HOME VISIT

home visit- is a family-nurse contact which allows the health worker to assess the home and family
situations in order to provide the necessary nursing care and health related activities.

Purposes of home visit:

- to give nursing care to the sick, to a post-partum mother and her newborn with the view to teach a
responsible family member to give the subsequent care.

-to assess the living condition of the patient and his family and their health practices in order

to provide the appropriate health teaching.

-to give health teachings regardings the prevention and control of diseases.

-to establish close relationship between the health agencies and the public for the promotion of health.

-to make use of the inter-referral system and to promote the utilization of the community services.

EQUIPMENT OF HOME VISIT:

 PUBLIC HEALTH BAG
 BP apparatus and stethoscope
 PAPER LINING
 EXTRA PAPER FOR MAKING WASTE BAG
 PLASTIC/LINEN LINING
 APRON
 HAND TOWEL
 SOAP IN SOAP DISH
 THERMOMETERS (ORAL AND RECTAL)
 2 PAIRS OF SCISSORS (SURGICAL AND BANDAGE)
 2 PAIRS OF FORCEPS (CURVED AND STRAIGHT)
 DISPOSABLE SYRINGGE WITH NEEDLE (g. 23 AND 25)
 HYPODERMIC NEEDLES g. 19,22,23,25
 STERILE DRESSING
 COTTON BALLS (DRY AND WITH ALCOHOL)
 CORD LAMP
 MICROPORE PLASTER
 TAPE MEASURE
 1 PAIR OF STERILE GLOVES
 BABY’S SCALE
 ALCOHOL LAMP
 2 TEST TUBES
 TEST TUBE HOLDERS
 SOLUTION OF
 BETADINE
 ZEPHIRAN SOLUTION
 SPIRIT OF AMMONIA
 ACETIC ACID
 70PERCENT ALCOHOL
 HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
 OPTHALMIC OINTMENT
 BENEDICT’S SOLUTION
STEPS IN CONDUCTING HOME VISITS

1. Greet the patient and introduce yourself.

Rationale: To build a friendly relationship with the family member and the patient and to promote
client cooperation.
2. State the purpose of the visit
Rationale: to check the patients and to provide health teachings.
3. Observe the patient and determine the health needs.
Rationale: To be able to address the health of the patient needs and To evaluate results of the
outcomes of the nursing given care.
4. Put the bag in a convenient place then proceed to perform the bag technique.
Rationale: to keep clean the area before start the procedure
5. Perform the nursing care needed and give health teachings
Rationale: to promote learning experience on health to the patient
6. Record all important data, observation and care rendered
Rationale: To provide document for reference in the next visit.
7. Make appointment for a return visit.
Rationale: For follow up care.

The BAG TECHNIQUE

The bag technique is a tool by which the nurse, during her visit will enable him/her to perform a nursing
procedure with ease and deftness, to save time andeffort, with the end view of rendering effective
nursing care to clients.

The public health bag is an essential and indispensible equipment of a public health nurse which he/she
has to carry along her home visits. It contains basic medication and articles which are necessary for
giving care.

Principles of bag technique:

 Performing the bag technique will minimize, if not prevent the spread of anyinfection.
 It saves time and effort in the performance of nursing procedures.
 The bag technique should show the effectiveness of total care given to anindividual or family.
 The bag technique can be performed in a variety of ways depending on
theagency’s policy, the home situation, or as long as principles of avoidingtransfer of infection
is always observed.

CONTENT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH BAG:

- PAPER LINING
- EXTRA PAPER FOR MAKING WASTE BAG
- PLASTIC/LINEN LINING
- APRON
- HAND TOWEL
- SOAP IN SOAP DISH
- THERMOMETERS (ORAL AND RECTAL)
- 2 PAIRS OF SCISSORS (SURGICAL AND BANDAGE)
- 2 PAIRS OF FORCEPS (CURVED AND STRAIGHT)
- DISPOSABLE SYRINGGE WITH NEEDLE (g. 23 AND 25)
 - HYPODERMIC NEEDLES g. 19,22,23,25
- STERILE DRESSING
- COTTON BALLS (DRY AND WITH ALCOHOL)
- CORD LAMP
- MICROPORE PLASTER
- TAPE MEASURE
- 1 PAIR OF STERILE GLOVES
- BABY’S SCALE
- ALCOHOL LAMP
- 2 TEST TUBES
- TEST TUBE HOLDERS
- SOLUTION OF
 BETADINE
 ZEPHIRAN SOLUTION
 SPIRIT OF AMMONIA
 ACETIC ACID
 70PERCENT ALCOHOL
 HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
 OPTHALMIC OINTMENT
 BENEDICT’S SOLUTION

*sphygmomanometer and stethoscope are carried separately

Steps in performing the bag technique actions

1. Upon arrival at the patient’s home, place the bag on the table lined with a clean paper. The clean side
must be out and the folded part, touching the table.

Rationale: To protect the bag from getting contaminated

2. Ask for basin of water or a glass of drinking water if tap water is not available.

Rationale: To be used for hand washing

3. Open the bag and take out the towel and soap.

Rationale: To prepare for hand washing

4. Wash hands using soap and water. Wipe to dry.

Rationale: To prevent infection from the care provider to the client

5. Take out the apron from the bag and put it on with the right side out.

Rationale: To protect the nurse’s uniform

6. Put out all necessary articles needed for the specific care.

Rationale: To have the readily accessible

7. Close the bag and put it in one corner of the working area.

Rationale: To prevent contamination

8. Proceed in performing the necessary nursing care and treatment.

 Rationale: To give comfort and security and hasten recovery

9. After giving the treatment, clean all things that were used and perform handwashing.

Rationale: To protect the caregiver and prevent infection

10. Open the bag and return all things that were used in their proper places after cleaning them.
Rationale: T
11. Remove apron, folding it away from the person, the soiled side in and the clean side out. Place it in bag.

12. Fold the lining, place it inside the bag and close the bag

13. Take record and have a talk with the mother, write down the necessary data that were gathered,
observations, nursing care and treatment rendered. Give instructions for care of patients in the absence of
nurse.

For reference in the next visit

14. Make appointment for the next visit (either home or clinic) taking note of the date and time.

For follow-up care