Please explain why a nurse is needed...

Specialties Private Duty

Published

I just returned from orienting on a new case. It's a Medicaid paid case with 24 hour nursing care. Mom does not work, is a fully competent caregiver and there are no other children in the home. The child is under 5 with a gtube. No other issues. She is mobile, mentally with it.

While I don't mind being paid for working the case, for the life of me I cannot understand why MY tax dollars are being spent like this.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Are you sure there isn't CPS involvement? Are you sure parent is competent? Or perhaps "disabled"?

Usually 24hr care is reserved for new trach/vent or major status change such as post-op major surgery (neuro, cardiac, ortho, pulmonary) or injury (had a patient get double baseline hours (8hr) s/p femur fracture not suitable/pt not suitable for surgical repair so pt got 16h/d until fracture stabilized and able to return to school.) Incompetent caregiver in my state Medicaid goes for school plus medical daycare or inpatient LTC if not medical Foster care Max hours is usually 16/day including school hours.

This seems bizarre. Not even new onset seizures or post hospital?

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Nothing. At. All. The care plan states both parents are competent caregivers. Mom is in better shape than me...in fact she just returned from a run. She's educated and used to work full time at a bank until the "baby" came. The other nurse can't figure it out either...case manager said they're the perfect family to deal with. No CPS as far as I can tell. No new health problems. No recent hospitalizations/injuries. I'm puzzled.

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The diagnosis sheet only listed some sort of GI issue. ..will reread it when I go back...maybe there was another abbreviation I missed.

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

Hey, enjoy it while you can. I, too, am perplexed by who get approved and who does not. Speaking of tax dollars, one of my cts' parents works for a notorious major box chain store that doesn't pay workers enough to afford the company's own health care, so they have no choice but to get assistance. I just love my tax dollars subsidizing big business' profits.

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I have a similar case, child only gets nebs. However, the mother has a disability, and I didn't know at first that the parent's status, rather than the child's, can be what qualifies them for care.

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I have a case sort of like that. Gtube only. Mom home all day does not work. Kid in school all day but needs 57hours of care each week night. Good for me but hmm. The school wants to discharge the day nurse because they say they don't need her. They have nurses and to have one dedicated to one patient is a waste. According to the teachers. Dad works parttime and is trying get disability.

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And for quite some time now, I've seen cases where 24 hour care seems to be justified, yet no more than eight hours a day, for five days a week, is all that is approved. Cost cutting for most, gravy train for a few. Just enjoy the break and be looking for another case. Someone may decide to change the parameters of this case in the future.

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How better can your taxes be spent than to provide you a job? I'm confused.

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How better can your taxes be spent than to provide you a job? I'm confused.

I would prefer my tax dollars be spent providing care for someone who really needs it. I have come across many patients who barely get enough nursing hours approved or can't get their meds, etc.

According to your profile, you're a prenursing student with no experience...yet you call yourself an LPN. Become a nurse and work a while...you'll see how poorly tax payers money is spent.

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Enjoy the pay while you can!

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

I would prefer my tax dollars be spent providing care for someone who really needs it. I have come across many patients who barely get enough nursing hours approved or can't get their meds, etc.

According to your profile, you're a prenursing student with no experience...yet you call yourself an LPN. Become a nurse and work a while...you'll see how poorly tax payers money is spent.

Same thing w SSI Disability benefits... My husband has severe rheumatoid arthritis and is turned down for benefits, and suffers every day at work, while others spend their "disabled" lives playing golf and actively enjoying their lazy lives. No rhyme or reason as to who gets what.

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