Using A Private Duty Nurse Helps The Family

By Marci Glover


Many people need more help, while in the hospital, than what is available from the staff of that institution. A large percentage of the elderly need special assistance and it is just not in the budget of many hospitals. The private duty nurse can be called on to fill in this gap as they can perform many of the same chores.

These nurses will come in handy during the hospital stay as they assist the registered nurses and all other medical staff stay on top of the patients condition. They can take the vital information, such as blood pressure, heart rate, measure the intake and out flow of liquids and document all for analysis. They can assist in administering many of the routine drugs as well.

A nurse of this type is indispensable in the home, also. This is where they really shine. Many of the family members can become overwhelmed by the services and assistance an unhealthy or injured person needs on a day to day basis. They are not prepared for the bathing, feeding and the recording of everything that is part and parcel of a recovery effort.

All private nurses must complete a certain amount of college course and extra work to become certified. They will take health basics and nursing courses to enable them to understand all that is involved in their trade. Four year college courses are part and parcel for many of these professionals as they will moving into a specialty down the line.

Private nurses of all specialties will need to be well informed about their patients. They will also need to become personally aware of their moods and eccentricities. This is important as many of those changes can indicate something that tests will not show. The family benefits from this as they do not have the time to do this even if they are trained to do so.

Many of the activities and care efforts they must be well versed in will include diabetes and traumatic brain injury care. They must be able to deal with tracheotomies, tube feedings and catastrophic injury care. Dealing with ventilators, medication and insulin pumps as well as spinal cord injuries and seizures control methods.

When looking for a private nurse, you should contact one of the many agencies that deal with this. Find out how long they have been in business and talk with several of their nurses to see which one is your best choice. The individual should have the knowledge your loved one needs help with and a few others that are associated with the age of that patient. Certification of the nurse and the agency should not be negotiable.

Getting this type of help for your family member is important. This is the case whether he or she is in a care facility, the hospital or at home. Checking with the insurance company for possible payment of this is important. However, no one can place a price on the peace of mind you will have when your loved one is taken care as well as possible.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment