Skilled Nursing/Private Duty Nursing
What is Private Duty Nursing?
Private duty nursing allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by most patients and their families.
Private duty nurses provide long-term, comprehensive hourly nursing care and are skilled in managing medical equipment and technology. A patient will have a nurse in the home anywhere from 2 to 24 hours per day. Private duty nursing is also sometimes referred to as continuous skilled nursing or block shift nursing.
Who Needs a Private Duty Nurse?
Private duty nurses care for patients of all ages who require ongoing skilled medical care outside of a hospital. These patients may have chronic illnesses, disabilities, or conditions that require specialized attention.
Here are some examples of medical conditions that may warrant private duty nursing:
– ALS
– Traumatic brain injury
– Birth injury
– Failure to thrive
– Congenital disease
– Rare disease
– Multiple comorbidities
– Ventilator or tracheostomy dependence
– Post-stroke care requiring extensive support
What Does a Private Nurse Do?
A private duty nurse provides consistent, one-on-one care tailored to a patient’s unique health needs. Their responsibilities include performing physician-ordered treatments, monitoring vital signs, and managing complex medical equipment. These nurses often work in 8-, 12-, or 24-hour shifts to ensure constant care.
They are trained to handle:
– Ventilator care
– Tracheostomy care
– G-tube care and feeding
– Seizure management
– Catheter care
– Medication administration
– Monitoring and responding to changes in condition
– Educating families on home care routines
Skilled nursing refers to medically necessary care provided by licensed nurses—either Registered Nurses (RNs) or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)—under the supervision of a physician. This level of care typically involves clinical tasks that require specialized training and must be prescribed by a doctor. Skilled nursing services can be provided in various settings, including a patient’s home, nursing facilities, or rehabilitation centers, and are often short-term and goal-oriented, such as after surgery, illness, or hospitalization.
What Is Skilled Nursing?
Who Needs Skilled Nursing?
Skilled nursing is ideal for individuals who need professional medical care on a regular basis but do not require hospitalization. It supports patients recovering from surgery, managing chronic diseases, or requiring complex medical treatments at home.
Examples of conditions and situations that may require skilled nursing care include:
– Post-surgical recovery
– Wound care and dressing changes
– Stroke recovery
– Cardiac conditions (e.g., heart failure)
– Diabetes with insulin management
– Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
– IV therapy or injections
– Catheter care
– Medication management and monitoring
– Frequent falls or mobility issues requiring clinical oversight
What Does a Skilled Nurse Do?
Skilled nurses deliver advanced, physician-directed care that goes beyond basic assistance. Their role includes monitoring health conditions, preventing complications, and helping patients regain function and independence.
A skilled nurse typically provides:
– Wound care and infection prevention
– Tracheostomy and oxygen management
– G-tube care and feeding
– Injections and IV administration
– Blood sugar monitoring and insulin management
– Pain management
– Vital sign monitoring and health assessments
– Education for patients and caregivers on disease management
– Coordination with doctors and other healthcare professionals
Compassionate and Personalized Home Health Services
At South Florida Health Care, our highly trained team provides comprehensive and compassionate in-home care, ensuring each patient receives the highest level of medical support in the comfort of their home.