Rozina Aziz Private duty nursing is a type of healthcare service that offers personalized care for patients in the comfort of their own homes. This article explains what private duty nursing is, how it differs from other forms of nursing and the benefits it can provide to patients and their families. Discover all you need to know about private duty nurses and how they can help you or your loved one.
What is private duty nursing?
Private duty nursing is a form of in-home nursing care tailored to each patient’s needs. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) provide private-duty nursing services for patients who need more extensive medical care. Nursing organizations typically issue these permits. These experts’ ultimate goal is for their patients to recover in the comfort of their own homes and resume productive, satisfying lives.
Helping patients with activities of daily living, including eating, dressing, and bathing, is the job of certified nursing assistants, caretakers, and home health aides, who normally report to a private duty nurse. Freelancing allows these experts to make their hours and charge what they deem fair.
Types of private duty nurses:
Patients of all ages and with various medical needs can benefit from private-duty nursing home health care options if you can specialize in various subsets of private-duty nursing, regardless of their preference for part-time or full-time work.
Gerontology:
Care for the elderly, including those with a wide range of health issues, is the primary focus of this subset of private-duty nurses.
Chronic illness:
Patients with congenital birth abnormalities and other chronic health disorders requiring ongoing medical intervention can benefit from your one-on-one treatment.
Pediatrics:
You can focus on providing home healthcare services to children who are temporarily or permanently housebound due to illness.
Hospice:
In this private-duty nursing position, you’ll assist terminally ill patients with their final care.
What do private duty nurses do?
Individualized medical attention and treatment plans are what private-duty nurses specialize in providing. They may care for newborns born with defects or older adults who need round-the-clock attention. Additional duties at work include,
- Keeping an eye on any shifts in a patient’s health.
- Offering a wide range of means for basic subsistence.
- The Handling of Ongoing Illness.
- Treating wounds.
- Coordinating with other medical staff, such as those providing therapy.
- Informing patients, loved ones, and medical professionals.
- Documenting treatment plans and outcomes.
- Creating care plans for patients daily.
- Keeping tabs on oxygen levels, monitoring heart rate, or utilizing other hi-tech home devices.
- Individual health services include monitoring nail clipping, teeth cleaning, and monitoring of the bowel program.
- Injectable inhalers, ocular drops, and oral and topical drugs are all within the scope of medication administration.
- Exercises in a Wide Variety of Movements.
- Tracking food intake.
- Homemaker Assistance.
- Being aware of potential health problems and how to spot them early.
- Formulating and carrying out treatment and rehabilitation strategies.
- Working with pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.
- Delivering end-of-life care.
- Carrying out surgical procedures.
Where Do Private Duty Nurses Work?
In addition to providing treatment in hospitals and long-term care institutions like nursing homes, private nurses also treat patients in the comfort of their own homes. The most fragile patients who require round-the-clock nursing attention are usually under their care in these facilities.
Private Homes of Patients:
Patients may have recently been released from the hospital, resting and recouping in their homes. A nurse’s duties include facilitating the healing process. Sometimes, however, a patient will require the attention of a medical professional for a prolonged period due to a condition that does not warrant hospitalization.
Hospice:
Hospice patients often benefit from the pain relief and reassurance private-duty nursing provides. Oncology care, intravenous infusions, and catheter and colostomy bag care are all examples of what they might be responsible for.
Care Center for the Elderly:
Patients who require extensive care 24 hours a day or more every shift are best served by private nursing staff in a hospital or nursing home.
What are the relevant skills of a private duty nurse?
The abilities necessary for a private duty nurse to do their job effectively are as follows.
Communication:
Experienced private-duty nurses can assess their patient’s conditions and work with them to develop treatment regimens.
Paying Close Attention:
To ensure that their patients respond well to treatment, private-duty nurses must watch them carefully.
Organizational skills:
This competency can help private duty nurses stay on top of their workload and complete tasks efficiently. These professionals have the stamina and organizational ability to simultaneously perform lengthy shifts and care for multiple patients.
Technology:
Private nurses could use the technology to keep track of patient’s vitals and medical history. Therefore, they must be able to use electronic record software to document their interactions with the patient.
What are the benefits of private duty nursing?
Some of the benefits of working as a private duty nurse are:
- Creating a Timetable for your workday.
- Having selective patients.
- Wage determination.
- Connecting with patients and their loved ones to create lasting bonds is a top priority.
- Practicing the subset of nursing that most appeal to you.
- Goal-setting that is realistic and beneficial to your life and work.
- Improving workers’ happiness in their jobs.
How to Become a Private Duty Nurse?
The following requirements must be met before you may begin working as a private duty nurse:
Enroll in a Nursing Program:
To enter nursing, you must complete either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from a recognized institution. The next logical step for some ADN nurses is earning their BSN.
Get NCLEX-RN certification:
Pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses and start practicing as an RN.
Clinical Experience:
The level of clinical experience required to work as a private duty nurse varies by agency. Two to three years of clinical experience is often required for most positions in healthcare. The type of nursing required may vary depending on the patients, including medical-surgical, intensive care, or pediatrics.
Get certified:
Private duty nurses do not need a special credential, but many hold medical-surgical or critical care nursing credentials. Increasing your marketability to potential employers and clients is facilitated by earning a more advanced qualification.
What education do private duty nurses need?
A nurse wanting to keep their license current must submit an application, log a number of continuing education units (CEUs), and pay a small fee. Before applying to renew your nursing license, you should contact your state’s board of nursing to ensure you meet all of the state’s standards.
The CEU requirement for a Registered Nurse license that is part of a compact nursing license will be determined by the state where the RN resides. In addition, some jurisdictions call for continuing education credits in areas like child abuse, drug misuse, and pain management.
What is the difference between private duty nursing and home health care nursing?
The term “home health care nursing” refers to situations in which a doctor has contracted with a nurse to perform a certain duty or provide care for a patient in their home. This visit is likely to check vital signs or treat an injury.
Nurses in the home healthcare industry often see one patient at a time before moving on to the next. Conversely, private-duty nurses are employed by families rather than hospitals and work independently of medical staff. They provide full-service care for a patient. Senior citizens are a common clientele for private duty nurses who provide one-on-one and ongoing expert care.
How Much Do Private Duty Nurses Make?
A yearly wage is offered to some private nurses, particularly those working directly in healthcare facilities. Although PayScale reports that the average private sector wage for a nurse is $49,510 per year, this figure does not differentiate between licensed practical nurses and registered nurses.
The median pay for a registered nurse in the United States is $75,330 per year, as reported by the BLS. The average salary of a licensed practical nurse is $48,820 per year. How much you can earn as a private duty nurse depends largely on your level of certification and work history.
What is the future of private duty nursing?
According to the BLS, there is a projected 6% increase in demand for nurses between 2021 and 2031. This increase is expected to correspond with the aging of the population and a greater need for private home care nursing services.
FAQ’s
What is private duty nursing?
Private duty nursing is a type of nursing care provided in the patient’s home or other private setting. It is often used for patients who require ongoing medical care or assistance with activities of daily living.
What services are provided by private duty nurses?
Private duty nurses can provide a wide range of services, including medication management, wound care, tube feeding, ventilator management, and other types of specialized care.
How is private duty nursing different from other types of nursing care?
Private duty nursing differs from other types of nursing care in that it is provided one-on-one, typically over an extended period. This allows for more personalized care and flexibility in scheduling and care plans.
How can I find a private-duty nurse?
Private duty nurses can be found through various sources, including home health agencies, nursing registries, and online directories. Choosing a nurse with the appropriate qualifications and experience for your specific needs is important.
How much does private-duty nursing cost?
The cost of private duty nursing can vary widely depending on factors such as the level of care required, the length of time services are needed, and the patient’s location. Some insurance plans may cover the cost of private duty nursing, while others may require out-of-pocket payment.
