Home health care has become an increasingly acceptable and popular form of health care provided to patients with acute, chronic, and terminal illnesses. The demand for home health care continues to increase for a variety of reasons. Home health care is a cost-effective method of providing patients with the care they need (Phipps, Monahan, Sands, Marek, & Neighbors, 2003, p.154). Patients can receive the care they need without the added cost of a hospital stay or extended hospital stay. This helps reduce costs for hospitals, insurance companies, public assistance and the patient. Other additional benefits for patients receiving home health care are a decrease in nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections, improved nutritional status, personalization of care, increased sense of control, encouragement to autonomy, a quicker return to normal routine, increased privacy and comfort and increased family support and involvement (Phipps et al, 2003, p154). The benefits mentioned above help the patient heal in their own environment, at their own pace, with the support of family and friends, and also include the assistance of a trained nurse to help them manage their health care needs during the healing process. For this process to be successful, the home health system relies on qualified nurses who are not only trained in medical-surgical nursing; but who also possess excellent organizational, communication, evaluation, creativity, flexibility and management skills (Phipps et al, 2003, p.154). These skills are necessary to maximize patient potential and tailor health care practice to the needs of their patients. Nurses must also be able to use communication and management skills to collaborate middle of paper......such as using patient education, promoting a healthy, balanced, non-pharmacological diet interventions to help correct symptoms, eliminate potential hazards from the environment, and clean hands and supplies before and after contact with patients. The use of communication and organizational skills also applies appropriately to many health care settings. Home health shadowing was a positive experience and served as an excellent example to follow in professional health care practice. Works Cited Black, J. & Hawks, J. 2009. Medical Surgery Nursing: Clinical Management for positive outcomes. (8th ed.). St. Louis: MO. Elsevier Saunders.Phipps, W., Monahan, F., Sands, J., Marek, J. and Neighbors, M. 2003. Medical-surgical nursing: perspectives on health and illness. (7th ed.). St. Louis: MO. Elsevier Saunders.