A significant number of people necessitate receiving specialized medical attention in the comfort of their own homes, and this requirement can be satisfied by the role of the private duty nurse.
Personalized medical attention is offered to individual patients by a private duty nurse. Private duty nurses, as opposed to hospital nurses, typically visit patients in their own homes and tend to the needs of a single patient at a time. Nurses who work in private duty may be self-employed or employed by home health agencies.
To provide healthcare services, one needs to hold a valid license as a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse. In addition to being the patient’s companion, daily responsibilities include evaluating the patient’s state of health, monitoring the patient’s vital signs, arranging the patient’s living space so that it is conducive to the use of medical equipment, and so on.
What Does A Private Duty Nurse Do Exactly?
The patients of a private duty nurse receive many essential services from the nurse. Some examples of these are as follows:
- Monitoring any shifts in the patients’ current medical conditions
- Providing medical treatment and care
- Assisting with activities of daily living
- Developing specific treatment plans for individual patients
- Developing eating approaches for the patient
- Providing care on a hospice level
- Performing administrative tasks and filling out patient care documentation
- Managing a chronic illness
There are many more things a private duty nurse can do, and this list is just the minimum. The health and vitality of their patients are directly impacted by the work that the private nurse does. In addition, private duty nurses accompany their patients to medical appointments and other outings, such as family gatherings and other social functions.
The patient’s home is typically where private duty nurses perform their duties. They also have opportunities to work in healthcare settings, such as hospitals or assisted living services.
What It Takes To Be A Private Duty Nurse
A private duty nurse provides essential support methods for their patients. To be flourishing in this role, they need to have these specific characteristics:
1.) Compassion
Understanding and compassion are essential qualities for a nurse to possess. On the other hand, the private duty nurse typically has a somewhat more personal relationship with the patient. They are the patient’s primary caregivers—somebody who develops a close relationship with them over time. It is essential to be compassionate and to be able to establish a personal connection with another person while maintaining a professional demeanor.
2.) Patience
Interacting with patients or clients who are ill and require assistance with basic tasks can be extremely frustrating, particularly when the patient does not want to cooperate with the caregiver. In the long run, it will be to your advantage if you can assist your patients and maintain a positive attitude regardless of how slowly they perform specific tasks.
3.) Attentive
When it comes to the various information that falls under their scope of practice, private duty nurses have a responsibility to pay close attention. More specifically, they must recognize when a patient’s disposition shifts or when they are displaying changes in their health that require attention.
How You Can Become A Private Duty Nurse
Becoming qualified to work as a private duty nurse may take a few years. The entire process is broken down into the following steps.
1.) Qualify Yourself By Earning A Nursing Degree
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) are the two levels of education that are available to individuals who are interested in working as private duty nurses (BSN). At a community college, you can complete the requirements for an associate degree in just two years. Getting your bachelor’s degree from a college or university will take approximately four years of your time.
2.) Acquire A RN License
After completing your nursing education and receiving your diploma, you will be prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. The exam marks will determine whether or not you are granted a license to practice as an RN. The examination covers a total of eight different care areas. These are the following:
- Management of Care/Coordinated Care
- Basic Care and Comfort
- Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
- Reduction of Risk Potential
- Health Promotion and Maintenance
- Psychosocial Integrity
- Safety and Infection Control
- Physiological Adaptation
To find work in the United States, you will need to pay the test fee, approximately $200. The Registered Nurse examination consists of at least 75 questions and a maximum of 265 questions. Registered Nurses have a total of six hours to pass the tests.
3.) Accumulate On-The-Job Experience
The next step is to acquire experience working in a hospital setting. Most employers will require applicants to have at least two or three years of substantial bedside experience. You have the opportunity to pursue a career in either pediatrics or medical-surgical nursing.
4.) Acquire Certification
Even though becoming a private duty nurse does not necessitate any particular certification, obtaining additional certificates is still a good idea to improve your employment prospects in this industry.
You must renew your nursing license every couple of years, depending on your state’s regulations, to maintain your nursing license. Continuing education will be required to keep your certification.
Outlooks Of Private Duty Nurses
The demand for private duty nurses is expected to increase significantly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics casts that the employment outlook for registered nurses (RNs) will improve by 15% over the next decade, and most private duty nurses hold either an RN or an LPN license. Similarly, home health aides (HHA) will see a growth in employment of 40 percent.
Home health care is becoming increasingly popular due to its lower cost and greater convenience, which has resulted in an increased demand for private nurses. The employment prospects of private duty nurses can be further improved if they continue to update their skills and continue to further their education.
Takeaway
If you are a private duty nurse looking for some job careers, you may want to consider and contact Nova Home Health Care. As our client base is expanding, we need all the help we can do.
