PRIVATE DUTY NURSING

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 nurse has the
capabilities for providing basic nursing care to any type of patient,
among which are:

a. Assessment of the physical conditions and interpretation of the

significance of his/her findings as basis for planning the nursing care;
b. Identification of emotional and social factors and relating these signs
and symptoms observed;
c. Application of scientific principles in the performance of nursing
techniques;
d. Working with patient’s family so that they gain understanding of
his/her illness and cooperate towards promoting early recovery of
the patient;
e. Utilization of laboratory and diagnostic tests in promoting progress of
care and enhancing his/her own usefulness as a health teacher and
counselor
f. Knowledge and recognition of pharmacological effects of drugs and
medications, their implications for nursing actions as needed; and
g. Interpretation of doctor’s orders concerning medicines and
treatments and communicating the same cause and effects
 2. Private Duty Nurse Specialist. In addition to the foregoing abilities
expected of the general nurse practitioner and as a result of his/her
specialized preparation, a private duty nurse specialist also
demonstrates the following competencies:

a. Skills in handling, operating, and monitoring other complicated Skill

in interpreting data gathered from ECG,EEG, laboratory diagnostic results
and vital signs;
b. Skill in observing sign and symptom and as and their favorable or
untoward significance in the progress of patient care; and
c. Promptness and adeptness in instituting appropriate nursing
measures.

Qualifications Of A Private Duty Nurse

A private nurse practitioner must:

1. Be a registered nurse in the Philippines

2. Have the 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 be a
certified I.V. Nurse therapist by the ANSAP (Association of Nursing Science
Administrators of the Philippines).
Requirements
A private nurse practitioner is required

1. To undergo orientation in the hospital as conducted by the Nursing Service

office
2. To have the 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, stockings, closed white shoes, I.D.
Pin). Uniform blazers may be used if required by the hospital;
4. To have medical certificate from a certified medical center or laboratory
with chest-x-ray result, complete blood count, urine and stool examination;
5. To give two (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.

General Guidelines
1. Although a private duty nurse is considered an independent contractor,
she/he is directly under the supervision of the nursing service in the
hospital, or of the Head Nurse in the unit. She/he is expected to make a
comprehensive verbal report to the Chief Nurse or Supervisor when they
visit the patient and submit a written report to the Head Nurse at the close
of the shift. If relief is needed during meals or in time of other necessities,
the Head Nurse should be notified so that a reliever can be provided.

2. The private duty nurse is responsible of patient. Nursing care encompasses

the patient’s welfare physically, mentally and spiritually. The nurse is
equally responsible for maintaining a safe, sanitary, and healthful
 environment for the patient, and for the care of equipment used and other
facilities provided in the room.

3. The private duty nurse shall endeavor to give complete nursing care before
going off-duty.

4. While the private duty nurse on house case is directly responsible to the
attending physician of the patient, a regular monthly service audit shall be
given to the Director of Nursing Service who referred her/him for
employment.

Policies and Guidelines for Nurses Accompanying

Patients out of the Country
1. Passport and other travel papers. All expenses for fees and processing of
visa and travel papers are paid by the patient or his/her representative.

a. Passport, paid round trip ticket, and other papers should be in the
possession of the private duty nurse at all time.
b. A travel and accidental insurance in the amount of P50,000.00 shall
be provided and paid for by the patient or his representative
effective 72 hour before departure and throughout the period of stay
abroad while in the employment of the patient.
c. The corresponding amount of salary computed at eight[8] hours
multiplied by two [2] the number of days the patient plans to be out
of the country shall be left in the Philippines for ready withdrawal by
the private duty nurse’s authorized representative on designated
dates per agreement of parties concerned.
d. A daily travel allowance in addition to the Private Duty Nurse’s
regular salary while out of the country is negotiable with the
employer.
e. The female private duty nurse who is caring for a male patient must
be provided a separate room for rest periods
 f. All, hotel, lodging and food expenses while out of town or out of the
country shall be paid for by the employer.

2. The private duty nurse is required to:

a. Leave with the Private Duty Nurses’ Association in the Philippines
her/his possible address of destination and tentative duration of
duty;
b. Report presence to the nearest nursing organization in the area; and
c. Report to the Philippine Nurses Association his/her arrival in the
country.

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 trough close association wiyh the
patient and his famifly;
3. The chance to travel and see the world;
4. The ability to own time, adjust work and private life satisfactorily, and
direct off-duty time into enjoyable leisure;
5. The chance to keep abreast with new knowledge and procedures which
provide an exciting, stimulating experience, with the infinite variety of
problems to solve and personal satisfaction to be gleaned; and
6. The challenge of his/hr best in providing care and having the satisfaction of
seeing its results.
Disadvantages of Private Duty Practice
Some private duty nurses create a situation in which the patients become
totally dependent on them.

1. Many private duty nurses graduated so long ago and have not upgraded
their knowledge and skills.
2. There are not enough nurses for evening and night shifts, for holiday, week-
ends, and vacation periods.
3. Being a lone practitioner minimizes opportunities for developing good
relationship with other personnel.
4. Some private duty nurses resent supervision by hospital staff.
5. Little assistance 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. The private duty nurse sometimes goes without
meals because the Head Nurse does not arrange for relief when the patient
cannot be felt alone.
6. 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.
7. Nurses who are very experienced and well-qualified receive the same fees
as the new graduates.
8. Private duty nurses face problems in private practice being independent
contractors and there is greater need for liability insurance.
9. There are no retirement, insurance and medicare benefits unless the
private duty nurses provide these for themselves.