For many families where a loved one is battling a
long-term illness, deciding whether to opt for in-patient care or private duty nursing
care can
be a challenging choice. While it’s easy to see the potential benefits of
in-patient care, it’s also important to consider why at-home private care might
be a good option for you and your loved ones. Private nursing can often provide
the same support with both physical and emotional needs that a patient would
receive in a medical facility, but from an environment that is familiar and
comfortable. Check out the guide below to learn more about the role of a
private duty nurse and what at-home care might look like.
When a Private Duty Nurse Might Be a
Good Option
There are a number of medical conditions that might
necessitate private duty nursing care, also known as skilled nursing services.
In general, this type of care is needed for anyone who has been prescribed
long-term and continuous care by a doctor. If you’re unsure whether you qualify
for this type of service, it’s best to reach out to your regular doctor to
inquire if you or your loved one would be medically eligible.
Possible Medical Needs
A few examples of medical conditions that could benefit
from private duty nursing include but are not limited to ALS; a birth injury;
muscular dystrophy; spinal cord injury; traumatic brain injury; congenital
heart disease; a developmental disability; or end-of-life care. While this list
is not by any means exhaustive, it gives a good context in describing the types
of medical conditions that might necessitate long-term and continuous medical
assistance daily to support maintaining comfort.
The Role of a Private Duty Nurse
The job of a private duty nurse is to provide
individualized and one-on-one medical care to their patient based specifically
on their healthcare and treatment plans. This might involve several different
tasks, and as such, skilled nurses are trained to provide support in many
different medical areas. Areas of at-home support might include things like
medication and injection administration, ventilator care, catheter and ostomy
care, feeding tube care, oxygen level monitoring, seizure support, or
respiratory treatment. Private nurses come equipped to provide the same level
of care that a patient would receive when staying at a long-term
facility.
Types of Certifications
Depending on the type of care you are looking for, it is
always a good idea to investigate what type of certifications might best equip
your private duty nursing staff to care for your needs. You can discuss with
different homecare companies what types of certifications their staff have to
offer, while also keeping in mind that you should be ensuring the company
itself is a licensed agency. Often, skilled nurses might have specific
certifications in areas such as geriatric care, care of children with mobility
or developmental issues, or post-operative care, so do not be afraid to inquire
about the qualifications of your possible in-home support.
What Does a Typical Visit Look Like?
In general, your private duty nursing care will include a
skilled nurse coming to your home and providing ongoing assessment and care. A
typical day for an at-home nurse might include managing the chronic condition
of the patient, checking vital signs, and providing ongoing therapies or
treatments. Another daily element of the work an at-home nurse does often
involves educating the family on different support techniques as well as
reinforcing any training family members might have learned previously. When
your nurse first begins their visits, ask them to run through what a regular
check-in would look like for them. Make sure to also discuss with your family
doctor the at-home services that are being provided, and regularly check in
with both the at-home nurse and doctor to see if any adjustments need to be
made to you or your loved one’s treatment plan.
The Benefits of Private Duty Nursing Care
While we briefly mentioned this previously, it is
important not to undersell one of the main benefits of private nursing care,
which is that the patient will be in the comfort of their own home.
Environmental factors play a huge role in patient wellness and recovery, so
this is an important element to consider. Another major benefit is that you
will be receiving one-on-one individualized care and support from the private
duty nurse. This ensures that you or your loved one is the main focus and
receives the full attention of your medical support staff. Finally, the
prolonged relationship of private duty care also means that your nurse will
really get to know you or your loved one, understand their needs, and provide
not just physical but caring and emotional support as well.
Get Private Duty Nursing Care
If you are interested in
learning more about whether private duty nursing care is the right fit for you
and your family, get in touch with us today
at Alliance Homecare
VNA. We offer a wide selection
of personal care services to our clients, and
our expert staff will work with you to ensure you are getting the right at-home
support for your needs.
