Home Health Nurse Salary Guide

Home health registered nurses practice in a non-traditional work environment and care for patients with a wide range of medical needs. They usually work independently as part of a wider care team, often caring for the same patients long-term. While they frequently work in their patients’ homes, they also may care for patients in assisted living facilities. Home health agencies are top employers of home health RNs, but retirement communities, medical centers and travel nursing agencies may employ home health RNs. A nurse’s employer and several other factors impact a home health RN’s salary.

Home health nurses visit patients, usually in their homes, to provide one-on-one medical care. While many home health RNs take care of elderly patients, they also serve patients who are physically disabled, mentally handicapped, suffering from a chronic disease, terminally ill or recently discharged from a hospital and recovering from an injury or needing additional care. Because they perform a wide array of healthcare tasks, home health RNs must have well-rounded nursing skills.

A licensed practical nurse can work as a home health nurse after earning a certificate or diploma from an accredited, state-approved nursing program available at community colleges and technical schools. LPNs must also pass the NCLEX-PN to get licensed. RNs may enter home health nursing after earning an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited nursing program. They must pass the NCLEX-RN and complete any other state-specific licensure requirements to become licensed.

Many aspects can factor into how an employer bases a home health nurse’s salary. Career progression is often a big factor since LPNs can work as home health nurses. However, RNs are allowed to perform additional duties and have more education than LPNs so their base salary is always higher than an LPNs. Years of experience, certifications and skills can also be factors. Home health also has a unique basis for salary that other nursing fields don’t have.

Home health nurses may earn a standard salary like nurses in other fields but sometimes their salary is based on the number of visits they make instead of the number of hours worked. When your salary is per-visit based, earnings are often received through private insurance companies or government programs like Medicare or Medicaid and based on set fees. The first visit usually pays more than subsequent visits, because it takes longer to assess the patient’s needs and complete necessary paperwork. Home health nurses paid per visit aren’t usually eligible for overtime pay, but state laws vary so it may also factor into how home health RN’s salaries are based.

Home health nursing requires comprehensive knowledge and the ability to quickly respond to various situations. Home health nurses must also have the skills to effectively draw blood, insert IVs and provide advanced wound care. Thus, experience can play a key role in how a home health RN’s salary is based. The number of years a nurse has on the job impacts experience and may also boost base salary due to seniority. Besides experience in home health nursing, some employers prefer RNs with two or three experience in acute care before even entering the home health field.

Home health RNs need Basic Life Support certification and some employers may require Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. Required certifications don’t usually impact base salary, but additional certifications earned voluntarily usually do.

Like other nursing fields, furthering your education is one way to increase your home health RN salary. RNs only need an ADN to enter the home health nursing field, which takes two years. However, a four-year BSN is typically needed to advance your career in home healthcare. It also sets you on the path to an advanced degree. Advanced practice RNs, such as nurse practitioners, earn higher salaries than RNs.

You must earn a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice degree to become a nurse practitioner. Although there aren’t any specific home health NP programs, most RNs pursue an education and certification as family or adult NPs. The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners offers board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner or Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner after completing required education and passing an exam.

Professional certifications are usually guaranteed ways to increase your salary. Unfortunately, board certification in home health nursing is no longer available. Those who already have Home Health Nursing Certification (RN-BC) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center can still renew this certification every five years. Because they’re already certified in the field, they may earn a higher salary compared to their non-certified counterparts. 

New home health RNs can earn general certifications that might increase their home health salary. Because many home health patients tend to be elderly, earning gerontology certification may be beneficial. The ANCC offers Gerontological Nursing Certification (GERO-BC) after two years of full-time RN practice, completing at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice and 30 hours of continuing education in gerontological nursing, and passing an exam.

Take a look at Vivian's Home Health Nurse Career Guide for more information, including required education, responsibilities, pros and cons and more.