Private Duty on my own

Sounds like an excellent way to make extra income, but remember to contact your malpractise insurance carrier to see what your coverage is as an independent practitioner. At one time, I formed a partnership with a plastic surgeon and did in-home private sitting for the first night post-op of ambulatory care surgeries such as facelifts, abdominoplasty, liposuction..etc. Because these elective surgeries are usually not covered by insurance, the patient payed for my services up-front and in cash...$250-400.00. The best thing is that these patients are usually in good health...

I knew the plastic surgeon and worked with him in the OR and PACU...it was actually his idea. We didn't use an attorney but had a verbal agreement. His office collected my fee and he used my services as an "advertised benefit". It worked out well because of mutual respect. This partnership made both our insurance carriers a little crazy at first, but eventually we worked it out with them and I payed a higher premium. I called him at home if I needed him.
Brainstorm a plan that you present to the surgeons in your area. Sell yourself to them as a benefit to their patients and an added "comfort service".
Some plastic surgeries are covered by insurance..reconstruction, Panniculectomy (sometimes), blepharoplasty, etc. Cosmetic surgery is not. Trust me, not all patients are healthy going in to the surgery. I have had to call an ambulance for the seemingly healthy also. Some problems are Anaphylaxis, hypertention, hematoma, and pulmonary emboli. It makes me wonder what would have happened if these patients had been alone. Good luck to you..most of the time I loved it..just don't bring anyone to your home, make it theirs!! *wink. let me know if I can help.

This sounds interesting. Just a few questions if you don't mind......
If the patient pays $250-$400 how much are you paid? Does the doctor pay you or did you bill the patient?
I might approach a plastic surgeon friend of mine with this idea if I could come up with a feasible approach. I would need private malpractice insurance, right? Anything else?
Thanks for your input. I love b/s nursing, but I am so tired of the politics. I am trying so hard to find a way to practice as an independent nurse. Unfortunately the skills it takes to think with a "business mind" was not encouraged in nursing school. I am always open to new ideas.

I did private duty on my own for several months several years ago. Had no trouble getting patients. Had trouble getting rid of them
Once I committed to staying with the patient (usually 8 to 12 hours at night, and sometimes in the hospital), I was committed. These patients were wealthy and could afford my $35/hr I was charging directly to the patient, who paid directly to me. My problem was that whatever came up, however I felt, whoever was coming from across the country to visit me, I had to go to my patient. There was no one sharing the business with me. No one to call and say, "My mother is here from California. I would like to be off tonight."
It did not work out for me. What HAS worked out, though, is I do private-pay home health visits. This has been very lucrative since Medicare has decreased its payment options and methods to home care agencies. If a retired doctor's wife is taking Coumadin and needs a protime (especially if she is unable to drive), I will go to her house, do a basic but thorough nursing assessment, and collect the blood. I then take the specimen to the lab (or the M.D.'s office) and send my comprehensive nurse's note to the M.D. I charge $50 per visit within the city, whether the visit takes 20 minutes or an hour. This is billed to the patient. There are days I have 12 or 13 visits, but I am not obligated to give up my life for it. I also have several friends who can pick up a day for me if I need for them to do so. I LOVE my job!:roll

I began by talking to several physician offices and leaving brochures and cards in their offices. I also talked to sitter services who sit with the elderly. I went to assisted living facilities and offered (for a small fee) to come once a week and draw everyone's blood who needed it done. Church groups... and soon I had a few calls. Several home health agencies in town had to quit seeing patients because Medicare no longer paid for it. I offered to pick up these on a private pay basis, and got a few that way. It seemed that once I had about 8 or 10, the whole thing snowballed. There was one physician office (3 MDs) who would call and say, "Mrs. Smith is having palpitations. Can you run by there and assess her?" or, "Mrs. Jones says her catheter is leaking. Can you run by there and check it out?" I would "run by" and do a brief head-to-toe, V.S., and either fix the problem or call the physician and give my report. And so forth...
Then I send an invoice to the patient, and so far (knock on wood) I have been paid in a timely manner. (Sometimes the bill goes to a child or a guardian/power of attorney). But most of these people are fairly well-to-do, and the $50 is worth it to them.
I get the supplies from the M.D.'s office, or from the lab (we have 3 large independent labs here, and I just go by and get whatever I need. I buy my own gloves and keep a box in the car all the time.

True. Or even if it prevents an ambulance bill to the doctor's office to have blood drawn or a urine specimen collected.