Home health providers must possess or develop a broad knowledge of religious, ethnic, social, and economic influences and how they affect patients and their families. Practitioners must demonstrate a non-judgmental attitude and be able to accept others and their value systems even when they are markedly different from their own beliefs.

The home health provider must enjoy dealing with families and involving them in the plan of care. Similarly, providers must possess the ability to be comfortable in non-structured situations and relate to people in varied environments. Home Health patients have a variety of lifestyles and have many lifetime habits. Those habits are changed only when the patient desires a change. Accepting that fact is the first step to combating the frustration frequently experienced by new home health care providers.

Other important characteristics or qualities necessary for home health providers are sensitivity, flexibility, adaptability, common sense, empathy and an enjoyment for working autonomously in a one-on-one situation. These qualities all assist the home health provider to enlist support, gain cooperation and communicate effectively with patients, family members and other health care professionals.

A commitment to health promotion activities is a must for all home health providers. The provider becomes a model for health promotion and has the opportunity to observe the patient and family in everyday activities. Because of the home health provider's close relationship and rapport with both the patient and family, she is in the best position to influence the patient and family to modify behaviors and encourage health promotion.

Comfort with the unknown, ability to work with and withstand elements of nature, and ability to work with distractions are necessary preparations to deal with and accept patients' perceptions and reality of environments and lifestyles. Likewise, knowledge of ethnic cultures' ways and mores assists the home health provider in understanding and accepting the patient's perception of needs and care.

To assure her own safety and well-being, the home health provider must be streetwise, able to deal with everyday emotions, terminate relationships effectively, plan ahead, set goals, possess strong organizational skills, and have a strong sense of self-confidence. The ability to read a map and a keen sense of direction is imperative to enable the home health provider to locate patients in rural areas or with minimal direction.

Home health providers must possess a thorough knowledge of health care bureaucracy and how to work within it to be an effective advocate for patients and their families. The home health provider must also possess a broad knowledge of community resources and be cost-conscious, innovative and able to improvise to meet the overall needs of the patient and family. Frequently, the optimum choice is unacceptable or unavailable in a particular community or situation and the home health provider must be able to assess and weigh alternatives before choosing the best course.

In general, the home health provider must be self-reliant, able to pace herself, and possess a wide range of technical skills as well as a strong knowledge of norms. Flexibility, adaptability, and innovativeness coupled with an open and accepting attitude best prepares the health provider for working in the home health setting.