Q&A: Nurse or Aide?

Q: What’s the difference between a nurse and a home health aide? 

A: When you’re researching home health care services, you may wonder if you or your loved one needs a nurse or an aide. Vladimir Kotelnik, RN and Geriatric Case Manager with Partners in Care, says, “Each provides very different services, and we can help you to determine which is better for you based on your needs.” 

Home health care nurses are licensed to provide skilled nursing care. For example, a nurse can check a patient’s vital signs, dress wounds or change bandages, administer tube feeding and dispense dosages of medications.  

Home health aides provide companionship, as well as assistance with personal care, meal preparation, light housekeeping and escorting you to appointments and errands. In addition, aides can check and record vital signs, they can remind you to take medications and can open a bottle if you need assistance with it, but they cannot dispense or measure out medications.  

All Partners in Care home health aides are certified. They receive three weeks of training—40 hours more than required by the Department of Health. They also attend in-service training twice a year and have the opportunity to choose classes that address a client’s particular needs.