MPH, MSN, WHNP-BC
Motherhood is not easy, but nurse-family partnerships can make the transition to first-time parent a little easier.
In this scenario, nurses work with a patient in that patient’s home, educating them and the community on specific health behaviors, such as at-home glucose monitoring or changing a baby’s diaper.
However, there are many types of nurse-family partnerships involving other types of home health care. Home health care continues to evolve, but my experience with nurse-family partnership involves first time mothers and their babies.
The nurse-family partnership experience involves a nurse, typically a registered nurse (RN), providing direct care, education, and support to a patient in their home. The nurse works for a company that assigns patients.
Most nurse-family partnerships require nurses to have experience in home health nursing, nurse education, or the like. Most also have experience in labor and delivery, public health, or postpartum nursing.
Even if a nurse doesn’t have direct experience in these fields, a desire to educate and be inclusive in care is essential. Some nurses receive additional certifications or training on lactation and pediatric care when considering applying for nurse partnership nursing roles.
I have always enjoyed working in women’s health and with families, along with providing one-on-one education. In the hospital setting, education, especially regarding newborns and new mothers, can be rushed and leave moms feeling overwhelmed.
In my nurse-family partnership experience, I was paired with a young, new mother who had a history of domestic violence. She was a first-time mom with limited social support and limited education. Despite her odds, she wanted the best for herself and child.
My company arranged the details of home visits, but my relationship with this mom was unique. She knew motherhood was going to be a challenge, and she wanted a better life for herself and her child.
Nurse-partnership experiences often require some degree of compassion, love for home health nursing, and desire to educate. I specifically chose to work with first time moms since I love prenatal and postpartum care. I also saw how many mothers, even those with the best of resources, often struggled with early motherhood.
I enjoyed working in a nurse family partnership to help my patients learn and grow over time. I also really loved building a relationship with my patients over time and watching their health improve.
Families and their communities often welcome nurse-family partnerships. In my experience, they enjoyed having someone consistent in their lives. The first-time moms also enjoyed watching their own progress with their baby and their own health.
Several things can influence postpartum health, such as sleep, diet, exercise, and stress levels. Educating new moms on the importance of taking care of themselves in addition to their babies was very eye-opening and insightful.
Nurses do many things, and nurses in nurse-family partnerships are no exception! Nurses in these partnerships see patients over time, build relationships and community, and provide extensive education and support. Many nurses work in inpatient settings and only see patients for a few shifts at a time.
When a nurse works in a nurse family partnership, they can build a better relationship and watch someone’s health improve over time. A nurse should consider being a nurse in a nurse family partnership if they thrive in community education and desire to watch change over time.
Unfortunately, because this job requires working with trauma at times, it is important to take care of yourself to avoid burnout, stress, and more. Nurses are the frontline for patient care, and sometimes, in home settings, things can be a bit uneasy.
If you are considering being a nurse in a nurse family partnership, ask yourself if you are passionate about community care, education, and compassion. Also consider looking into the Nurse-Family Partnership and other home visiting nursing programs.
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