What Is Private Duty Nursing?

Private Duty Nursing vs. Skilled Nursing Visits

The most common point of confusion is the difference between private duty nursing and intermittent skilled nursing visits. Skilled nursing visits are short, physician-ordered visits (often 30 to 60 minutes) that Medicare covers for a homebound patient, for example to change a wound dressing or give an injection.

Private duty nursing is different. A private duty nurse stays in the home for an entire shift, caring for one patient continuously. That makes it the right choice when someone needs constant monitoring, ventilator or tracheostomy management, or hands-on nursing through the day and night.

Who Needs Private Duty Nursing?

Private duty nursing serves both adults and children whose conditions require ongoing skilled care. That includes patients on a tracheostomy or ventilator, patients who use a feeding tube, and patients who need continuous monitoring for seizures, heart conditions, or breathing problems.

For medically fragile children, private duty nursing is often combined with pediatric home care so a nurse can care for the child at home and, when approved, at school.

How Is Private Duty Nursing Paid For?

Florida Medicaid covers private duty nursing for eligible children and adults with complex medical needs through its private duty nursing benefit, and through long-term care Medicaid. Many private insurance plans, long-term care insurance policies, and VA benefits also cover it, and families can arrange it through private pay. Focus Family Care verifies your nursing benefits for free before care begins.

Getting Private Duty Nursing in South Florida

Focus Family Care provides private duty nursing across Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties, with local pages for West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and more. A registered nurse writes and supervises every care plan.