PRIVATE DUTY NURSING

Nurses in private practice are expected to be expert clinicians as well as expert

generalists in nursing. They use the title Private Duty Nurse, Private Nurse Practitioner,
Special Duty Nurse or Private Duty Nurse Specialist.

DEFINITION OF PRIVATE DUTY PRACTIONER

A private duty nurse is a registered nurse who undertakes to give comprehensive

nursing care to a client on a one-to-one ratio. She/he is an independent contractor. The
patient may be provided care in the hospital or in the home.

Private duty nurse practitioners are grouped into two categories.

1. General Private Duty Nurse. The general private duty nurse has the capabilities for
providing basic nursing care to any type of patient,among which are:
 assessment of the physical conditions and interpretation of the significance of his/her
findings as basis for planning the nursing care;
 identification of emotional and social factors and relating these to signs and symptoms
observed;
 application of scientific principles in the performance of nursing techniques;
 working with patient's family so that they gain understanding of his/her illness and
cooperate towards promoting early recovery of the patient;
 utilization of laboratory and diagnostic tests in promoting progress of care and
enhancing his/her own usefulness as a health teacher and counselor;
 knowledge and recognition of pharmacological effects of drugs and medications,their
implications actions as needed; and
 interpretation of doctor's orders concerning medicines and treatments and
communicating the same effectively to the patient and carrying them out promptly and
accurately with understanding of cause and effects.

2. Private Duty Nurse Specialist. In addition to the foregoing abilities expected to the
general nurse practitioner and as result of his/her specialized preparation, a private
duty nurse specialist also demonstrates the following competencies:

a. skill in handling, operating, and monitoring other complicated devices;

b. skill in interpreting data gathered from ECG, EEG, laboratory diagnostic results and
vital signs.
c. skill in observing signs and symptoms and their favorable or untoward significance in
the progress of patients care.
ci. d. promptness and adeptness in instituting appropriate nursing measures.
QUALIFICATIONS OF A PRIVATE DUTY PRACTITIONER

A private nurse practitioner must:

1. be a registered nurse in the Philippines;

2. have following documents for the current year:
a. Professional Tax Receipt (PTR)
b. Professional Regulation Commission Card (PRC), and
c. Residence Certificate
3. have at least two (2) years of bedside nursing experience as a professional nurse in a
general hospital immediately prior to application;
4. be acceptable to the Director of Nursing Service as suitable for orientation to do
private duty nursing;
5. be a full time private duty nurse;
6. preferably have undergone a Critical Care Nursing Course; and
7. be a certified I.V. Nurse therapist by the ANSAP ( Association of Nursing Science
Administrators of the Philippines).

REQUIREMENTS

A private nurse practitioner must required

1. to undergo orientation in the hospital as conducted by the Nursing service office;

2. to have a complete paraphernalia, e.g., blood pressure apparatus, pen light, bandage
scissors, red and blue or black pens, and clip board;
3. to wear full white nurse's uniform ( cap, stocking, closed white shoes, I.D. Pin). Uniform
blazers may be used if required by the hospital;
4. to have medical certificate form a certified medical center or laboratory with chest-x-ray
result, complete blood count, urine and stool examination;
5. to give to (2) character references;
6. to acquire, for succeeding years, certificate of three (3) seminars or continuing
education programs attended; and
7. to show certification as an I.V. Therapist by the ANSAP.

The private duty nurse is expected to follow the rules and regulations of the hospital regarding
nursing procedures, use and procurement of equipment and supplies, system of medications,
charting, diets, precaution techniques and others. As in other fields of nursing, he/she is
expected to adhere to the code of ethics and practice.
ADVANTAGES OF PRIVATE DUTY PRACTICE

Private duty practice gives the following advantages:

1. the chance to see life as it really is, to study human nature and to know at close range
interesting people of different nationalities, cultures, religion, and status;
2. the opportunity to make real friends through close association with the patient and his
family;
3. the chance to travel and see the world;
4. the ability to own time, adjust work and private life satisfactory, and direct off-duty time
into enjoyable leisure;
5. the chance to keep abreast with new knowledge and procedures with provide an
exciting, stimulating experience, with infinite variety of problems to solve and personal
satisfaction to be gleaned; and
6. the challenge of giving his/her best in providing care and having the satisfaction of
seeing its results.

DISADVANTAGES OF PRIVATE DUTY PRACTICE

1. some private duty nurses create a situation in which the patients become totally
dependent on them.
2. many private duty nurses graduated so long ago and have not upgraded their
knowledge and skills.
3. there are not enough nurses for evening and night shifts, for holiday, week-ends, and
vacation periods.
4. being alone practitioner minimizes opportunity for developing good relationships with
other hospital personnel.
5. some private duty nurses resent supervision by hospital staff.
6. little assistance is given by the Head Nurse when the patient is critically ill and the
private duty nurse needs help in giving treatment or in changing the position of the
patient. These private duty nurse sometimes goes without meals because the Head
Nurse does not arrange for relief when the patient cannot be left alone.
7. private duty nurses have very little or no participation in professional activities. If they
ever do, they do so on their own time and expense.
8. nurses who are very experienced and well-qualified receive the same fees of the new
graduates.
9. private duty nurses face problems in the private practice being independent contractors
and there is greater need for liability insurance.
10. there are no retirement, insurance and medicare benefits unless the private duty
nurses provide these themselves.