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Private Duty Nurse School and Program Information

Private Duty Nurses provide in-home care for patients needing assistance with their medical condition and daily life.  They support loved ones in caring for the patient, keeping them comfortable, functioning, and on track with necessary medications and treatments.  

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Private Duty Nurse Working Environment

Usually Private Duty Nurses work through a service provider, such as a local hospital, nursing home, hospice care, or government agency.  However, very little of their work time will be spent there, except for training, meetings, and reviews.  The majority of a Private Duty Nurse's time is spent working in the home of their patient.  They may also be employed to take care of a patient within a hospital or nursing home so that the patient has a consistent, reliable source of care.

Qualifications, Education, & Training

Because the patients requiring in-home care have such a wide variety of needs, Private Duty Nurses have a wide variety of qualifications.

Some patients mainly need assistance with tasks such as eating, getting up to use the restroom, bathing, and taking the right medications at the right times in the right amounts.  For these patients, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) and Nurses Aides (NA) are usually employed.  To become either an LPN or NA, you will need a high school diploma or equivalent as well as to complete a certification course at a junior or community college or vocational school,  and finally to take the exam and become licensed. 

Other patients will need more skilled medical care, or perhaps care for a specific and demanding illness.  In these cases a Registered Nurse (RN) will be needed as a Private Duty Nurse.
 

Job Outlook & Salary For Private Duty Nursing

Private duty nurses are in just as high demand and earning a little more then their counterparts working for hospitals and nursing homes, due to the exclusive attention and direct care they provide.  Registered nurses make an average of $62,000 (according to BLS.gov), according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The field is expected to continue to grow, especially as baby boomers move towards their golden years and many look for alternatives to nursing homes and retirement facilities.

 

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