What is Private Duty Nursing?

Private duty nursing provides the same high level of long-term, comprehensive health care as a live-in facility or hospital, but in the privacy and comfort of home—where most clients and families want to be. A private duty nurse, also known as a skilled nurse, can provide care day or night, help with physical and emotional needs, administer medications, monitor a client’s condition, and communicate any changes for prompt intervention as needed.

What does a private duty nurse do?

A private duty nurse provides specialized, one-on-one medical care based on their client’s established health care plan and personal needs. These highly-skilled nurses are trained to perform physician-ordered treatment plans and clinical interventions for clients with significant medical needs at home such as:

• Catheter and ostomy care
• Gastrostomy (feeding tube) care
• Medication and injection administration
• Nasogastric (N-G) tube care
• Oxygen management
• Respiratory treatments
• Seizure management
• Tracheostomy care
• Ventilator care

What happens during a skilled nurse visit?

Skilled private duty nurses provide at-home nursing care for individuals with ongoing medical needs due to chronic illness, injury, or disability. They help manage chronic conditions, monitor vital signs, provide therapies, help educate family members, and reinforce the training family caregivers have received in a hospital. Skilled nursing visits are very similar to the medical care a client would receive in a hospital or live-in facility—with a one-on-one focus on promoting wellness, preventing complications, and quickly identifying and treating symptoms that could lead to hospitalization.

When should you consider skilled nursing care?

There are many reasons someone may need private duty or skilled nursing services. To qualify, you or a loved one—regardless of age—must have medical needs that necessitate a doctor prescribing these nursing services. If you’re not sure if you or a loved one qualifies, BAYADA can provide resources to help determine eligibility and payment options.

Examples of medical conditions that can benefit from private duty nursing:

• ALS
• Birth injury
• Congenital disease
• Failure to thrive
• Muscular dystrophy (MS)
• Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)?
• Spinal cord injury (SCI)
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Paying for private duty nursing services

There are many payment options for private duty nursing care including Medicare, Medicaid, Worker’s Compensation, Veteran’s benefits, long term care insurance, private insurance, and private funds. BAYADA can help you verify insurance eligibility, determine out-of-pocket costs, and, with your permission, contact insurance provider(s) on your behalf to arrange for the skilled nursing services you or a loved one needs.

To start the process, it is important to start asking your physician, transitional care manager, or home health care agency about private duty nursing services as soon as possible, before a hospital discharge.

Personalized skilled nursing care available 24/7

BAYADA Home Health Care has hundreds of local offices nationally and is a trusted leader among home health care providers. Our skilled nurses and care teams offer a full range of clinical services and medical support at home for children and adults of all ages. If you are looking for help at home for you or a loved one, reach out to a Local BAYADA Office or call (888) 864-2025 to get started and learn more.