home visit schedule template

Social Worker Home Visit Checklist

Make visits to your client’s home less daunting and more doable with our easy-to-use and well-designed social worker home visit checklist.

By Jamie Frew on Mar 06, 2024.

Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.

What is a Social Worker Home Visit Checklist?

Social workers may be required to conduct home visits with their clients to ensure their safety or welfare. These checks might be for children in foster care, children needing ongoing checks to ensure their safety, elderly clients living in the community, disabled clients, clients reintegrating with society following incarceration or addiction treatment, or any other clients whose social worker needs to make sure their living conditions and welfare are being addressed.

Some social workers may regularly undertake home visits for their clients, whereas some may find the very idea completely daunting. There can be a lot of things to assess during the home visit, such as the living conditions or any hazards present that could cause your client harm, and ensuring you’re doing your best for your client can add a lot of pressure to not miss a thing.

That’s where our social worker home visit checklist comes in. We’ve split your client’s home into areas so you can systematically work through your checks and ensure the welfare and safety of your client.

Free Social Worker Home Visit Checklists

Check out these note templates for social workers to improve clinical documentation, workflow, and treatment outcomes.

How To Use This Template For Social Worker Home Visit Checklist

To ensure you’re confident incorporating this checklist into your home visits, we’ve created a simple step-by-step guide you can use to familiarize yourself with this home visit checklist . Just follow these simple steps and you’ll be a pro in no time.

Download the PDF

The first step is to get your hands on the checklist template. You can download this template for free from the link on this page, or if you are already a Carepatron user- access this template and many others from our community template library. Once you have the template open, you can either print it out and fill it in by hand, or if you have the means to bring a device to your home visit- keep it digital and fill it in using the interactive PDF checkboxes. This is a good idea for keeping your checklist tidy, easily fixing any mistakes, and improving the security of your document.

Fill in your client’s details

This is an important step for ensuring your note is attached to the correct client record. This step can be done prior to conducting the home visit to maximize your time on site, or if you are unsure of your client's details- fill it in upon arrival at your client’s home. Either way, ensure you get these important details down or your hard work could be lost!

Complete each section of the checklist

As you walk around your client's home, take each room in turn and complete the relevant section of the checklist. You can take these sections in any order, and not necessarily in the order, they are given in the checklist. As long as you are thorough and inspect every room- you’ll be able to check off everything you need to.

Add any additional notes

We know that a home visit can’t be entirely captured using only a checklist, so we have left space for additional notes. These might be records of the family members and their details, any changes to the residents at the property, an explanation of any 0 or 1 scores given, any additional concerns, and a plan for the next steps for your client. 

Sign and date the note, and store it securely

The last step is to add your name, signature, and date in the spaces provided at the bottom of the checklist. It’s important that you keep this checklist in a secure location, whether physical or digital, as it contains sensitive and private information about your clients.

Social Worker Home Visit Checklist Example (Sample)

Still unsure about the different parts of this template? We’ve got you covered. Take a look at our example social worker home visit checklist, and you’ll be able to get an idea of what the finished version of this checklist looks like. Please note, yours may look very different depending on your client and the social worker completing it, but we still think it can be useful to see an example.

Download this Social Worker Home Visit Checklist Example here:

Who Can Use this Printable Social Worker Home Visit Checklist (PDF)?

This home visit checklist is designed for use by all kinds of social workers who conduct home visits as part of their work. We have kept the questions non-specific to any particular specialty, but we think this template would best suit social workers who work with:

• Children or Child Protective Services (CPS)
• The elderly
• Clients recovering from substance abuse or addiction

Additionally, trainee social workers, or students observing home visits with a licensed social worker, can benefit from using this template to practice completing their own home inspections.

Why is This Form Useful For Social Workers?

This form is designed to make home visits easier and keep you organized while you conduct your inspection. Our social worker home visit checklist has a bunch of useful features for social workers, such as:

Split into different rooms

We have separated the checklist into rooms so you can work your way through the house methodically. It can be overwhelming having a long list of checks to do, but one of the best ways of handling big tasks is by splitting them into manageable chunks- which is what we have done here. Don’t worry if your client’s house doesn’t exactly fit these rooms, e.g. they have no outdoor area, or they have multiple living areas. Just use the same section to cover multiple rooms, or cross out questions that aren’t relevant to your client’s home- e.g. if there are no animals or elderly people in the household.

Space for notes

Another useful feature is the space for notes at the end of the checklist. We know you can’t sum everything up into a single number, so we have left space for you to add your professional insights, opinions, and conclusions. Feel free to use this space for the next steps for your clients, your assessment of the outcome of the home visit, or elaborating on any 0 or 1 scores given. This allows you to capture the nuances that are often present following a home visit.

Why Use Carepatron For Social Worker Home Visits?

The information contained in your home visit checklist is highly sensitive and confidential to your client, and therefore it’s of paramount importance that you store this important record securely- and that’s what we do best. Our EHR system is HIPAA-compliant and deploys multiple levels of AES-256 encryption so you can rest assured your confidential social work documents are secure.

As well as keeping your information secure, Carepatron makes it easy to access these records whenever and wherever you need via our mobile or desktop software platforms. Give your social work clients access to their records through their own Carepatron client portal and help to empower them to participate in their care. 

Finally, Carepatron comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a state-of-the-art software platform, such as AI-powered dictation software, integrated calendar capability, medical coding, tagging systems, billing and appointment management, and a community library of templates just like this one to help you get ahead and save time. With 24/7 support and over 10,000 medical practitioners who have chosen Carepatron, there’s no reason not to try Carepatron today and see how it can take your social work practice to the next level.

Commonly asked questions

It’s important to be prepared before your home visit, and you can do this by reading over your client’s case notes to refresh your memory of their history, and writing down any particular concerns you want to cover during the visit. Additionally, looking after your own safety is very important, so ensuring someone at your practice knows where you are going and when you expect to be back is a great idea, and you may have extra steps in place at your practice like organizing a partner to come with you, scheduling check-in phone calls, or asking your clients to secure any dogs prior to your visit.

This checklist is designed to be a tool to help you cover everything you need to during your home visit. There can be a lot of things you are expected to check, and so having a written list is a great help to ensure you cover everything you need to.

This will depend on your client and their history with you, but it’s a good idea to ensure the questions you ask are non-judgmental to help your clients feel comfortable enough with you to answer honestly. After all, you both want the same thing- to do the best for your client. Some questions you might ask are: “have there been any changes to the family members living here since we last spoke?” or  “what is your escape route in the event of a fire?”. The questions you ask should be guided by any areas of concern you identify during your visit, and the answers can be noted in the Notes section at the end of the template.

Related Templates

Case Notes Template

Create polished case notes for your social work clients using our free case notes template.

SOAP Notes For Social Work Template

Social work SOAP note templates enhance the quality of your note-taking while streamlining your client workflows.

Social Work Treatment Plans

Learn about social work treatment plans and download a free, printable PDF template. See an example plan with answers and responses.

Social Work Intake Form

Boost the level of connection with your clients by incorporating our social work intake form. Smoothen the onboarding process, and ensure you don’t miss any critical information.

SMART Goals for Social Workers Template

Click here to learn more about SMART Goals and how to implement them in your social work practice.

Character Defects Worksheets

Unlock personal growth with Character Defects Worksheets. Address negative traits and behaviors effectively. Start your journey now!

Mindfulness Exercises Worksheets

Discover the benefits of mindfulness exercises worksheets, a tool for developing self-awareness and reducing stress. Learn how to practice mindfulness today.

Distress Tolerance Skills Worksheets

Help your clients learn to sit with their distress and build up their tolerance to distressing emotions with our Distress Tolerance Skills Worksheet.

Therapy Goals Worksheet

Powerful therapy goals worksheet that helps your clients to achieve better therapy outcomes.

Progress Notes For Mental Health Counselors Template

Get access to a free progress notes template for mental health counselors, guaranteed to improve the accuracy and organization of your clinical documents.

Therapy Treatment Plans

Get a free printable Therapy Treatment Plan and learn about the benefits of using this assessment, when to use it, and how to write one.

Therapy Termination Worksheet

Coming to the end of therapy treatment can be a daunting prospect for many clients. Ensure you handle the end of their sessions with care using our therapy termination worksheet.

Popular Templates

Shame Resilience Theory Template

Download a free resource that clients can use for a more goal-directed approach to building shame resilience.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder Treatment Plan

Unlock efficient anxiety care with Carepatron's software, featuring patient management tools, secure communication, and streamlined billing.

Pediatric Depression Screening Tool

Explore the benefits of Pediatric Depression Screening Tools for early detection and effective treatment in children and adolescents.

School Readiness Assessment

Discover the benefits of our School Readiness Assessment template with a free PDF download to ensure children are prepared for kindergarten through grade three.

8-Week Group Counseling Plan

Discover a flexible template for creating effective 8-Week Group Counseling Plans, tailored to meet diverse needs and foster growth.

PTSD Treatment Guidelines

Download our PTSD Treatment Guidelines template to access evidence-based treatment plans, diagnostic tools, and personalized care strategies.

DBT House PDF

Learn about DBT House and use it to help patients work through their issues.

Managing Expectations Worksheet

Empower clients to guide their mental health with our Managing Expectations Worksheet. Foster clarity and growth in realistic expectations.

Dysarthria Treatment Exercises

Discover effective dysarthria exercises to improve speech clarity. Download our free guide for tailored speech therapy techniques.

Thinking Traps Worksheet

Unlock a healthier mindset with our Thinking Traps Worksheet, designed to identify and correct cognitive distortions. Download your free example today.

Coping Cards

Coping Cards can aid clients in managing distressing emotions. Explore examples, download a free sample, and learn how to integrate them into therapy effectively.

EFT Cycle Worksheet

Download our free EFT Cycle Worksheet example and discover the benefits of integrating it into your practice.

Psychophysiological Assessment

Explore Psychophysiological Assessments with our free template. Understand the link between mental processes and physical responses. Download now.

Coping with Auditory Hallucinations Worksheet

Use our Coping with Auditory Hallucinations Worksheet to help your patients manage and differentiate real sensations from hallucinations effectively.

Gender Dysphoria DSM 5 Criteria

Explore the DSM-5 criteria for Gender Dysphoria with our guide and template, designed to assist with understanding and accurate diagnosis.

Integrated Treatment Plan

Explore the benefits of Integrated Treatment for dual diagnosis, combining care for mental health and substance abuse for holistic recovery.

Assessing mania symptoms is crucial for mental health awareness. Download Carepatron's free PDF example of a mania test to understand the evaluation process better.

Clinical Evaluation

Explore the process of conducting clinical evaluations and its importance in the therapeutic process. Access a free Clinical Evaluation template to help you get started.

Discover PROMIS 29, a comprehensive tool for measuring patient-reported health outcomes, facilitating better healthcare decision-making.

Dependent Personality Disorder DSM 5 Criteria

Learn about Dependent Personality Disorder DSM 5 Criteria, understand symptoms and treatment to form healthy relationships. Download the free PDF now.

Mood and Affect List

Meta Description: Access a handy guide to help you observe, evaluate, and further understand a client's mood and affect.

Mood Disorder DSM 5 Criteria

Explore a comprehensive reference tool to help diagnose bipolar and depressive disorders.

DSM 5 Criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder

Discover the DSM 5 Criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder and learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. Download for free.

DSM 5 Antisocial Personality Disorder

Explore the DSM-5 criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder with our comprehensive guide, aiding mental health professionals in accurate diagnosis.

Critical Thinking Worksheets

Unlock the power of critical thinking with our expertly crafted Critical Thinking Worksheets, designed to foster analytical skills and logical reasoning in students.

CAGE-AID Questionnaire

Explore using the CAGE-AID Questionnaire as an initial screening tool for substance use disorder and the severity of drinking or drug use.

Therapy Letter for Court

Explore our guide on writing Therapy Letters for Court, offering templates and insights for therapists to support clients' legal cases effectively.

Conduct Disorder Assessment

Learn about conduct disorder assessment criteria and get Carepatron's free PDF download example for a comprehensive understanding of this mental health disorder.

Substance Use Disorder DSM 5 Criteria

Understanding substance use disorder, its symptoms, withdrawal symptoms, causes, and diagnosis through DSM 5 criteria. Download our free Substance Use Disorder DSM 5 Criteria

Mental Health Handout

Learn key insights into mental health conditions, warning signs, and resources. Access a free Mental Health Handout today!

SNAP Assessment

Learn more about SNAP Assessment, its purpose, and how to use it effectively. Download a free example and learn about scoring, interpretation, and next steps.

Self-Destructive Behavior Test

Uncover patterns of self-destructive behavior with our comprehensive test. Identify self-sabotage, understand its causes, and take steps toward healing with our free PDF download.

Cognitive Processing Therapy Worksheets

Download our free CPT Worksheet to tackle traumatic beliefs and foster recovery with structured exercises for emotional well-being.

End-of-Year Reflection Worksheet PDF

Gain a deeper understanding of your journey over the past year with our End-of-Year Reflection Worksheet PDF. Reflect, evaluate, and plan for growth.

Argumentative Personality Disorder Test

Explore our Argumentative Personality Disorder Test for insights into conflict behaviors and steps towards healthier interpersonal dynamics.

Self-Report Inventory

Access a free self-report inventory tool to add to your psychological assessment toolkit. Download your free PDF here.

Counseling Theories Comparison Chart

Explore a tool to differentiate counseling theories and select approaches that can work best for each unique client.

Access our comprehensive OCD Chart, including subtypes, symptoms, treatment plans, and a downloadable example.

Fear Setting Worksheet

Confront your fears and make informed decisions with our Fear Setting Worksheet—structured guidance to effectively overcome obstacles and achieve your goals.

List of Phobias

Explore a comprehensive List of Phobias, delving into irrational fears that affect individuals with detailed descriptions and insights into common anxieties.

Abandonment Therapy Worksheets

Discover effective Abandonment Therapy Worksheets to heal emotional wounds. Explore triggers, coping strategies & self-awareness. Download now!

Solution-Focused Therapy Questions

Find a handy guide when working with clients in exploring their goals and solutions with our helpful list of solution-focused therapy questions.

Mental Health Risk Assessment

Understanding mental health risk assessment is crucial for identifying potential risks and implementing appropriate interventions. Learn about the importance and steps involved in this process.

Safety Plan for Teenager Template

Discover our comprehensive Safety Plan for Teenagers Template with examples. Download your free PDF!

Speech Language Pathology Evaluation Report

Get Carepatron's free PDF download of a Speech Language Pathology Evaluation Report example to track therapy progress and communicate with team members.

Anger Assessment Quiz

Access our Anger Assessment Quiz to help you assess clients' anger responses to form a tailored anger management plan. Download your free PDF here.

People Pleasing Worksheet

Unlock the secrets to overcoming people-pleasing behaviors with our comprehensive worksheet. Learn to establish healthy boundaries and prioritize your needs with our free PDF download.

Agoraphobia DSM 5 Criteria

Explore a helpful documentation tool to help screen for the symptoms of agoraphobia among clients. Download a free PDF resource here.

Adaptive Skills Checklist

Get access to an Adaptive Skills Checklist to help assess functionality and independence among clients. Download your free PDF tool here.

Histrionic Personality Disorder Test

Explore the diagnosis & management of HPD with insights on symptoms, DSM criteria, & effective strategies for mental health professionals.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Test

Explore our Seasonal Affective Disorder Test template, designed to help healthcare professionals assess and manage SAD symptoms effectively.

Adjustment Disorder DSM 5 Criteria

Explore our Adjustment Disorder DSM-5 Criteria Template for mental health professionals, and provide accurate assessments for your patients.

CVICU Report Sheet

Streamline CVICU patient care with our free Report Sheet example. Enhance communication and ensure continuity of care. Download now.

ABC Scale Scoring

Assess balance confidence effectively with our ABC Scale Scoring example. Download now for a standardized evaluation of mobility and fall risk!

Sensation Emotion Wheel

Learn how to use the Sensation Emotion Wheel effectively to promote mental health and emotional well-being.

Body Sensations Associated With Emotions PDF

Enhance emotional awareness and improve coping skills with our Body Sensations Associated With Emotions PDF template. Download now!

Coping Skills for Anger Handout

Explore effective anger management techniques with our free Coping Skills for Anger Handout. Learn to manage emotions and improve well-being.

Burns Depression Checklist

Evaluate depression severity with the Burns Depression Checklist. Learn how to interpret findings and guide treatment decisions effectively.

MET Activity Chart

Unlock the power of MET Activity Charts to tailor your workouts, optimize energy expenditure, and achieve your fitness goals efficiently.

Coping Skills for Psychosis PDF

Learn about coping skills for managing psychosis symptoms. Download Carepatron's free PDF with examples of effective strategies to help individuals navigate challenging situations.

Things I Can Control Worksheet

Enhance emotional regulation and positively impact your life with the Circle of Control Worksheet. Take charge of what you can influence today.

Guided Notes Template

Enhance your healthcare learning with our Guided Notes Template. Streamline study sessions efficiently. Download now!

Death Anxiety Test

Explore the Death Anxiety Test as a tool to gain an understanding of death anxiety among clients. Access a free PDF resource here.

Anger Level Chart

Learn about anger management, its importance, and how to help clients address anger issues effectively with our Anger Level Chart.

Integrity Test

Uncover the essentials of integrity with our Integrity Test Template. Designed for mental health professionals, this tool aids in evaluating ethical behavior.

List of Mood Disorders

Use our List of Mood Disorders as a handy guide in screening for critical symptoms to help clients going through these challenges.

Neurological Vital Signs

Understanding neurological vital signs is crucial for assessing a patient's brain function. Get Carepatron's free PDF download with examples to deepen your knowledge.

DSM 5 Criteria for Schizophrenia

Explore the DSM 5 Criteria for Schizophrenia and learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. Download a free PDF for your reference.

Compassion-Focused Therapy Worksheets

Explore a free compilation of Compassion-Focused Therapy Worksheets useful for working with clients to build self-compassion and acceptance.

Visualization Meditation Script

Elevate mental health with our Visualization Meditation Script. Enhance awareness as you practice meditation for holistic well-being.

DSM 5 Criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Access a helpful tool to help screen for symptoms and representations of Narcissistic Personality Disorder using our DSM-5 criteria checklist.

Temperament Test

Click here to learn more about the four temperaments test and how this test can support clients to uncover their true selves and put their puzzle pieces together.

Psychosexual Evaluation

Explore our Psychosexual Evaluation: A comprehensive tool for assessing sexual behaviors and risks, aiding legal decisions, treatment plans, and risk assessment.

Self-care Inventory

Try our Self-care Inventory Template, designed to help healthcare professionals and patients assess and improve self-care habits. Treat yourself to a better you.

DSM 5 Criteria for Binge Eating Disorder

Explore the DSM-5 Criteria for Binge Eating Disorder with our comprehensive template. Understand the diagnosis, impact, and treatment options for BED.

EMDR Client Handout

Access our free EMDR Client Handout to receive guidance on trauma processing. Explore how EMDR therapy addresses distressing memories for healing.

Morning Routine Checklist for Adults PDF

Transform how you spend your mornings through our Morning Routine Checklist for Adults. Access a free PDF resource here.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Worksheets

Discover effective Body Dysmorphic Disorder Worksheets to help mental health professionals address symptoms and support patient recovery. Try them now!

Life Goals Worksheet

Unlock your potential with our Life Goals Worksheet Template, designed for life coaches to help clients set and achieve meaningful goals.

7 Stages of Grief PDF

Understand the expanded version of the grief model through the 7 Stages of Grief PDF resource and how we could apply this in client work.

DSM 5 Criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder

Explore the DSM 5 Criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder. Understand BPD diagnosis and its impact on mental health professionals and patients.

WDEP Worksheet

Discover the power of goal-setting and self-reflection with our WDEP Worksheet. Clarify wants, evaluate actions, and plan for success. Download now!

Work-Life Balance Worksheet

Achieve work and personal life harmony with our Work-Life Balance Worksheet. Assess, prioritize, and improve your balance for a happier, healthier you.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy PDF

Discover the power of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Learn key strategies for emotional regulation and more.

Couples Therapy Intake Form

Learn the key to successful couples therapy with our comprehensive guide and example of a Couples Therapy Intake Form. Free PDF download available.

Primary and Secondary Emotions Worksheet

Download our free Primary and Secondary Emotions Worksheet to aid clients in exploring their emotional experiences and fostering emotional resilience.

Psychology Career Test

Take this test to determine your suitability in the role of a psychologist. Use this template as a self test or with clients considering new occupational roles.

Autism pattern recognition test

Explore the Autism Pattern Recognition Test to understand pattern recognition in autism. Access a free example and download the test for practical use.

Family of Origin Worksheet

Explore our Family of Origin Worksheet Template, designed to help clients understand the impact of their familial background on their personality and behavior.

Rebuilding Trust in a Relationship Worksheets PDF

Learn how to help couples rebuild trust in their relationships through a collection of our worksheets. Download your free PDF resource here.

Schizophrenia Test

Efficiently diagnose schizophrenia symptoms with our test & examples. Free PDF download available for practical practitioners.

List of Behavior Intervention Strategies PDF

Explore a comprehensive guide to help you encourage positive change with our List of Behavior Intervention Strategies. Access our free resource here!

Life Coach Plan

Unlock your potential with Life Coach Plan: personalized healthcare guidance for holistic wellness and fulfillment.

Asking for Help Worksheet

Overcome asking for help anxiety! This Asking for Help Worksheet guides you through self-reflection, providing a framework for clear communication.

Community Health Improvement Plan

Discover how Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIPs) address community health needs strategically for effective outcomes and better population health.

ODD Treatment Plan

Use an ODD Treatment Plan Template to document strategies and techniques for managing oppositional defiant disorder and improving client outcomes.

Anger Volcano Worksheet

Check our Anger Volcano Worksheet, a tool for mental health professionals to help children understand and manage anger. Best for anger management.

Name It to Tame It Worksheet

Discover the Name It to Tame It Worksheet, a customizable tool for therapists to help children identify and manage emotions effectively. Download now for free.

YBOCS Symptom Checklist

Assess the severity of your patient's OCD symptoms with a YBOCS symptom checklist. Click here for a free template and more information.

Psychosocial Assessment

Conduct a psychosocial assessment to gauge a patient’s mental and social well-being and create a therapy plan that restores them to a better state physically, mentally, and socially.

Ecomap Social Work

Utilize ecomaps for social work to understand a client’s relationships and their effect on the client’s health. Click here for a free copy.

Mood Disorder Questionnaire

Issue the Mood Disorder Questionnaire for mood disorders to gauge your patients' symptoms during the screening process.

Join 10,000+ teams using Carepatron to be more productive

404 Not found

• Mobile Forms
• INTEGRATIONS
• See 100+ integrations
• FEATURED INTEGRATIONS
• See more Integrations
• See more CRM Integrations

• See more Storage Integrations
• See more Payment Integrations

• See more Email Integrations
• Jotform Teams
• Enterprise Mobile
• Prefill Forms
• HIPAA Forms
• Secure Forms
• Assign Forms
• Online Payments
• See more features
• Multiple Users
• Admin Console
• White Labeling
• See more Enterprise Features
• Contact Sales
• Contact Support
• Help Center
• Jotform Books
• Jotform Academy

Get a dedicated support team with Jotform Enterprise.

Apply to Jotform Enterprise for a dedicated support team.

• Sign Up for Free
• Social Worker Home Visit Checklist

A social worker home visit checklist is used by social workers to assess whether a client is safe at home. A free home visit checklist template is a great tool for social workers who want to get a snapshot of a client’s living environment, safety, and well-being. Whether you’re a social worker, social services employee, or a case worker, you can use this checklist in your everyday work life to make sure your home visits are done correctly.

Simply customize fields to match what you need to document on each visit, print out copies, and use them on the job — you don’t have to carry a bulky and heavy printout with you! By using a checklist to follow procedure, you can ensure that you know what you’re supposed to be doing at each step of the home visit, whether you’re a social worker, social services employee, or a case worker. You can also track the home visits you’ve made and see which ones you’ve completed, making a Social Worker Home Visit Checklist even more worth your while!

More templates like this

Screening Checklist For Visitors And Employees

A screening checklist for visitors and employees is used to track the contact details and symptoms of every visitor or employee who has entered an establishment during the coronavirus crisis. Whether you work for a hospital, doctor’s office, or other essential organization that needs to stay open, reduce the spread of COVID-19 by running checks on visitors and employees using our free online Screening Checklist for Visitors and Employees — easy to fill in on any device. By keeping track of the symptoms of everyone who enters your building, you can take steps to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.This online form already has fields for names, symptoms, and temperature checks, but use our drag-and-drop Form Builder to add other fields that are essential for your needs. Add your company logo, rearrange the layout, or include an e-signature field to let people officially sign off on their coronavirus checks. If you need to transfer the information to your other accounts — such as Salesforce (also available on Salesforce AppExchange), HubSpot, Zoho, Airtable, Trello, Slack, and more — use our free form integrations to do it automatically. And you can even protect submissions with sensitive health information using Jotform’s HIPAA compliance option. Keep everyone safe and reduce the spread of the coronavirus with a free Screening Checklist for Visitors and Employees.

Mobile Inspection Form

A mobile inspection form is a short written statement that guides people through a physical inspection and serves as an official record of the inspection. Use the Mobile Inspection Form to collect information from your clients at job sites or other businesses to streamline the process of collecting and storing information. By collecting the info you need on this short form, you can turn it into a PDF report, share it with your client, or download it to keep a permanent record of your inspections.Whether you are a contractor, builder, or property manager, add your custom logo to the Mobile Inspection Form to make sure you have your own business or brand. You can even share photos of the spaces you are inspecting — if you collect them separately and add them to the form, they will automatically be added to the form report. You can even collect information and share the form report via your favorite file-sharing apps like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box. With Jotform, you can simplify your inspections with this free, printable Mobile Inspection Form.

Inventory Checklist Form

In every organization or company, it is necessary to record all the items stored in the inventory. You can use this Inventory Checklist Form Template to track and control the products in an organized manner.This Sample Inventory Checklist Form Template uses a Configurable List widget. This widget allows you to add a set of fields dynamically by clicking the Add (+) button. The checklist columns are the item ID, item description, area or location, condition, quantity, and item price. This template also has a section about the Inventory Manager.

• Form Templates /
• Checklist Forms /

Checklist Forms

Property management forms.

Property Inquiry Form

A property inquiry form is used by real estate businesses to request more details regarding a potential property inquiry.

Property Information Form

A property information form is a form used to collect information about a property. Customize this template according to your needs. No coding!

Property Maintenance Request

A maintenance request form is used by property owners and managers to order repairs, maintenance, and upgrades for rental properties.

Rental History Verification Form

This rental history verification form is used by landlords and property managers to verify details about a tenant’s rental history. Simply verify an applicant’s rental history without coding!

Cleaning Forms

Cleaning Proposal Form

To provide extra-professional cleaning services, you’ll need an extra-professional cleaning proposal form. Our Cleaning Proposal Form Template allows you and your client to quickly fill in a short form that states cleaning services and prices, protects both you and your client, and keeps everything above board. Make your Cleaning Proposal Form shine with our drag-and-drop Form Builder — you can add your unique services, prices, and company logo in a flash. When linked to our Cleaning Proposal PDF Template, you’ll have polished contracts complete with binding e-signatures. So save time, get organized, and provide great service to your customers using Jotform’s Cleaning Proposal Form Template.

Cleaning Service Agreement Form

A Cleaning Service Agreement Form is a form template designed to establish a contract between cleaning service providers and their clients.

Cleaning Service Online BookingScheduling

Online quoting, pricing and booking form that can be integrated to work with your own scheduling system. House Cleaning Maid service

Daily Office Cleaning Checklist

Create a free cleaning checklist for your office. Customize and share with no coding. Fill out on any smartphone, tablet, or computer. Keep a complete record online.

Other Checklist Forms

Prevent the spread of COVID-19 with a free Screening Checklist for Visitors and Employees. Ideal for hospitals or other organizations staying open during the crisis.

A mobile inspection form is a short written statement that guides people through a physical inspection and serves as an official record of the inspection. No coding!

In every organization or company, it is necessary to record all the items stored in the inventory. You can use this Inventory Checklist Form Template to track and control the products in an organized manner.

Job Safety Observation Form

This online job safety observation form offers an opportunity to collect observations about the job safety from the companies. Your job safety observation form template can have various fields about safety checking, task observation and other relevant Health and Safety Standard. The observer can easily fill the job safety observation after the surveying entire area. It can be modified according to form owner's needs.

Weekly Vehicle Inspection Form

Perform weekly police vehicle inspections for your precinct with this free online Vehicle Inspection Form. Easy to customize and fill out on any device.

Rental Inspection Report Form

A rental inspection report form is used to document any issues or damages found during a property inspection and list repair requests to return the home to its original condition.

Medication List

A medication list template is a document used by a medical professional to track all the medications that a patient is taking.

Daily Vehicle Inspection Form

A daily vehicle inspection form is a document used by service workers to inspect vehicles on a daily basis.

Quality Control Inspection Form

A quality control inspection form is used by industries such as document management and automotive to record the results of an inspection. No coding!

Roofing Inspection Form

A Roofing Inspection Form is a checklist form that is used when inspecting the roofing of a building.

Employee COVID 19 Screening Checklist

An Employee Covid-19 Screening Checklist is a morning screening prior to entering building. Used to either suggest employee wear a mask while working or go home depending if they are yellow or red.

Mechanical Inspection Report

Mechanical inspection reports are used by auto repair and automotive services to provide test drives and record data on vehicles.

Food Safety Checklist

A food safety checklist is a list of safety standards and controls that can be used to ensure the food that is produced, handled, and served is safe to eat.

Site Safety Inspection Report

A site safety inspection report is a document or report detailing the safety conditions of a building or site, such as a construction site or building, office space, or building site.

Shift Handover Checklist

Smoothly transition the responsibilities and actions to the next shift employee by using this Shift Handover Checklist. This form will make sure that important actions will be addressed and handle in a timely manner.

Building Inspection Checklist

A building inspection checklist is a list of items that should be inspected while doing an inspection of a building. It is customizable with easy-to-use and drag-and-drop features of Jotform. No coding!

Computer Maintenance Checklist

A computer maintenance checklist is a form template designed to streamline the process of checking and logging the maintenance tasks performed on a computer

Daily Vehicle Inspection Report

Daily vehicle inspection reports are often given to the maintenance staff of a company, company-owned vehicle, or a private vehicle by the manager or supervisor of the company. Use this form without coding!

Guest Room CheckList

Above you will find a guest room checklist form utilized by housekeeping staff to streamline to the process post guest checkout. During the cleaning process, the maid can quickly check off the state of the room and can mark down sections of the room that need to be repaired. Your guest room checklist form template can be customized to collect information that is relevant to the type of accommodations your provide. Use this guest room checklist template as a basis for your form and then customize it with widgets or apps to make information collection easier.

Coronavirus Measures Checklist

Check up on your employees with a free Coronavirus Measures Checklist. Collect responses online. View symptoms, temperatures, and more.

Plumbing Inspection Checklist Form

A plumbing inspection checklist form is a document that goes along a plumber when they are inspecting a house for a potential renovation.

Store Visit Checklist

This Store Visit Checklist Template designed to receive information about stores. Visiting frequently the store is the perfect way to improve your business. This Store Visit Checklist Template will help you to improve this visitings.

Workplace Safety Inspection Checklist

A workplace safety inspection checklist is a document that is used to perform an assessment to find out the level of safety existing in a place of work.

About Checklist Forms

Need a quick and professional way to manage tasks or inventory? Keep your business up to date and running smoothly with Jotform’s secure online Checklist Forms and automatically convert checklist responses into PDFs or other types of paperwork — ready to download or share in seconds. Pick a ready-made template below to customize to match your branding, then use our drag-and-drop builder to add or edit your form. Upload a company logo for a professional touch, connect your form with 100+ form integrations , and even create an automated approval flow with Jotform Approvals . Conduct screenings, take inventory, and keep your businesses running seamlessly with powerful Checklist Forms from Jotform.

Your account is currently limited to {formLimit} forms.

Go to My Forms and delete an existing form or upgrade your account to increase your form limit.

What is a Home Visit Checklist, and How To Make One? A Comprehensive Guide

• Ossian Muscad
• May 29, 2023
• No Comments

Last Updated on May 29, 2023 by Ossian Muscad

Home visits are an essential part of providing quality patient care. They can be a great way to monitor safety, identify potential problems, and assess patients’ overall well-being in their homes. However, it is essential that all home visits occur with proper planning and preparation to ensure the best possible outcome for both the healthcare provider and the patient.

One tool that can help achieve this goal is a home visit checklist. This article will look at a home visit checklist and how to create one to provide your patients with safe and effective care during every visit.

What is a Home Visit in the Medical Field?

A home visit in the medical field, also known as a house call, is when a healthcare professional, such as a doctor, nurse, or therapist, visits a patient’s residence to provide medical care, assessment, or treatment. Home visits are often utilized for patients who have difficulty accessing healthcare facilities due to mobility issues, chronic illnesses, or other limitations. These visits enable healthcare providers to assess patients’ living conditions, offer personalized care, and monitor their progress in a comfortable and familiar environment.

Why Are Home Visits Important?

House calls are essential for several reasons, as they benefit patients and healthcare providers. Some of these benefits include:

• Improved Access to Care: House calls help patients with difficulty traveling to healthcare facilities due to mobility issues, chronic illnesses, or lack of transportation. This ensures that they receive timely medical attention and care.
• Personalized Care: Home visits allow healthcare providers to understand patients’ living conditions better and tailor their care accordingly. This personalized approach can lead to more effective treatment plans and improved patient outcomes.
• Continuity of Care: House calls enable healthcare providers to monitor a patient’s progress and adjust treatment plans as needed. This continuous care can help prevent complications, reduce hospital readmissions, and improve overall health.
• Patient Comfort: Receiving medical care in the familiar surroundings of one’s home can be less stressful and more comfortable for patients, particularly those with anxiety or cognitive impairments.
• Cost-effective Care: Home visits can reduce healthcare costs by preventing unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits. They also enable more efficient use of healthcare resources, as providers can see multiple patients during one visit.
• Enhanced Patient-provider Relationship: House calls foster stronger relationships between patients and healthcare providers, allowing for more personal interactions and increased trust. This can lead to better communication, greater satisfaction, and improved adherence to treatment plans.

House calls are crucial in providing accessible, personalized, and cost-effective healthcare services, particularly for vulnerable populations and those with limited access to traditional medical facilities.

Different Types of Home Visits

House calls can be categorized into different types based on the purpose and patient needs. These variations are meant to address different issues and provide more specialized care. With that said, here are four common types of home visits:

Illness Home Visits

These visits focus on patients experiencing acute or chronic illnesses requiring medical attention and care. Healthcare providers assess the patient’s condition, perform necessary examinations, and provide treatment or medication adjustments. They also offer guidance on managing symptoms and may recommend additional services or referrals if necessary.

Dying Patient Home Visits

In cases where patients are nearing the end of their lives, healthcare providers visit to offer palliative care and support. The goal is to ensure patients’ comfort and dignity during their final days while addressing pain, symptoms, or emotional concerns. Providers may also assist with advance care planning and coordinate with hospice services if required.

Assessment Home Visits

These visits primarily evaluate a patient’s overall health, living conditions, and support system. Healthcare providers assess the patient’s physical, mental, and social well-being, identifying potential risks or issues that need addressing. This type of visit is essential for elderly patients, individuals with disabilities, or those with complex medical needs.

Hospitalization Follow-up Home Visits

Following a hospital discharge, healthcare providers may conduct home visits to ensure a smooth transition back to the patient’s home environment. They assess the patient’s recovery progress, monitor for any complications or signs of relapse, and provide guidance on self-care and medication management. Follow-up visits also help identify any additional services or resources the patient may need to aid in their recovery.

Each home visit serves a specific purpose and is essential in providing comprehensive and personalized care for patients in their homes.

What is a Home Visit Checklist?

A home visit checklist is a comprehensive list of items, tasks, and assessments that healthcare professionals use to guide during a medical house call or home visit. It helps ensure that all necessary patient care aspects are addressed and nothing is overlooked. 

What Items To Include in a Home Visit Checklist?

The specific components of a home visit checklist may vary depending on the healthcare provider’s specialty and the patient’s individual needs. However, some common elements often included in a home visit checklist are:

• [ ] Patient Identification: Confirm the patient’s identity, address, and contact information.
• [ ] Medical History Review: Review the patient’s medical history, including current medications, allergies, past surgeries, and any ongoing health issues.
• [ ] Vital Signs Assessment: Check the patient’s vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature.
• [ ] Physical Examination: Perform a thorough physical examination based on the patient’s presenting complaints and medical history.
• [ ] Living Conditions Assessment: Evaluate the patient’s home environment for safety, cleanliness, and any potential hazards that could affect their health.
• [ ] Medication Management: Assess the patient’s medication regimen, including proper storage, dosage, and adherence to prescribed treatments.
• [ ] Functional Status Evaluation: Determine the patient’s ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as mobility, personal hygiene, meal preparation, and managing finances.
• [ ] Mental Health Assessment: Screen for signs of depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, or other mental health concerns.
• [ ] Social Support Evaluation: Assess the patient’s social support network, including family, friends, and community resources.
• [ ] Care Plan Development: Collaborate with the patient and their caregivers to develop a personalized care plan, addressing any identified issues and setting realistic goals for improvement.
• [ ] Documentation: Record all findings, assessments, and interventions during the home visit, ensuring accurate and up-to-date patient records.
• [ ] Follow-up Arrangements: Schedule any necessary follow-up appointments or referrals to specialists and give the patient clear instructions on the next steps.

A well-structured home visit checklist ensures that healthcare professionals provide comprehensive and consistent care, addressing all aspects of a patient’s health and well-being during each visit.

Create Home Visit Checklists Using a Low-code Platform

If you’re a healthcare provider looking for an efficient way to create home visit checklists, consider using a low-code platform such as DATAMYTE. With drag-and-drop capabilities and easy customization options, you can quickly build custom checklists tailored to your patient’s needs.

DATAMYTE is a quality management platform with low-code capabilities. The DataMyte Digital Clipboard , in particular, is a low-code workflow automation software that features a checklist and smart form builder. This tool lets you create a comprehensive home visit checklist that you can use and share with your team.

To create a checklist or form template using DATAMYTE, follow these steps:

• Log in to the DATAMYTE software and navigate to the ‘Checklist’ module.
• Click “Create Checklist.”
• Add a title to your checklist; select the category where it belongs.
• Start adding items to the checklist by clicking “Add Item.” 
• Define the description of each item, what type of answer it requires, and other relevant specifications (e.g., reference documents, acceptance criteria, limits).
• Assign a team member responsible for conducting the inspection using the checklist.
• Add signature fields for approvals (e.g., supervisors, quality assurance personnel).
• Save the checklist—you can now access it anywhere, and it will be available on any device.

DATAMYTE also lets you conduct layered process audits, a high-frequency evaluation of critical process steps, focusing on areas with the highest failure risk or non-compliance. Conducting LPA with DATAMYTE lets you effectively identify and correct potential defects before they become major quality issues.

With DATAMYTE , you have an all-in-one solution for creating and implementing home visit checklists. Book a demo now to learn how DATAMYTE can help you streamline the home visit process and ensure quality patient care.

Today’s medical industry is as diverse and complex as ever, with different types of patients requiring different levels of care. Home visits are an essential part of providing high-quality patient care, and having a comprehensive home visit checklist is essential for healthcare professionals to ensure that every aspect of an individual’s health and well-being is addressed during each visit. By leveraging low-code tools such as DATAMYTE, healthcare providers can easily create and use custom checklists that meet their patient’s needs. Get started today!

Related Articles:

• What is a Smog Inspection Checklist, and How To Make One? A Comprehensive Guide
• What is a Security Patrol Inspection Checklist, and How To Make One? A Comprehensive Guide

• Implementation
• Case-Studies
• White Papers
• Knowledge Base

Experts in the Connected Factory

• 1-800-455-4359
• (763) 553-0455 ext. 1
• [email protected]

Social Work Home Visit Checklist for Social Workers

Review case file ahead of visit, confirm appointment with client, prepare any necessary paperwork or forms, travel to client's home, assess physical conditions of the home.

• 3 Accessible
• 4 Well-maintained
• 5 Hazardous

Communicate with the client about their well-being

Observation of daily routine and interactions.

• 2 Meal times
• 3 Interaction with family
• 4 Interaction with neighbors
• 5 Use of technology

Identify any immediate risks or threats

• 1 Unsafe neighborhood
• 2 Domestic violence
• 3 Substance abuse
• 4 Financial instability
• 5 Lack of social support

Discuss client's future plans and necessary resources

Completion of needs assessment, approval: needs assessment document.

• Completion of needs assessment Will be submitted

Discuss and establish goals with the client

Draft a service or action plan, confirmation of client's understanding and agreement to plan, approval: service or action plan.

• Discuss and establish goals with the client Will be submitted
• Draft a service or action plan Will be submitted
• Confirmation of client's understanding and agreement to plan Will be submitted

Document visit details and findings

Schedule next visit, travel back to office, submit report to supervisor for review, approval: visit report.

• Document visit details and findings Will be submitted

Archive documents in client's file

Take control of your workflows today., more templates like this.

Lumiform / Templates / Social Worker Home Visit Template

• Social Worker Home Visit Template

A home visits checklist for social work is necessary because it allows a social worker to gather all of the information they need in one place, so nothing is left out. This will help ensure that the client gets the best service possible. Preparing for home visits can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be .

You can read our guide article to use this template to its maximum effectiveness. In addition, we recommend that you browse through the hundreds of templates we offer to facilitate your work in the simplest and most innovative way. With a good strategy and the right methodology, you can save costs, time and ensure maximum efficiency.

Related Checklists:

• Streamline patient care with a social worker home visit checklist

Other Templates:

• Protect your operations with an incident management checklist report
• Construction Contract: Template

• Our Mission

Home Visits 101

Home visits can be a valuable tool for increasing parents’ involvement in their kids’ education. Here’s how you can get started.

Teachers often find themselves wondering why their efforts at organizing opportunities for parents to become more involved in classroom activities do not pan out. They send written reminders home with their students, make phone calls, email, and text. When their repeated attempts to communicate with parents are left unanswered, many teachers become discouraged and begin making negative assumptions about parents’ involvement.

Home visits can establish positive contact and communication with families. They are not a replacement for parent-teacher conferences, but are a process through which teachers demonstrate their support for students’ families by visiting the home environment or an alternative location where the family feels at home and comfortable. Home visits should originate from a sincere desire to assist and work with families (see examples of two teachers’ best and worst home visits ). Home visits promote proactive interactions through which teachers provide authentic support while recognizing families’ strengths.

For teachers interested in conducting home visits, here is some guidance for getting stated.

Do Your Research

Teachers may be reticent to implement home visits because of the time commitment and effort involved. There are many testimonials from teachers and families about successful home visits, but without systemic school and district support, a teacher’s ability to carve out time during the school day to conduct home visits is limited.

For those who are determined, being well-informed about the benefits and rewards as well as the challenges of home visits is important. Once teachers commit to making home visits, they can take steps to research, plan for, implement, and document the process.

Know Your Families

One consideration is learning about students’ families, their communities and neighborhoods, languages and/or cultural differences, and work schedules. Being culturally responsive when conducting home visits communicates respect while demonstrating genuine interest in families’ rich heritages.

Investigating how others have conducted home visits is important if you want to create a process that is doable, realistic, and beneficial to students and their families.

Plan Strategically

Teachers who regularly conduct home visits advise establishing contact with parents before the school year begins. Some home visit models emphasize the benefits of teachers pairing up , traveling together to students’ homes, and introducing themselves to parents during the summer. The first visit should focus on building a relationship, extending support, and actively listening to parents’ concerns and insights. For transparency and safety, the home visit schedule (including location, time, and date) should be provided to school staff.

Be Flexible

Parents may not always feel comfortable meeting in the home. Alternative locations such as a local library, a quiet café, or even a fast-food restaurant may be appropriate venues for family-centered visits. Being flexible may also mean meeting on weekends, before schools begins, or at the end of the school day. Home visits planned in advance allow teachers to pair up strategically to coordinate visits when they have students who are siblings or who live in the same neighborhood.

Focus on Strengths

A teacher who enters the home with a nonjudgmental attitude views the home through the eyes of the family living there and sees the family’s strengths. A culturally responsive approach and appropriate, equity-minded language convey trust and respect. And if the teacher has concerns about the student, they can use the sandwich feedback technique to voice concerns sandwiched between strengths-based praise that is concrete and genuine.

Create an Action Plan

Actively listening to parents’ insights, concerns, and ideas for their child demonstrates authentic interest and respect. On a first home visit, teachers should not take notes since the act of collecting information may arouse parents’ distrust or suspicion. Rather, the teacher can ask parents if they have questions and take mental notes, and then, at a later time, create a voice memo or write out notes of what was discussed.

Before subsequent home visits, teachers can inform parents that they will take notes about concerns or ideas that arise from the discussion. These notes may build on other school-centered meetings and provide a plan of action upon which the teachers and parents can build.

Report Back

One way to remain accountable to students’ families is to maintain, revisit, and keep current the plan of action generated jointly by the teacher and family. Finding out from parents which method of correspondence is most effective and then checking in regularly with them about mutually established goals for the child provides both teachers and parents an open, ongoing platform through which to communicate and interact.

Home visits are a great beginning to positive communication and relationships between teachers and their students’ families. Establishing a strong foundation through home visits is only a first step—nurturing these relationships through consistent communication is critical to maintaining them.

Free Schedule Templates

Free schedule templates you can use to organize your tasks, assignments, and other activities.

Word • PDF • Excel

Schedule Templates

Schedule templates are designed to help you plan your time better — your daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly tasks and activities.

We divided these templates into Work and Non-work schedule templates. Therefore, you can track both your job tasks and the activities outside your work hours.

In case you want to share these templates with your colleagues, your partner, or friends, you can use the Google Sheets and Google Docs versions of the schedules.

On the other hand, if you'd like to download these templates to your computer, feel free to use the Word and Excel versions.

Finally, if you prefer paper to online formats, bear in mind that you can download each of these schedules as a PDF, and then print them out.

WORK SCHEDULE TEMPLATES

• 01. Work from home schedule template
• 02. Weekly work from home schedule template
• 03. Daily work from home schedule template
• 04. Weekly assignments schedule template
• 05. Daily assignments schedule template
• 06. Yearly time off schedule template
• 07. Weekly meetings schedule

NON-WORK SCHEDULE TEMPLATES

• 08. Monthly household chores template
• 09. Weekly household chores schedule template
• 10. Monthly workout schedule template
• 11. Weekly workout schedule template
• 12. Monthly budget schedule template
• 13. Weekly meal planning schedule template
• 14. Daily meal planning schedule template
• 15. Travel schedule template

Work schedule templates

We created these free work schedule templates to help you be more productive and efficient with your work tasks.

You'll notice that some templates cover your daily, weekly, and monthly assignments, while other templates only provide you with one type of assignment.

That's because some types of schedules demand more details, such as the Work from home template — which is why this one has both the daily and weekly versions.

Work from home schedule template

When working from home, you often have to deal with many distractions, either coming from your neighborhood, from the people you live with, or your pets.

One of the best ways to avoid all these interruptions and get back on track with your work is to follow your schedule .

Here are two Work from home schedule templates you can use to organize your workday — or workweek, if that suits you better.

Weekly work from home schedule template

The Weekly work from home schedule template breaks down each day into three sections: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening.

Furthermore, there's a Weekly work checklist, and Meetings/calls section.

If you enjoy having an overview of your weekly tasks, this template will suit you, especially if you have flexible working hours . In this case, you'll be able to choose the time of day for your job assignments, then figure out when you'll fit in your home chores or meal preps.

Of course, even if you have fixed working hours, this template will help you make an 8-hour workday schedule that suits your needs.

To use it properly, you should fill this template out either on Sunday afternoon/Monday morning or note down new tasks every day.

Start by choosing the time of the day for each assignment during the week.

To ensure you'll get the most out of every workday, keep in mind your circadian rhythm — leave the most complex tasks for the time of the day when you're most alert. Then, be sure to add all your significant weekly tasks to the Weekly work checklist, as well as jot down all your weekly meetings and calls.

We hope that the Work from home weekly schedule template will help you finish your job tasks on time.

Once again, remember to take frequent breaks in between assignments.

⬇️ GET Weekly work from home schedule template (Google Sheets)

⬇️ GET Weekly work from home schedule template (Google Docs)

Daily work from home schedule template

The Daily work from home schedule template ensures you stay on track with all your daily tasks. This template breaks down your day into hourly segments. In addition, there's a valuable section called the Daily work checklist, where you can input all the most crucial activities/tasks of the day. Moreover, there's a To-do list for tomorrow, which you can fill out at the end of each day.

Anyone working from home can surely benefit from using this template. We suggest opening this template first thing in the morning.

Make sure to note down your most vital tasks and activities in the Daily work checklist section. Next, write down your meetings of the day. Once you do that, you'll have a better idea of when you'll be free to deal with your significant assignments. Don't forget to include breaks throughout the day, too.

Finally, to avoid working overtime, you should note down all the tasks for tomorrow in the To-do list for tomorrow.

⬇️ GET Daily work from home schedule template (Google Sheets)

⬇️ GET Daily work from home schedule template (Google Docs)

Assignments schedule template

We created two types of templates that allow you to keep track of your assignments:

• Weekly assignments schedule, and
• Daily assignments schedule.

Weekly assignments schedule template

The Weekly assignments schedule is quite straightforward — there's a simple table where you can add tasks for each day of the week. In addition, we included the Task deadlines section and Reminders.

If you're looking for an easy way to keep a record of all your weekly assignments, this template will fit your needs.

We suggest filling it out at the beginning of a week.

Of course, if there are any unexpected tasks throughout the week, be sure to add them to the Weekly assignments schedule.

Now, this template also ensures that you complete all your tasks before the deadline, which is why we encourage you to enter your tasks' deadlines in the middle section.

Furthermore, there's the Reminders section, where you can add any important reminders or notes for your weekly assignments.

⬇️ GET Weekly assignments schedule template (Google Sheets)

⬇️ GET Weekly assignments schedule template (Google Docs)

Daily assignments schedule template

The Daily assignments schedule is a template that helps you figure out your top 3 priorities of the day. Moreover, since this template contains The Eisenhower Matrix technique section, it allows you to distinguish between important/not important, and urgent/not urgent assignments.

This template is practical because it ensures that you deal with your tasks according to their urgency and importance.

Once you fill out the Eisenhower Matrix technique section, simply scroll down to the hourly table and choose time blocks for these assignments.

Finally, don't forget to enter some vital tasks for tomorrow.

⬇️ GET Daily assignments schedule template (Google Sheets)

⬇️ GET Daily assignments schedule template (Google Docs)

Yearly time off schedule template

The Yearly time off schedule template allows you to keep track of your time off throughout the year. In this template, we covered several vital categories of time off, such as paid vacation, sick leave, earned days, and others.

Also, there are three important sections for each type of time off: Consumed days, Available days, and Balance.

So, how to use the Yearly time off template?

It couldn't be simpler.

First, enter the balance for each type of time off. For particular types, such as sick leave, you may not have a balance, but for paid vacation, you definitely will.

Then, whenever you receive approval to take time off for any reason, just enter the number of days in the proper row (the type of time off) and in the right column (the current month).

Next, the template will automatically calculate the number of Consumed days (for each type of time off) and the number of Available days left.

Thus, you'll have a better idea of how many days off you've used so far and how many there are left by the end of the year.

⬇️ GET Yearly time off schedule template (Google Sheets)

Weekly meetings schedule

The Weekly meetings schedule is suitable for those of you who have meetings every day. With this template, you'll be able to keep track of all your meetings. In addition, you can add any significant details, such as meeting agenda, topic, and start and end time.

The Weekly meetings schedule covers five days of the week. To make the most of this template, you should open it at the beginning of the week and enter all your weekly meetings. Be sure to include details such as where meetings take place or the links to online calls.

To ensure that you're fully prepared for any meeting, add its topic and agenda, if needed.

Then, once the meeting starts, you can follow its agenda, but also write notes in the Important notes section.

⬇️ GET Weekly meetings schedule template (Google Sheets)

⬇️ GET Weekly meetings schedule template (Google Docs)

Non-work schedule templates

Apart from templates for organizing your job tasks, meetings, and time off, we created some non-work schedules you can use for free, too.

Here's the list of the templates you can use for planning your time outside of work:

• Household chores schedule,
• Workout schedule,
• Budget schedule,
• Travel schedule, and
• Meal prep schedule.

Household chores schedule template

We made two types of household chores templates:

• Monthly household chores, and
• Weekly household chores schedule template.

Monthly household chores template

The Monthly household chores template helps you deal with all your errands around the house. This template covers a weekly breakdown of chores, but also some additional ones that you do once a month.

You can add your typical weekly chores.

Plus, you can add the names of the people in charge of these errands, which comes in handy if you share your household chores with your partner, roommate, or family members.

There's a column called Additional monthly chores, where you can enter some of the errands you deal with every month. For example, cleaning/vacuuming furniture or cleaning windows.

Moreover, we included another section for all the outdoor chores, which comes in handy if you live in a house. To make sure you won't forget any outside-the-house monthly errands, be sure to add them to this list.

⬇️ GET Monthly household chores schedule template (Google Sheets)

⬇️ GET Monthly household chores schedule template (Google Docs)

Weekly household chores schedule template

The Weekly household chores schedule template allows you to keep an eye on all your household chores during the week. We included a separate schedule for each day, along with Before work and After work columns, so that you can plan your errands accordingly.

In addition, we added the Who's in charge column to this template, too.

Since this template covers seven days, you can enter all your weekly errands at the beginning of the week.

Then, simply add the name of the person in charge of every chore.

Once you or your family members finish a specific errand, just put a checkmark next to it.

Also, during the workweek, you can decide whether you'll deal with these chores before or after work.

And, on weekends, you can choose whether you'll complete your errands in the morning or afternoon.

We didn't include evenings on weekends, because you should have some time to relax on Saturdays and Sundays.

Finally, this template contains the Shopping list — so, whenever you remember you need to buy milk or anything else, note it down here.

⬇️ GET Weekly household chores schedule template (Google Sheets)

⬇️ GET Weekly household chores schedule template (Google Docs)

Workout schedule template

The Workout schedule template allows you to organize your exercise routine.

No matter whether you prefer working out in a gym or from home, you'll surely find our monthly and weekly workout templates useful.

Monthly workout schedule template

The Monthly workout schedule template ensures you stay consistent with your monthly workout targets. Setting such long-term goals is vital because it gives you a clearer picture of what you want to achieve. Thus, when you have a monthly target, you'll be able to make weekly plans. This will also help you plan your days accordingly.

That's why the Monthly workout schedule template contains the Overall goal field. So, your goal can be losing weight, improving your physical condition, or anything else. Just remember that goals should be challenging enough, you don't want objectives that are too easy or too difficult to achieve.

Now, how can you use this template?

Once you adopt your monthly objectives, you should decide what types of exercises will get you closer to your goal.

Then, choose how frequently you'll do such types of workouts.

Also, whether you'll do your exercises with or without equipment is up to you, and you can add these details to your schedule, too.

If you haven't been working out before, or you've taken a longer break, please make sure you consult your fitness instructor first. This way, you'll be sure your workout plan is suitable for you, and you'll avoid any injuries.

⬇️ GET Monthly workout schedule template (Google Sheets)

⬇️ GET Monthly workout schedule template (Google Docs)

Weekly workout schedule template

Apart from the Monthly workout schedule template, we also created the one for your weekly plans. First, you can plan your monthly routine, then use the Weekly workout schedule template to add more details.

As you can see, the Weekly workout schedule template covers several workout categories:

• HIIT (high-intensity interval training), and
• Yoga/stretching.

Depending on your monthly goals, you should choose the frequency of each category. Of course, you don't have to include all these categories in your workout plans, just the ones that will help you move towards your monthly objective.

Next, think of the best days for each type of exercise, as well as the time of the day.

Then, decide on the duration of your workout sessions.

This template also allows you to add links for workout videos you'd like to try, but also links for playlists. There's no doubt that music can help us stay motivated — so be sure to add your favorite tunes to this column.

Finally, remember that rest days are just as important as the days you exercise. Therefore, note down the days you'll spend resting.

⬇️ GET Weekly workout schedule template (Google Sheets)

⬇️ GET Weekly workout schedule template (Google Docs)

Monthly budget schedule template

The Monthly budget schedule template is designed to help you keep an eye on your expenses . In addition, this template includes a Savings column — to remind you to save some money for rainy days.

To make the most of our Monthly budget template, make sure you add the Starting budget.

Then, write down all the expenses you have during a month, such as rent, utilities, and other similar costs.

To ensure you'll pay all these expenses on time, there's the Due date column, too.

The template automatically calculates the total sum of your monthly costs, which can be pretty convenient.

Furthermore, to ensure that you'll put aside some part of your monthly income into your savings account, we included the Savings column. Thus, you can note down the amount you'd like to save from each paycheck.

⬇️ GET Monthly budget schedule template (Google Sheets)

Meal planning schedule template

Meal planning can be such a bummer, especially on days when you have too much work to do. Instead of figuring out what you'll have for each meal of the day, try organizing your meals for an entire week. Then, simply follow this routine throughout the week.

To make your life easier, we created two meal planning schedule templates:

Weekly meal planning schedule template

Daily meal planning schedule template.

The Weekly meal planning schedule template allows you to create a healthy meal plan for an entire week. You can write down your ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

As you can see, the Weekly meal planning schedule template covers seven days and four meals for each day. We suggest filling this template out on weekends, so that you'll have enough time for shopping.

If you're usually swamped with work during a workweek, you can make a couple of meals on weekends and store them in a freezer.

Another practical option this template offers is the Ingredients to buy list, where you can note down everything you need for meal prep.

⬇️ GET Weekly meal planning schedule template (Google Sheets)

⬇️ GET Weekly meal planning schedule template (Google Docs)

Our Daily meal planning schedule template is more detailed than the weekly one. The Daily meal planning schedule template covers categories such as Preparation time, Ingredients, and Recipes.

This template helps you have a clearer understanding of how long each meal preparation will take. Therefore, you can easily adjust your meal preps with your work and other daily activities.

Moreover, with this template, you'll be able to write down all the ingredients of your meals, as well as add recipes.

⬇️ GET Daily meal planning schedule template (Google Sheets)

⬇️ GET Daily meal planning schedule template (Google Docs)

Travel schedule template

Do you enjoy traveling?

If so, our Travel schedule template will help you keep all the valuable information about your trip in one place.

This template covers categories such as Places to see, Tickets to buy, and Don't forget to pack.

Thus, you can write down all the attractions and spots you'd like to visit during your stay.

If you need to buy tickets for museums, galleries, monuments, or simply public transportation for that destination, be sure to add all the details to this template.

And, if you can make an online purchase, just add the link next to your list.

Finally, this template reminds you to pack the most crucial things, like money, passport, and medications. So, make sure you go through this list before your trip.

Of course, you don't have to plan everything ahead, leave some days open for any activity that comes your way. After all, this is how you make the best memories.

⬇️ GET Travel schedule template (Google Sheets)

⬇️ GET Travel schedule template (Google Docs)

Schedule projects and teams with Clockify

Aside from our Schedule templates, you can also use Clockify to schedule your projects and employees . This feature especially comes in handy for managers because they need to effectively schedule employee work time to ensure that all team members meet their deadlines.

The scheduling option in Clockify allows you to plan both projects and teams.

Here's how you can use Project scheduling with this Clockify option:

• Add a new project by clicking on the button on the left corner. Clockify will automatically load that project and show you all the tasks under that project name. You can add a milestone by clicking anywhere on the timeline. You can easily edit your milestones, drag-and-drop them, or change their names.
• You can add more team members to the project and create new assignments. To make sure nobody's swamped with work, Clockify will show users who are over their capacity.

In addition, you can zoom in and out to take a better look at assignments. Moreover, you can have an overview of the total hours assigned for each project.

When it comes to team schedules, Clockify also helps you see who's overbooked and who's available.

With Team scheduling, you can:

• Add new members. Clockify will then automatically load all the assignments of these users.
• Edit user's capacity by clicking on the three dots next to the user's name. This will give you a clue whether users are at their maximum capacity (Full), or they have several hours available for new tasks (Xh open), or if users are over their capacity for the day (Xh over).

This way, managers are able to assign new tasks to the right people and ensure that everyone has an equal amount of work during the week.

Start tracking time with Clockify

24/7 Support

Cancel Anytime

Free Forever

Free Social Work Tools and Resources: SocialWorkersToolbox.com

Worksheets, booklets, advice sheets, assessment templates and checklists, story books, videos, guides and workbooks downloads for direct work with children and families

Home » Home Visit Observations of Parent-Child Interactions Questionnaire/Checklist

Home Visit Observations of Parent-Child Interactions Questionnaire/Checklist

The Home Visit Observations of Parent-Child Interactions Questionnaire/Checklist is a valuable toolkit designed to support social workers and practitioners in observing and influencing parent-child interactions during home visits. The toolkit, titled Parent-Child Interactions: A Home Visitor’s Guide, provides practical tips and tools to optimise the observation process and enhance the quality of parent-child interactions.

The toolkit includes several useful tools:

• Home Visitation Observations of Parent-Child Interactions Template : This template serves as a structured framework for recording observations during home visits. It enables practitioners to document their observations systematically, ensuring a comprehensive and consistent approach.
• Home Visitation Parent-Child Interaction Observation Checklist : This checklist provides a set of key indicators and behaviors to look for during parent-child interactions. It helps practitioners assess the quality of interactions, identify areas of strength, and recognise areas that may require further support or intervention.
• Home Visitation Parent: Questions for Exploring Parent-Child Interactions: This tool offers a list of thought-provoking questions that practitioners can use to engage parents in reflective discussions about their interactions with their child. These questions encourage self-reflection and promote insight into the parent-child dynamic.

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD HOME VISIT OBSERVATIONS OF PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS QUESTIONNAIRE/CHECKLIST:

RELATED RESOURCES

• Observations Checklist: what to look for in assessing attachment and bonding (tool)
• Child protection home visit: Practical guidance

Recommended Free Tools & Resources

Other Free Resources You Might Like

What to do if your child goes missing: Practical advice for parents and carers booklet

“What to do if your child goes missing: Practical advice for parents and carers” is a comprehensive booklet that provides practical guidance and support to parents and carers when their…

Handle with care: a guide to keeping your baby safe (Guide for parents)

The “Handle with Care: How to Keep Your Baby Safe” guide by NSPCC is a comprehensive resource for parents and carers who want to ensure their baby’s safety and well-being….

Accidental/non-accidental injury to the child: Social work assessment checklists & child’s interview activity

(You can download the guidance below in a PDF document here.) SOCIAL WORKER’S QUESTIONS FOR EACH ADULT WHO WAS PRESENT DURING THE INJURY In situations involving a concerning child injury, it…

Parents, Pints & Pills: Booklet for young people who live with someone with a drug or alcohol problem

Parents, Pints & Pills is a booklet created by young carers for young people living with a family member with a drug or alcohol problem. It provides valuable support and…

Parenting Positively – Helping teenagers to cope with A Parent’s Problem Drug or Alcohol Use

“Parenting Positively – Helping teenagers to cope with A Parent’s Problem Drug or Alcohol Use” is a comprehensive booklet designed to support parents and concerned adults in addressing the impact…

Like us on Facebook

• _Everything
• Adoption & Fostering
• Assessment: Children
• Assessment: Parents
• Assessment: Wishes & Feelings
• Autism & ADHD
• Child's behaviour
• Children & Young people
• CSE, CCE & Sexual Abuse
• Disability & Health
• Domestic Abuse
• Domestic Abuse: Assessment
• Domestic Abuse: Children
• Domestic Abuse: Parents
• Drugs: Adults
• Drugs: Assessment Tools
• Drugs: Children & Teenagers
• Eating Problems & Body Image
• Grief & Loss
• Home safety
• Ilnesses & Disorders
• Imprisonment
• Individual work
• Learning Difficulties
• Mental Health
• Online Safety
• Parenting – Disability
• Parenting Guides
• Personal Safety
• Self-esteem
• Sexual abuse
• Sleep Problems
• Stimulation
• Wishes & Feelings

Copyright © 2024 Free Social Work Tools and Resources: SocialWorkersToolbox.com

Intelligent Healthcare Scheduling

Reduce costs with intelligent healthcare scheduling

Skedulo’s intelligent healthcare scheduling engine matches providers to patients based on your business objectives. Reduce costs by cutting travel time, clustering nearby visits, and eliminating missed appointments due to manual error. Manage schedules your way with shifts, rosters, calendars, and capacity scheduling.

Grow your home healthcare patient base

Grow your patient base and revenue when caregivers become more efficient on the road and during the visit. Skedulo makes appointments faster when caregivers spend less time filling out paperwork or searching for patient details. Increase caregiver efficiency and utilization to serve more patients without growing headcount.

Increase patient satisfaction

59% of patients say the provider-patient relationship and caregivers’ personalities are critical to satisfaction with service. Skedulo makes it easy to match patients with someone they know and like, or who has had success with similar patients. With Skedulo’s mobile app, caregivers arrive on-time and prepared with all the important appointment information and patient history.

Simple forms for mobile caregivers

Mobile caregivers can complete paperwork and appointment notes easily—even with dictation—in the Skedulo mobile app. Skedulo’s simple user interface and custom forms support fast and easy mobile charting.

Real-time accountability

Support mobile caregivers and track their progress in real-time with Skedulo. The Skedulo mobile app connects the office to the field with real-time location tracking, status updates on appointments, and notifications of changes in schedules. It even works offline!

Ready to see it in action?

Connected, hipaa-compliant platform.

Because the Skedulo mobile app is HIPAA-compliant, your providers remain informed while keeping your patient information secure. Skedulo can integrate with other systems with our Lens API , so your data is connected to all your business critical systems.

✓ Manage patient availability ✓ Intelligent appointment scheduling ✓ Match patients and preferred caregivers ✓ Mobile app with support for charting/notes ✓ Optimized routing ✓ Real-time updates to providers in the field ✓ Android and iOS parity ✓ Salesforce native ✓ HIPAA compliant ✓ API integration to other systems

Why Interoperability Is Key to Healthcare Tech

Customer case studies.

Ready to make your entire team more effective?

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings

Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October 2024. Learn More or Try it out now .

• Advanced Search
• Journal List
• HHS Author Manuscripts

How Home Health Nurses Plan Their Work Schedules: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Elliane irani.

Postdoctoral Fellow, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA

Karen B. Hirschman

Research Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Pamela Z. Cacchione

Ralston House Endowed Term Chair in Gerontological Nursing, Associate Professor of Geropsychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Kathryn H. Bowles

vanAmeringen Professor in Nursing Excellence, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Director, Center for Home Care Policy and Research, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York, NY, USA

Aims and objectives

To describe how home health nurses plan their daily work schedules and what challenges they face during the planning process.

Home health nurses are viewed as independent providers and value the nature of their work because of the flexibility and autonomy they hold in developing their work schedules. However, there is limited empirical evidence about how home health nurses plan their work schedules, including the factors they consider during the process and the challenges they face within the dynamic home health setting.

Qualitative descriptive design.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 registered nurses who had greater than 2 years of experience in home health and were employed by one of the three participating home health agencies in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.

Four themes emerged about planning work schedules and daily itineraries: identifying patient needs to prioritize visits accordingly, partnering with patients to accommodate their preferences, coordinating visit timing with other providers to avoid overwhelming patients, and working within agency standards to meet productivity requirements. Scheduling challenges included readjusting the schedule based on patient needs and staffing availability, anticipating longer visits, and maintaining continuity of care with patients.

Home health nurses make autonomous decisions regarding their work schedules while considering specific patient and agency factors, and overcome challenges related to the unpredictable nature of providing care in a home health setting. Future research is needed to further explore nurse productivity in home health and improve home health work environments.

Relevance to clinical practice

Home health nurses plan their work schedules to provide high quality care that is patient-centered and timely. The findings also highlight organizational priorities to facilitate continuity of care and support nurses while alleviating the burnout associated with high productivity requirements.

Introduction

Home health nurses value the nature of their work because of the relationships they develop with patients and the flexibility and autonomy they have in developing their work schedules ( Ellenbecker, Boylan, & Samia, 2006 ; Samia, Ellenbecker, Friedman, & Dick, 2012 ). Nevertheless, they work within policy constraints and struggle with productivity requirements and time-consuming documentation ( Samia et al., 2012 ). Home health patients often receive services from multiple disciplines and home health nurses are expected to coordinate care and visits with other clinicians ( Gjevjon, Eika, Romoren, & Landmark, 2014 ; Pinelle & Gutwin, 2003 ). Most of the research addressing work scheduling in home health is focused on job satisfaction and burnout, mainly as it relates to the home health aide’s workload ( Czuba, Sommerich, & Lavender, 2012 ; Doniol-Shaw & Lada, 2011 ; Nugent, 2007 ). There is a lack of empirical evidence about the decision-making process that registered nurses use to plan their daily work schedules and the challenges associated with unanticipated changes, as most of the scheduling strategies and challenges are supported by only anecdotal information. Therefore, it is important to understand how nurses plan their daily work schedules in order to better support their decisions and consequently improve their work environments and patient outcomes.

The need for home health care services is increasing worldwide as the older adult population continues to grow rapidly and patients are discharged earlier from hospital to home with complex care needs ( Murtaugh et al., 2009 ). In 2014, approximately 3.4 million Medicare beneficiaries received services from 12,461 home health agencies, totaling $17.9 billion in Medicare spending ( Medicare Payment Advisory Commission [MedPAC], 2016a ). In the United States, home health agencies provide skilled care to homebound patients requiring the services of skilled healthcare professionals, such as registered nurses; physical, occupational, and speech language therapists; and social workers on a temporary, intermittent basis ( Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [CMS], 2015 ). The majority of home health agencies in the United States are prospectively reimbursed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for services and supplies at fixed, predetermined rates for 60-day care episodes. This episodic payment system depends on the initial comprehensive assessment of the patient’s clinical severity, functional capacity, and need for skilled services ( MedPAC, 2016b ). Using the fixed, predetermined payment, home health agencies are expected to cover all expenses related to care, including skilled services and routine medical supplies. Over the last decade, reductions in home health payment rates led home health administrators to make care decisions that helped agencies remain financially viable within budget constraints ( Cabin, 2011 ). These managerial changes, such as increased workloads, fewer visits, and shortened patient length of stay, may have had an impact on the home health nursing workforce and care delivery processes.

Nurses’ work environment influences the processes and quality of care, further impacting patient outcomes ( Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, & International Hospital Outcomes Research Consortium, 2002 ; Flynn, 2007 ). Specifically, home health agencies with good work environments have lower rates of nurse burnout and better patient outcomes, including lower rates of acute hospitalization and higher rates of patient discharges to community living arrangements as opposed to institutional care settings ( Jarrin, Flynn, Lake, & Aiken, 2014 ). Home health nurses value the support they receive from their managers, who act as the liaison for any clinical, operational, or logistical question or problem ( Ellenbecker et al., 2006 ; Flynn, 2007 ; Tullai-McGuinness, Riggs, & Farag, 2011 ). They also value their autonomy in self-scheduling patients and the flexibility of their work schedules ( Ellenbecker et al., 2006 ; Samia et al., 2012 ). However, home health nurses voice concerns related to high productivity requirements and case overload and report adjusting their schedules to accommodate for frequent daily interruptions such as unanticipated patient needs and unscheduled visits ( Ellenbecker et al., 2006 ; Samia et al., 2012 ).

Home health differs from other settings because clinicians work in patients’ homes and receive remote administrative and support services from a central office. Home health nurses aim to develop and maintain a therapeutic relationship with patients ( Ellenbecker et al., 2006 ). They rely on specific patient attributes such as clinical status or understanding of the treatment regimen in order to make decisions on visit intensity, set common goals, and determine patient readiness for discharge from home health ( Irani, Hirschman, Cacchione, & Bowles, 2018 ; O’Connor, Moriarty, Madden-Baer, & Bowles, 2016 ). Although home health nurses are viewed as independent providers in the patient’s home, they are expected to act as interprofessional team players and coordinate with other healthcare providers to ensure appropriate care delivery ( Pinelle & Gutwin, 2003 ).

There is an increased need for home health services worldwide and the demand for nurses working in home health in the United States is projected to grow at twice the rate of nurses overall ( Sochalski, 2004 ). At this point in time, there is limited evidence in the literature that describes how home health nurses plan their daily work schedules and what factors influence their planning. Also, relatively little is known about how nurses manage scheduling challenges within the dynamic and unpredictable home health setting. These important gaps in the literature need to be addressed to improve the process of scheduling home visits and support home health nurses’ scheduling decisions. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to describe the decision-making process that home health nurses use to plan their daily work schedules, including the challenges associated with the planning process.

This study followed a naturalistic paradigm and employed a qualitative descriptive design to explore and describe home health nurses’ daily work scheduling ( Sandelowski, 2000 ). The data were collected as part of a larger qualitative study focused on nursing visit intensity planning (i.e. how nurses decide on the amount and frequency of their visits over the episode of care) and guided by an adapted decision-making model ( Irani, Hirschman, Cacchione, & Bowles, 2018 ). We recruited visiting nurses, Medicare case managers, and nurse managers from three large urban agencies in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States and collected data between August 1, 2016 and November 30, 2016. In this study, we analyzed data from audio-recorded semi-structured interviews with visiting nurses using conventional content analysis. This study conformed to the principles outlined in the U.S. Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects and was approved by Institutional Review Boards at the University of Pennsylvania and each study site.

Sample and Recruitment Procedures

Three large urban home health agencies located in three Mid-Atlantic states and serving diverse patient populations participated in this study. Eligible nurses held a current Registered Nurse license, were employed full-time by one of the three agencies, had at least two years of experience as a Registered Nurse in home health, and provided skilled nursing care during home visits to adult patients. Skilled nursing care includes patient education and assessment, case management, and other procedures related to the management of acute and chronic conditions such as medication reconciliation and wound, ostomy, or catheter care ( CMS, 2015 ). Adult patients receiving home health services in the United States must be under the care of a physician, be unable to leave their home without taxing effort, and require intermittent skilled care provided by a licensed nurse and/or physical therapist on fewer than seven days each week or less than eight hours of each day ( CMS, 2015 ).

After building connections with staff from each agency, the first author asked research coordinators and nurse managers to share the research opportunity with home health nurses via an e-mail announcement. Interested nurses reached out to the first author who conducted further screening to verify their eligibility. A convenient time was set up for data collection with eligible nurses who remained interested following initial contact. Participants were given a $50 gift card as a token of appreciation for their time.

Data Collection

Participants completed a demographic questionnaire using Qualtrics software (Provo, UT) and participated in semi-structured interviews that took place in private rooms either in-person or via Zoom, a web-based videoconferencing tool. The web-based interviews served as a strategy to overcome data collection challenges and provided participants with greater flexibility regarding the timing and location of the interview ( Deakin & Wakefield, 2014 ). This interviewing tool was deemed suitable because the study was focused on work processes and did not address sensitive topics requiring a high level of intimacy and direct interpersonal connections with the interviewer ( Seitz, 2016 ).

The first author used open-ended questions and targeted probes to guide the interview while allowing participants to speak freely about planning their daily work schedules. Participants were encouraged to recall and describe specific experiences related to developing their work schedules, including the challenges associated with the process. Interviews lasted 45 minutes on average, and were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim by a professional transcriptionist. The first author reviewed transcripts against the audio files to assess for accuracy and remove participant identifiers. While progressing through the first six interviews, we removed redundant probe questions and added new probes based on emerging themes in the initial interviews. Interviews were simultaneously completed and analyzed in order to inform subsequent interviews and determine data saturation.

Data Analysis

Interview data were stored, managed, and analyzed using Atlas.ti.7 (Berlin, Germany). We used a conventional content analysis technique that consists of coding and identifying patterns in the data to describe how visiting nurses create their work schedule ( Hsieh & Shannon, 2005 ). The first author obtained a sense of the data by reading and immersing in all transcribed interviews, then completed a line-by-line coding of the first six interviews (two from each agency) to develop the initial codebook ( Graneheim & Lundman, 2004 ). This first-level coding approach is appropriate to provide new knowledge about creating work schedules in home health due to the limited information available ( Elo & Kyngäs, 2008 ; Hsieh & Shannon, 2005 ). The first author and the qualitative expert on the team (KBH) reviewed the initial expanded list of codes for redundancy and similarity to refine the codebook. Subsequent transcripts were coded and the codebook was updated as new codes emerged, until reaching data saturation. Major themes were identified based on the final codebook and discussed with all team members to reach final approval.

Methodological rigor was ensured by keeping an audit trail to record a detailed description of analytical decisions ( Koch, 2006 ), engaging in peer debriefing to discuss any methodological concerns ( Graneheim & Lundman, 2004 ), and having a qualitative expert code a subset of interviews to establish coding reliability ( Morse, 2015 ). The first author also kept a reflexive journal to record a description of her interactions with participants as well as her reactions to various comments made during the interviews. This increased her self-awareness and reflexivity on how personal biases might have influenced the findings ( Koch, 2006 ).

Sample Characteristics

Twenty nurses participated in the study and were predominantly female (90%), with a mean age of 46 years (± 8.6, range 30–59 years) and a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (75%). The sample consisted of racially diverse nurses, with 45% self-identifying as White, 35% as Black or African American, and 15% as Asian. On average, participants had 9 (± 5.5) years of experience as Registered Nurses in home health care, and reported admitting five new patients every week and visiting seven patients every day.

Nurses described how they planned their schedule, including strategies they used to create their daily itinerary and prioritize visiting their assigned patients. Most nurses planned their schedule one week in advance and considered that they will be assigned one new patient every day. They communicated with their patients the night before the visit to provide them with a time range for the visit. Four themes emerged about creating work schedules: (a) identifying patient needs, (b) partnering with patients, (c) coordinating with other providers, and (d) working within agency standards (see Figure 1 ). The following presentation of the themes includes a description of the schedule planning process and the associated challenges that nurses faced.

The four themes describing how home health nurses plan their daily work schedules

Identifying Patient Needs

Nurses identified initial patient care needs upon admission to home health care and created their daily route according to the acuity of their assigned patients. The start of care visit required a lot of time because it included a comprehensive assessment to identify patient needs for skilled services, provide education, reconcile medications, and in some cases perform wound care. Therefore, most nurses preferred to leave their assigned new admission cases until the end of the day to devote more time to their other patients, unless the new patient had immediate needs to be addressed such as wound care or an injection at a specific time.

Patient acuity influenced the daily itinerary of nurses. Nurses evaluated how “acute, sick, or fragile” patients were in order to triage who needed a visit early in the day. One nurse provided the following example:

If somebody went to the hospital because their [blood] pressure was elevated, and their medications were changed, and they were stabilized then sent home. Okay, that’s a little less acuity than someone coming on post-op, and they’ve got an open wound, and they need wound dressings, etc.

Nurses preferred to visit stable patients later in the day so if there was an emergency, they could reschedule the visit with the stable patients for the next day. One nurse said, “I see my most critical patients first and that gives me leeway if there’s a patient who’s not that critical but needs a visit once a week. I play around with that.” However, if patients had a new diagnosis of diabetes, nurses preferred to visit them first to assist them with checking their blood sugar level and administering their insulin, until the patients became confident to self-manage their condition.

Nurses shared how they readjusted their schedules based on patient emergencies. One nurse described how he visited one of his patients a day early because the patient called him and reported having increased shortness of breath. Nurses also described how therapists helped in identifying early changes in patient conditions, leading the nurse to add visits to their daily schedule. In other cases, nurses gave examples of patient emergencies where they spent more time at a patient’s house and had to reschedule their stable cases and request help from other nurses with their “must see” cases. For example, one nurse explained:

I call patients that I can see the following day and let them know that I’m running very late. I’ll say, “I’m really sorry, I had an emergency situation. It delayed me a lot. Can I see you the following day or another day during the week?”

Nurses remained flexible throughout the day and were open to any unanticipated schedule changes to meet the changing needs of their patients.

Partnering with Patients

Nurses built a trusting relationship with patients, became comfortable with patients’ neighborhoods, and planned their work schedules according to patient preferences and availability. As nurses got to know their patients during the episode of care, they had better estimates of the length of each visit. One nurse shared how he balanced his schedule by visiting patients who required more emotional support on days that were not too busy in order to spend enough time with them and provide them with the needed support. Experienced nurses also became familiar and comfortable with the neighborhoods they visited, which made it easier for them to get around. Most nurses described how they felt protected because patients “look out for them” by waiting at the door or walking them to their cars, especially in areas known to be unsafe. One nurse said:

No matter what team you work on, once you’re in that team, you get used to that type of population… Nurses become part of the community, so they get used to it. They know where to go to the bathroom. They know which block they’ve got to be careful on. So they tend to make it like their second home; they know it.

Nurses aimed to know and accommodate patient preferences and schedules, as exemplified by one nurse: “You try to make it convenient for them because they’re trusting you to come into their home and you become kind of a part of their family too.” Most nurses preplanned the upcoming week’s visits before they left the patient’s home to agree on a day and time that worked best for both persons. A few nurses suggested involving the patient in scheduling visits by adding upcoming visits to a personal calendar offered by the agency.

Patients expressed to the nurses their preference for an earlier or later visit in the day, but sometimes refused to be seen as frequently as was originally planned. In response, nurses considered patients’ wishes and cooperated with them to meet their needs while keeping them comfortable. However, sometimes the nurses faced scheduling challenges when they reached the patient’s house and the patient was unavailable, because it affected their workflow. One nurse said:

Sometimes you schedule your visit, you get there and you’re knocking, ringing the bell. No, they’re not there. Sometimes, they’re there, but they don’t want to be seen. That’s a challenge, especially if they’re counted as your patient for the day .

Besides considering patient needs, preferences, and availability, nurses assessed the availability of family caregivers who were actively participating in the plan of care to schedule visits accordingly.

Coordinating With Other Providers

Patients received visits from other home health clinicians and had other medical appointments or treatments scheduled, such as dialysis or hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Nurses coordinated with home health team members to avoid visiting the patient on the same day or around the same time. One nurse explained:

Patients don’t want someone walking in the door right after a therapist leaves because they’re not focused, they need to rest. Or they got a bath, [or] the therapist just worked them out. Now the occupational therapist is here, and a nurse is coming later. Dear God, I can’t handle that many visits in a day, much less them. So, it’s good to help them with spacing out their day and who’s seeing them.

If the patient had a therapy visit and a skilled nursing visit for wound care on the same day, nurses often preferred to visit their patient after therapy to let the bandage adhere. Some patients preferred to get a shower before the nurse performed the wound care, hence, nurses visited them around midmorning. One nurse offered the following example:

I have a lady who has a home health aide that comes out to the house between 9:30 and 11:30 every day, and she’s my daily wound care [patient]. So I try to be out there between 10:30 and 11:00 so I can do wound care when she’s already washed .

Lastly, nurses rescheduled visits if patients had a provider appointment on the same day. They preferred to see patients the next day or later in the week to discuss any updates to the plan of care based on the provider’s recommendations. Yet, nurses visited patients on the same day of the provider appointment if they needed to perform wound care and connect the patient to the wound vacuum equipment. One nurse explained:

When they go to the doctor, I won’t make a visit. Most insurances won’t pay for a nurse visit and a doctor visit [on the same day] because, again, it’s redundant anyway. The doctor’s going to be evaluating them. I would only make a visit if they need wound care and the doctor will not address their wound.

Nurses often asked patients about upcoming scheduled healthcare encounters before leaving the patient’s home to plan ahead early on and avoid rescheduling nursing visits in cases of scheduling conflict.

Working Within Agency Requirements

Agency characteristics, including productivity and staffing factors, influenced how nurses planned their work schedules. Nurses described how the productivity requirement influenced their planning for visit length and travel time. Time management was essential to achieve productivity, especially in situations where the nurse had a case overload. Therefore, nurses estimated the length of each visit while planning their day. They developed their organizational skills and learned how to manage their time better “to get everything done timely and accurately.” Nurses allocated one to two hours for a start of care visit and based their estimate on prior experience as well as the referral information. One nurse explained:

If it’s an ileostomy or colostomy, brand new, or any surgical incision of the abdominal region, I know it’s going to be at least a two-hour visit if I have to do my assessment, a dressing change, and teach them on that day .

As for a routine visit, nurses planned for 30 to 45 minutes, including the time spent on documentation. They were encouraged to document while in the patient’s home, but sometimes did not have enough time. One nurse explained her experience with point-of-care documentation:

I usually leave some time for charting at each house. In some cases, I won’t be able to chart, and I just go to the next visit. That’s why I chart when I get home. Yes, it can extend the day a little bit .

Nurses allocated more time for patients with complex medication regimens or complex wounds. However, they struggled to anticipate longer visits in cases of unexpected circumstances and emergencies, especially when they needed to communicate with the referring physician any changes in the patient’s status. Nurses found it difficult to proceed in a timely manner with their scheduled visits when they could not reach a provider to resolve their patients’ problems. Some nurses described the process of contacting physicians as time-consuming and explained how it contributed to longer visits in certain cases. Nurse managers maintained a level of oversight to reinforce nurses’ compliance and productivity. For instance, at one agency, they conducted intermittent reviews of nurses’ schedules to identify whether they were meeting productivity requirements. One nurse mentioned her manager’s comment on increased visit lengths: “You’re probably better off increasing your visit frequency because the patient can only absorb so much in one visit.”

Travel time played a major role in nurses’ decisions about their daily itinerary because they were expected to visit a specific number of patients per day (including one new patient) without working extended hours. Consequently, they geographically mapped their patients’ addresses to decrease their travel time as much as possible, and faced difficulty when patients lived very far apart. One nurse said:

I try to clump my clients together as much as I can, so I’m not driving all over the place. That just wastes time, energy, and gas. I’m much more productive when I have three in one area, and then go to the next area .

Nurses also took into consideration the interplay between patients’ needs, preferences, and physical addresses, as illustrated in one nurse’s explanation: “I try to compact patients within areas… I start in the area where patients are much more complicated, and move to areas where patients are less complicated.” Although most nurses tended to leave admissions to the end of the day, one nurse explained that if the new patient lived near a high-acuity patient, she visited the new patient in the morning. Some nurses mentioned the difficulty they faced when they could not find a parking space to visit a patient, which unexpectedly increased their travel time.

Lastly, nurses identified patient assignment and staffing matters that interfered with their planning. For instance, when the scheduler assigned a new patient, nurses evaluated whether they could manage their caseload. Sometimes, they needed to hand over one of their regular patients to another nurse for a revisit. Nurses voiced concerns about this practice because they had developed relationships with their patients who might be uncomfortable with the change and might refuse visits from other nurses. In order to avoid that from happening, one nurse said that she tries “to tell them in advance. Like, somebody else is going to see you, so they don’t refuse the visit.” Nurses stressed the importance of maintaining continuity of care and preferred to reschedule a visit (if the patient’s condition permitted it) instead of having another nurse visit the patient. However, in some cases, nurses had to make drastic schedule changes and could not keep all of their patients, such as when a scheduled nurse did not work, or during the weekend, when staffing is less robust. Moreover, in cases of patient overflow, two of the participating agencies allowed licensed practical nurses to assist nurses with revisits of stable patients who required basic monitoring or wound care. Other scheduling challenges were related to “late drop” cases, as one nurse commented about receiving a new patient late in the day:

[The scheduler] calls me at 1:00 [and said,] “The patient just got out of the hospital. They need a nurse the same day. Can you please go?” All nurses get frustrated with late drops. It’s really very disruptive to our entire planning. So, we always tell them, “If it’s after 1:00, you shouldn’t even accept a late drop.”

Nurses were expected to visit new patients on the same day of assignment and found difficulty managing the schedule changes when the scheduler assigned patients before their discharge from the hospital. Therefore, nurses could not always estimate what time the patient would be home for the visit in order to modify their schedule accordingly.

In this qualitative descriptive study, we interviewed home health nurses to better understand how they create their daily work schedules and what challenges they face during the process. Nurses evaluated patient needs in order to prioritize those with higher acuity and partnered with patients to accommodate their preferences. They also coordinated visit timing with other providers to avoid overwhelming the patient with visits around the same time. Lastly, in order to meet their agency’s productivity requirements, they used scheduling strategies such as minimizing travel time and planning the length of visits. However, they shared scheduling challenges related to the unpredictable nature of providing care in a home health setting and the difficulty of maintaining continuity of care.

Nurse participants evaluated patient needs in order to identify those who needed visits early in the day. Most nurses referred to “patient acuity” when asked about how they take into consideration patient needs to develop their work schedules. However, they did not provide a comprehensive definition of what it means, which is consistent with the existing confusion related to the concept of patient acuity ( Brennan & Daly, 2009 ). Despite the widespread use of the term “patient acuity” by healthcare professionals, its meaning remains unclear and inconsistent, complicating its measurement and usefulness. A patient-classification instrument for home health patients was developed and revised to assess patient acuity and inform case assignment and productivity monitoring ( Albrecht, 1991 ; Anderson & Rokosky, 2001 ; Storfjell, Allen, & Easley, 1997 ). However, there is no current research evidence reporting or supporting the use of this patient-classification instrument. This may be because it was developed prior to major policy changes in home health care regulations.

Previous research suggests that nurses rely on specific patient characteristics to decide on visit intensity and to evaluate patient readiness for discharge from home health ( Irani, Hirschman, Cacchione, & Bowles, 2018 ; O’Connor et al., 2016 ). Nurse participants described how patient characteristics also influenced visit scheduling. Nurses determined visit priority based on their assessment and clinical judgment; they only relied on the referral information to determine the timing of the first home visit in cases of wound care or injection administration. The priority determination to schedule the start of care visit may be associated with patient outcomes ( Topaz, Trifilio, Maloney, & Bowles, 2016 ) and the transfer of comprehensive and accurate patient information across care settings can support nurses’ scheduling decisions regarding the first home visit ( Irani, Hirschman, Cacchione, & Bowles, 2018 ). Therefore, it is important to enhance visit prioritization strategies especially for newly admitted patients with specific needs that require timely attention and care.

Nurses in this study were not guided by a standardized evidence-based tool to evaluate patient acuity and determine patients in need for earlier visits. Nurses document their assessment in the electronic health record, which can include clinical decision support tools that guide nurses’ decisions. Sockolow, Bass, Eberle, and Bowles (2016) reported how a frailty measure embedded in the electronic health record assisted home health nurses in determining visit frequency. The development and integration of similar tools into the electronic health record may assist nurses in their visit scheduling decisions. A tool was recently developed to facilitate decision-making on patient prioritization for the timing of the first home visit, and its preliminary testing showed promising results mainly related to potentially lower hospital admission rates for high-priority patients ( Topaz, Trifilio, Maloney, & Bowles, 2016 ). However, this tool was focused on the initial visit timing for newly admitted patients and did not take into account patient prioritization throughout the home health episode. With the increased acuity of patients receiving home health services, there is an increased need for a valid and reliable patient classification tool to guide nurses’ clinical decisions, including visit scheduling decisions such as patient prioritization for visits earlier in the day.

Nurse participants expressed the importance of partnering with patients to accommodate their preferences for the date and timing of upcoming visits. Patients often struggle with the unpredictable nature of nurses’ schedules ( Byrne, Sims-Gould, Frazee, & Martin-Matthews, 2011 ). Therefore, being respectful of patient’s preferences helps establish a trusting nurse-patient relationship ( Leslie & Lonneman, 2016 ) and can subsequently improve patient experience and satisfaction. The findings of this study suggest that the nurse-patient relationship promoted patient commitment to engage with the nurse and reach goals, which is consistent with the existing literature on nurse-patient relationship in a community setting ( Sefcik et al., 2016 ).

Nurse participants described the scheduling challenges that required them to substitute another nurse for their patients. This led to disruptions in continuity of care that negatively impacted their relationship with patients, which is supported by previous research ( Byrne et al., 2011 ; Leslie & Lonneman, 2016 ; Samia et al., 2012 ). This dimension of continuity, known as interpersonal or relational continuity , refers to a caring relationship that develops following the ongoing interaction between provider and patient, and is characterized by personal trust and responsibility ( Haggerty et al., 2003 ; Saultz, 2003 ). Despite the methodological limitations of the studies focusing on continuity of care and patient outcomes, interpersonal continuity is associated with improved patient satisfaction and decreased healthcare utilization ( Saultz & Albedaiwi, 2004 ; Saultz & Lochner, 2005 ). In home health, maintaining consistent nursing personnel throughout an episode of care is also associated with positive patient experience ( Russell & Bowles, 2016 ), as well as lower rates of hospital readmissions and emergency department visits, and improved physical function ( Russell, Rosati, Rosenfeld, & Marren, 2011 ). Interpersonal continuity is particularly important in this setting because patients welcome clinicians from different disciplines into their own homes as opposed to visiting providers at the clinic or receiving inpatient care. Hence, they would prefer to be visited by the same nurse who knows them and has formed a relationship with them; this relationship is not easily replicated if the nurse caring for them frequently changes. Managers or other agency staff responsible of assigning patients to field clinicians play a central role in ensuring continuity of care while patients are receiving home health services ( Gjevjon, Romoren, Kjos, & Helleso, 2013 ).

Nurse participants coordinated with other disciplines and considered whether the patient had any scheduled appointments. Nurses are often expected to coordinate care with other providers in order to develop connected and interdependent goals and work with the patient towards achieving them. However, little attention is given to the practicalities of coordinating other aspects of care delivery in a home health setting, such as coordinating the timing of visits with other clinicians. Improving awareness of other home health clinicians’ schedules may prevent a common scheduling problem in home health ( Pinelle & Gutwin, 2003 ). Software-based scheduling systems offer a potential solution, and have been increasingly used by agency personnel to track home visits and referrals ( Fazzi Associates, 2017 ). Depending on the agency’s culture, home health clinicians can engage in remote or in-person meetings in order to coordinate the plan of care for patients. They need to also consider discussing the logistics of providing visits at the end of their regular meetings. However, the time that clinicians spend on coordinating care is sometimes not considered as part of their productivity, which has future implications on how administrators measure and evaluate productivity.

Nurse participants worked within their agency’s requirements and achieved their productivity by scheduling visits for minimum travel time and monitoring the length of their visits. In the United States, nurse productivity in home health is often measured in average number of visits performed per day. Participants reported visiting seven patients on average every day, which is consistent with the productivity of most full-time employed nurses nationwide ( Fazzi Associates, 2017 ). Home health nurses are the least satisfied group of nurses, partly due to the increased work demands related to case management and documentation and the incentives to limit the amount of direct patient contact ( Sochalski, 2004 ). Nurse participants shared the time burden associated with travel and documentation and described how patient emergencies sometimes lead to extended visits. In a recent study, researchers found that nurses often complete their documentation after leaving the patient’s home to reduce the time they spend in the home and focus on developing a one-on-one relationship with patients during the visit ( Yang, Bass, Bowles, & Sockolow, in press ). While travel and documentation time account for a great proportion of nurses’ working time, they are not counted as part of their productivity, and are often underestimated as highlighted in a study conducted in Norway ( Holm & Angelsen, 2014 ). Therefore, reaching specific productivity expectations is an international concern that needs to be addressed first by clarifying the concept of nurse productivity in a home health setting.

Based on the current definition of productivity in home health (i.e., average visits per day), it can be perceived as equivalent to patient-to-nurse ratio in acute care settings. Previous research targeting hospital nurse staffing linked patient-to-nurse ratio to patient and nurse outcomes ( Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, Sochalski, & Silber, 2002 ). It is time to extend workforce research to the home health setting in order to better operationalize productivity, examine how it is associated with nurse and patient outcomes, and seek strategies to improve those outcomes. There is a recent call to focus on improving workforce outcomes in order to improve care experience and population health while containing health-related costs ( Bodenheimer & Sinsky, 2014 ). Home health agencies with good work environments have lower rates of nurse burnout and better patient outcomes ( Jarrin et al., 2014 ). As a result, linking work environment characteristics to care delivery processes (e.g., creating a daily work schedule) is important because it has great implications for improving workforce and patient outcomes. The findings highlight specific patient and agency factors that influence nurses’ decisions to schedule patient visits, which in turn may influence patient outcomes. Nurses take into account patient needs while minimizing travel time to meet their agencies’ productivity requirements. A mapping software can be developed to illustrate the best route while considering patient needs, which would an enhacement to the existing web-based mapping services that nurses currently use. This mapping software would facilitate the planning of daily itineraries and help nurses gain efficiencies in their care delivery processes.

While we asked nurses how they planned their daily work schedules, none of our participants mentioned non-patient related, professional activities as part of their schedule planning. This may be a reflection of the current perception about nurse productivity in home health. Nevertheless, besides scheduling patient visits and planning for patient care, home health nurses need to engage in continuous professional development to bolster their skills as independent providers. Home health managers have a responsibility of supporting nurses and providing them with opportunities to develop professionally and influence change in decisions impacting their practice. Managers can also adopt a participatory governance model that enables shared decision-making based on the principals of partnership, equity, ownership, and accountability ( Ellenbecker et al., 2006 ; Samia et al., 2012 ; Tullai-McGuinness, Madigan, & Anthony, 2005 ). Therefore, nurses should be allowed time to represent their peers in strategic planning and standing committees in order to advocate for adjusting their productivity requirements ( Ellenbecker et al., 2006 ) and consequently decrease their burnout, improve their job satisfaction, and retain home health nurses in the long term.

Limitations

Although participants were an experienced and diverse group of nurses, they were employed by only three large urban home health agencies in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Therefore, the findings may not be representative of work scheduling by home health agencies across the United States or worldwide. Moreover, interviews were conducted either in-person or via a web-based video tool, which may have led to different levels of participant engagement in the study. Nevertheless, there was no noticeable difference in the findings between the two interviewing techniques. Finally, while this study focused on understanding visit scheduling from nurses’ perspectives, nurses also considered multiple patient and agency factors. Hence, future research should focus on gaining a comprehensive understanding of this practice from multiple perspectives by interviewing patients, family caregivers, and agency leaders. Despite these limitations, this study was, to our knowledge, the first to examine how home health nurses create their work schedule. The findings provide direction to visiting nurses and managers to improve the practice of scheduling home visits.

Home health nurses make autonomous decisions regarding their work schedules while considering specific patient and agency factors. They evaluate patient needs in order to prioritize visits accordingly, partner with patients to accommodate their preferences, and coordinate visit timing with other providers to avoid overwhelming the patients. Home health nurses create work schedules according to their agency’s productivity requirement and overcome staffing and scheduling challenges. They need to remain flexible and open to adjusting their schedules based on any unexpected circumstances, including patient emergencies. Meanwhile, home health managers are encouraged to develop a support system for nurses to maintain continuity of care and alleviate the burnout associated with high productivity requirements. A mapping software that takes into consideration patient needs can be also developed to facilitate nurses’ daily itinerary planning. Lastly, future research is needed to further our understanding of patient classification systems and nurse productivity in home health in order to support nurses’ organizational decisions, reduce nurse burnout, and improve patient outcomes.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

The findings of this study have clinical implications for home health visiting nurses and managers. Home health nurses are perceived as autonomous clinicians who receive remote support from a central office. They are responsible for helping patients restore, maintain, or slow the decline of their functional capacity while remaining in the community for as long as possible. Little attention is directed towards the logistics of providing nursing care in the home health setting, specifically, in creating work schedules. The findings of this study highlight the complex decision-making process associated with a task that may appear to be simple. As nurses plan their work schedules, they think about providing high-quality care that is patient-centered and timely. They consider patient needs and preferences and make timely changes to their schedules to accommodate emergencies. Home health nurses practice within a dynamic environment and need to maintain flexibility in their schedules in order to account for unexpected situations. However, in most cases, they determine visit priority after they assess the patient for the first time because of the limited patient information available upon patients’ admission to home health. This may be too late for patients in need for earlier visits following their discharge from the hospital. Future research is needed to identify how work scheduling decisions influence patient outcomes. Lastly, the findings highlight the organizational factors that influence nurses’ schedule planning. The ability to develop successful schedules is also a reflection of the support that nurses receive from their managers. Therefore, home health managers need to facilitate continuity of care and provide opportunities for home health nurses to represent their colleagues in standing committees in order to participate in shaping agency policies and requirements.

What does this paper contribute to the wider global clinical community?

• Home health nurses make autonomous decisions regarding their work schedules and face challenges related to the maintenance of continuity of care and the unpredictable nature of providing care in a home health setting.
• Home health nurses identify patients in need of earlier visits and accommodate for patient preferences. They also coordinate visit timing with other providers to avoid overwhelming patients.
• Home health nurses create work schedules that meet their agency’s productivity requirement by mapping patient visits to decrease travel time and planning visit length.

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a grant from the Frank Morgan Jones Fund at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Irani’s post-doctoral training is supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health (T32NR015433: Multiple Chronic Conditions, Interdisciplinary Nurse Scientist Training; Principal Investigator, Dr. Shirley M. Moore). The authors express their appreciation to the nurses who participated in the study.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Dr. Kathryn Bowles is the director of research at one of the participating agencies.

Contributions

Contributor Information

Elliane Irani, Postdoctoral Fellow, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Karen B. Hirschman, Research Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Pamela Z. Cacchione, Ralston House Endowed Term Chair in Gerontological Nursing, Associate Professor of Geropsychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Kathryn H. Bowles, vanAmeringen Professor in Nursing Excellence, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Director, Center for Home Care Policy and Research, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York, NY, USA.

• Aiken LH, Clarke SP, Sloane DM International Hospital Outcomes Research Consortium. Hospital staffing, organization, and quality of care: Cross-national findings. International Journal for Quality in Health Care: Journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care. 2002; 14 (1):5–13. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Aiken LH, Clarke SP, Sloane DM, Sochalski J, Silber JH. Hospital nurse staffing and patient mortality, nurse burnout, and job dissatisfaction. JAMA. 2002; 288 (16):1987–1993. joc20547 [pii] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Albrecht MN. Home health care: Reliability and validity testing of a patient-classification instrument. Public Health Nursing. 1991; 8 (2):124–131. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Anderson KL, Rokosky JS. Evaluation of a home health patient classification instrument. Western Journal of Nursing Research. 2001; 23 (1):56–71. doi: 10.1177/01939450122044952. [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Bodenheimer T, Sinsky C. From triple to quadruple aim: Care of the patient requires care of the provider. Annals of Family Medicine. 2014; 12 (6):573–576. doi: 10.1370/afm.1713. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Brennan CW, Daly BJ. Patient acuity: A concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2009; 65 (5):1114–1126. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04920.x. [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Byrne K, Sims-Gould J, Frazee K, Martin-Matthews A. “I’m satisfied… but”: Clients’ and families’ contingent responses about home care. Home Health Care Services Quarterly. 2011; 30 (4):161–177. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Cabin WD. Doing more with less: Payment cuts meet profit margins and patient care in home care response to national health care reform. Home Health Care Management & Practice. 2011; 23 (4):266–270. [ Google Scholar ]
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare benefit policy manual. Chapter 7: Home health services. 2015 Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/bp102c07.pdf .
• Czuba LR, Sommerich CM, Lavender SA. Ergonomic and safety risk factors in home health care: Exploration and assessment of alternative interventions. Work. 2012; 42 (3):341–353. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1433. [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Deakin H, Wakefield K. Skype interviewing: Reflections of two PhD researchers. Qualitative Research. 2014; 14 (5):603–616. [ Google Scholar ]
• Doniol-Shaw G, Lada E. Work schedules of home care workers for the elderly in France: Fragmented work, deteriorating quality of care, detrimental health impact. Work. 2011; 40 (Suppl 1):S31–46. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2011-1266. [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Ellenbecker CH, Boylan LN, Samia L. What home healthcare nurses are saying about their jobs. Home Healthcare Nurse. 2006; 24 (5):315–324. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Elo S, Kyngäs H. The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2008; 62 (1):107–115. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Fazzi Associates. National state of the industry report for home health and hospice. 2017 Retrieved from https://info.fazzi.com/acton/attachment/28729/f-0023/1/-/-/-/-/SOI%20Report%202016.pdf .
• Flynn L. Extending work environment research into home health settings. Western Journal of Nursing Research. 2007; 29 (2):200–212. 29/2/200 [pii] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Gjevjon ER, Eika KH, Romoren TI, Landmark BF. Measuring interpersonal continuity in high-frequency home healthcare services. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2014; 70 (3):553–563. doi: 10.1111/jan.12214. [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Gjevjon ER, Romoren TI, Kjos BO, Helleso R. Continuity of care in home health-care practice: Two management paradoxes. Journal of Nursing Management. 2013; 21 (1):182–190. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2012.01366.x. [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Graneheim UH, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: Concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Education Today. 2004; 24 (2):105–112. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Haggerty JL, Reid RJ, Freeman GK, Starfield BH, Adair CE, McKendry R. Continuity of care: A multidisciplinary review. BMJ: British Medical Journal. 2003; 327 (7425):1219–1221. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Holm SG, Angelsen RO. A descriptive retrospective study of time consumption in home care services: How do employees use their working time? BMC Health Services Research. 2014; 14 doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-439. 439-6963-14-439. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Hsieh HF, Shannon SE. Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research. 2005; 15 (9):1277–1288. 15/9/1277 [pii] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Irani E, Hirschman KB, Cacchione PZ, Bowles KH. Home Health Nurse Decision-Making Regarding Visit Intensity Planning for Newly Admitted Patients: A Qualitative Descriptive Study. Home Health Care Services Quarterly. 2018 doi: 10.1080/01621424.2018.1456997. (Advance online publication) [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Jarrin O, Flynn L, Lake ET, Aiken LH. Home health agency work environments and hospitalizations. Medical Care. 2014; 52 (10):877–883. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000000188. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Koch T. Establishing rigour in qualitative research: The decision trail. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2006; 53 (1):91–100. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Leslie JL, Lonneman W. Promoting trust in the registered nurse-patient relationship. Home Healthcare Now. 2016; 34 (1):38–42. doi: 10.1097/NHH.0000000000000322. [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. A data book: Health care spending and the Medicare program. 2016a Retrieved from http://www.medpac.gov/docs/default-source/data-book/june-2016-data-book-health-care-spending-and-the-medicare-program.pdf .
• Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. Home health care services payment system. 2016b Retrieved from http://www.medpac.gov/docs/default-source/payment-basics/medpac_payment_basics_16_hha_final.pdf?sfvrsn=0 .
• Morse JM. Critical analysis of strategies for determining rigor in qualitative inquiry. Qualitative Health Research. 2015; 25 (9):1212–1222. doi: 10.1177/1049732315588501. [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Murtaugh CM, Peng T, Totten A, Costello B, Moore S, Aykan H. Complexity in geriatric home healthcare. Journal for Healthcare Quality. 2009; 31 (2):34–43. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Nugent LS. Can’t they get anything better? home support workers call for change. Home Health Care Services Quarterly. 2007; 26 (2):21–39. doi: 10.1300/J027v26n02_02. [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• O’Connor M, Moriarty H, Madden-Baer R, Bowles KH. Identifying critical factors in determining discharge readiness from skilled home health: An interprofessional perspective. Research in Gerontological Nursing. 2016; 9 (6):269–277. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Pinelle D, Gutwin C. Awareness-based scheduling in a home care clinical information system. AMIA Annual Symposium Proceedings. 2003; 2003 :519–523. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Russell D, Bowles KH. Continuity in visiting nurse personnel has important implications for the patient experience. Home Health Care Management & Practice. 2016; 28 (2):120–126. [ Google Scholar ]
• Russell D, Rosati RJ, Rosenfeld P, Marren JM. Continuity in home health care: Is consistency in nursing personnel associated with better patient outcomes? Journal for Healthcare Quality. 2011; 33 (6):33–39. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Samia LW, Ellenbecker CH, Friedman DH, Dick K. Home care nurses’ experience of job stress and considerations for the work environment. Home Health Care Services Quarterly. 2012; 31 (3):243–265. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Sandelowski M. Focus on research methods-whatever happened to qualitative description? Research in Nursing and Health. 2000; 23 (4):334–340. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Saultz JW. Defining and measuring interpersonal continuity of care. Annals of Family Medicine. 2003; 1 (3):134–143. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Saultz JW, Albedaiwi W. Interpersonal continuity of care and patient satisfaction: A critical review. Annals of Family Medicine. 2004; 2 (5):445–451. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Saultz JW, Lochner J. Interpersonal continuity of care and care outcomes: A critical review. Annals of Family Medicine. 2005; 3 (2):159–166. doi: 10.1370/afm.285. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Sefcik JS, Petrovsky D, Streur M, Toles M, O’Connor M, Ulrich CM, … Moriarty H. “In our corner” A qualitative descriptive study of patient engagement in a community-based care coordination program. Clinical Nursing Research. 2018; 27 (3):258–277. doi: 10.1177/1054773816685746. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Seitz S. Pixilated partnerships, overcoming obstacles in qualitative interviews via skype: A research note. Qualitative Research. 2016; 16 (2):229–235. [ Google Scholar ]
• Sochalski J. Building a home healthcare workforce to meet the quality imperative. Journal for Healthcare Quality. 2004; 26 (3):19–23. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Sockolow P, Bass E, Eberle CL, Bowles KH. Homecare nurses’ decision-making during admission care planning. Nursing Informatics. 2016; 225 :28–32. doi: 10.3233/978-1-61499-658-3-28. [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Storfjell JL, Allen CE, Easley CE. Analysis and management of home health nursing caseloads and workloads. The Journal of Nursing Administration. 1997; 27 (9):24–33. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Topaz M, Trifilio M, Maloney D, Bowles KH. Improving patient prioritization during homecare admission: A pilot study. Paper presented at the H3IT: Home Healthcare, Hospice, and Information Technology Conference; Chicago, IL. 2016. p. 48. Retrieved from https://h3it.org/_static/assets/docs/proceedings/H3IT-2016-Proceedings.pdf . [ Google Scholar ]
• Tullai-McGuinness S, Madigan EA, Anthony MK. Exercise of autonomous home care practice: The relationship with nurse characteristics. Home Healthcare Nurse. 2005; 23 (6):378–384. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Tullai-McGuinness S, Riggs JS, Farag AA. Work environment characteristics of high-quality home health agencies. Western Journal of Nursing Research. 2011; 33 (6):767–785. doi: 10.1177/0193945910381490. [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Yang Y, Bass EJ, Bowles KH, Sockolow PS. Impact of home care admission nurses’ goals on electronic health record documentation strategies at the point of care. Computers, Informatics, Nursing (in press) [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]

All Formats

Schedule Templates

15+ visitation schedule templates.

Most places will legally allow for a minimum amount of visitation time, just enough to benefit the children. Some couples prepare the visitation schedule on their own, and others leave it up to the judge. If you have decided to prepare your own sample schedule example, these free samples will show you how to make a reasonable schedule sample template that will benefit everyone involved.

Schedule Template Bundle

• Google Docs

Simple Visitation Schedule Template

• Google Sheets

Sample Visitation Schedule Template

• Editable PDF

Visitation Schedule Template

Sample College Schedule Template

Simple Camp Schedule Template

Free Child Visitation Schedule Template

Free Standard Visitation Schedule

Free Parenting Visitation Schedule Template

Free Printable Visitation Schedule Template

Free Sample Visitation Schedule Template

Things to Consider When Drafting a Visitation Schedule

• the child’s age,
• the child’s needs, and
• the parent’s ability to meet those needs.
• Frequency of visits. Most visitation schedules will allow for overnight weekend visits to the non-custodian parent’s place every other week. Depending on the child’s school schedule , additional time might be granted during the week, unless you dispute it as against the child’s best interests.
• Holidays and special occasions. One way you can go about this is to count all the holidays and events during the year and divide them equally between either parent and then switch the next year. For example, Christmas this year will be with the mother and next year with the father. You can also see more on  Maintenance Schedule Templates.
• Transportation schedules. This is an important piece of the puzzle. You will have to decide which parent is responsible for transport costs, as well as the pick-up and drop-off points, depending on proximity and schedules.

Free Basic Visitation Schedule Template

Free Model Visitation Schedule Template

Free Inmate’s Visitation Schedule

Free Standard Holiday Visitation Schedule

Free Visit Schedule Template

Bonus Family Schedule Template

More in schedule templates.

• 30+ Blank Work Schedule Templates
• 28+ Timetable Templates
• Hourly Schedule Template – 34+ Free Word, Excel, PDF Format Download!
• 6+ Recruitment Schedule Templates in PDF | MS Word
• Daily Schedule Template – 39+ Free Word, Excel, PDF Download!
• 54+ Maintenance Schedule Template – Free Word, Excel, PDF Format Download
• 30+ Production Scheduling Templates – PDF, DOC, Excel, PPT
• 34+ Payment Schedule Templates – Word, Excel, PDF
• 10+ Revenue Per Employee Ratio Templates in Google Docs | Google Sheets | MS Word | Excel | Numbers | Pages | PDF
• 9+ Nanny Schedule Templates in PDF | DOC
• 25+ Training Schedule Templates
• 10+ Onboarding Schedule Templates in Google Docs | Word | Pages | PDF | Numbers | Google Sheets | Excel
• 10+ Revenue Leverage Templates in Google Docs | Google Sheets | Excel | Word | Numbers | Pages | PDF
• 10+ Unearned Revenue Templates in Google Docs | Google Sheets | Excel | Word | Pages | Numbers | PDF | AI
• 11+ Film Shooting Schedule Templates

File Formats

Word templates, google docs templates, excel templates, powerpoint templates, google sheets templates, google slides templates, pdf templates, publisher templates, psd templates, indesign templates, illustrator templates, pages templates, keynote templates, numbers templates, outlook templates.

Time is on your side when you keep track of your schedule with customizable, easy-to-use Excel schedule templates. Scheduling everything from workday tasks to personal projects in Excel is easy to set up and esign to your liking with an intuituve template.

Follow a schedule to stay on top of your life

Design custom schedule templates to help you plan out your year and manage projects for your business. Use Excel to set schedules by the month, day, and even down to the hour. Leave fields for you to add in details of what task you want to complete during the time. Save your schedule template so that you can schedule it with your business partners and employees. Use it in a collaborative effort so that they can add to your schedule when you have availability. Rearrange your schedule during busy seasons, like for annual sales or holiday sales. Create a schedule for your different social media profiles so that your business knows when to post and what to post. Add your brand's logo to the top of the schedule so that all your internal documentation stays consistent. Follow the schedule so that you're using your time wisely and effectively.