36.0: Introduction

People often picture health care and nurses only in the context of a hospital, but many patients whose injury or illness is initially treated in a hospital are eventually discharged and managed in their own homes. Home health nursing and rehabilitation is an increasingly essential area in health care that allows nurses to provide compassionate care outside the traditional clinical hospital setting. Healing, support, and education are combined and designed to foster resilience and build wellness for improved life in diverse populations. Nurses are essential to restoring health and function and empowering people and families in the communities that they serve. Nursing services include personal care for long-term care residents, home care, and care at post-acute care centers, also called rehabilitation centers, which are unique centers for continuing care.