appropriate play
• Managing challenges such as sleep deprivation,
physical recuperation after birth, and fussy/colicky
babies
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• Early discipline and limit setting
• Immunizations and Communicable Diseases
• Medical home, food assistance, employment
and other targeted assistance programs

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During The Visit
• Be on time!
• Greetings and Introductions
• Discuss information and topics planned for
the visit
• Observe and make mental notes of any
concerns, threats, or dangers that may
require further discussion, action or referral
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• Ask about any immediate concerns or
expectations from the parent
• Model desired parenting skills and parent-
child interaction
• Summarize purpose and information
presented at the visit
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• Request topics that might be planned for the
next visit
• Confirm the date and time of next scheduled
visit
• Good-byes should be made to each person
present
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After the Home Visit

• Record and document accomplishments and

discussions from the visit.
• Note any referrals or follow-ups determined from
the visit.
• Take a moment for reflection – “Did I cover the
important topics and education during the visit?”
“Did I scan the environment and see any signs of
problems?”
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• “Did I feel confident that the mother and
children are in a safe place?” “Did I empower
this family?”
• Follow-up with nurse supervisor to discuss
any concerns
• Document visit with any recommendations or
actions taken
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