Onboarding plan
Home Health Aide Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)
A practical, printable plan to take a new home health aide from first day to full productivity.
Home Health Aide onboarding at a glance
Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.
Before day one
- Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
- Verify required credentials: Home health aide certificate, CPR and first aid (as applicable)
- Prepare equipment and access: gait belts and transfer boards; shower chairs and grab bars; blood pressure cuffs and thermometers; pill organizers
- Assign a buddy or preceptor
- Enroll the new hire in Home Health Aide training so foundations are covered before or during week one
Week one: orient and protect
- Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Use a gait belt and good body mechanics for every transfer
- Wash hands before and after care and wear gloves for body fluids
- Remove tripping hazards and keep paths clear in the home
- Know the agency’s emergency plan and when to call 911
- Shadow an experienced home health aide through a full shift
- Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)
Days 1–30: learn
Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.
- Supervised practice: help a client transfer from bed to wheelchair
- Supervised practice: give a bed bath
- Supervised practice: take and record a client’s blood pressure
- Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
- 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins
Days 31–60: contribute
Goal: handle a regular workload independently.
- Assist clients with bathing, grooming, toileting and dressing: independently
- Help clients move safely, including transfers and walking: independently
- Prepare meals that follow the client’s diet plan: independently
- Give medication reminders and record what was taken: independently
- Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
- Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
- 60-day check-in
Days 61–90: own
Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.
- Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
- Begin cross-training on a secondary task
- Agree on a credential goal (for example, Home health aide certificate)
- Discuss the career path: Home Health Aide → Certified Nursing Assistant or Medication Aide → Care Coordinator or Scheduler
- 90-day review
Competency checklist
| Skill or task | Trained | Observed | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help a Client Transfer from Bed to Wheelchair | |||
| Give a Bed Bath | |||
| Take and Record a Client’s Blood Pressure | |||
| Personal care and hygiene assistance | |||
| Safe transfers and fall prevention | |||
| Vital signs measurement | |||
| Meal preparation for special diets |
How to measure onboarding success
- Days until the new hire works without a preceptor
- Competency sign-offs completed on time
- Documentation or charting error rate
- 90-day retention
How Home Health Aide training maps to this plan
- Introduction to the Home Health Aide Role
- A Day on the Job
- Essential Home Health Aide Vocabulary
- Core Duties and Responsibilities
- Common Tasks, Step by Step
- Tools, Equipment and Technology
- Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
- Skills Employers Look For
- Launching Your Home Health Aide Career
- Final Knowledge Check