What Is the Definition of a Private Duty Nurse?
According to "Mosby's Medical Dictionary," a private-duty nurse is: "a nurse who may work in an institution, caring for a patient on a fee-for-service basis. The private duty nurse is not a member of the institution staff. Private duty care also occurs in the home."
A private-duty nurse usually provides medically necessary services for patients who are dependent on technology such as mechanical ventilation or nasogastric tube feedings. Either a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN) can preform such duties.
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Advantages and Disadvantages
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As mentioned in the website Scribd, private nurses have the advantage of higher pay, flexible schedules, the opportunity to bond more closely with their patients, the chance to travel and the option of continuously learning about new procedures and technology.
Scribd points out, however, that private nurses also have to accept and deal with many disadvantages. Seasoned nurses earn the same fees as newly graduated nurses. Patients obviously need private nurses in the evenings, on weekends and holidays. The nurses focus on fewer patients, increasing the possibility of overdependence. Any opportunity to update their knowledge and/or skills are solely the nurses' responsibility. Private-duty nurses, as independent contractors, have a greater need for liability insurance, which is expensive. Finally, private nurses do not have access to all of the benefits (including social, medical, retirement) available to nurses working in facilities, and they must provide these benefits for themselves.
Employment Outlook
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The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2010 the employment opportunity growth in the nursing field is much better than the average job. The bureau's website information states, "because the occupation is very large, 581,500 new jobs will result, among the largest number of new jobs for any occupation. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of job openings will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who leave the occupation."
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Education
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To become a private duty nurse, a person must either earn a four-year degree in nursing science from a reputable institution or an associate's degree and a diploma from an approved nursing program. In addition to schooling, a nursing applicant must obtain a license to practice in her desired state of employment and undergo a background check.
After completing education and licensing essentials, an applicant may sign with a health-care agency or nursing registry. If she prefers, the private-duty nurse may establish her own contacts by networking with retirement centers, Social Security agencies and doctor offices after checking to see if such networking is legal in her area.
Top Nursing Schools
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Because a private-duty nurse must be an RN or LPN, applying to a reputable nursing school is necessary. In 2007, "U.S. News and World Report" ranked the following schools the top 10 in the United States for nursing: University of Washington, University of California--San Francisco, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University,
University of Michigan--Ann Arbor, University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill, Oregon Health and Science University, University of Illinois--Chicago, University of Maryland--Baltimore and University of Pittsburgh. Thousands of other schools, however, offer competent nursing programs and degrees.
Average Salary
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses earned wages in 2008 ranging from $43,410 to $94,240--with the median pay at $62,450. The nurses paid the most worked for employment services, which assist private-duty nurses in finding jobs, while those working for hospitals and doctor's offices made, on average, $5,000 less.
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