Private Duty LVN/RN Salary

I've been doing private duty over 4 years now. Have worked at 2 agencies. And I have been making the EXACT same pay rate the entire time! Not even a .25 cent raise...in over years! I talked to the owner at the one agency, and the director of the other agency about getting just a small raise. The owner told me I was already at the max pay rate for medicaid cases. Most cases are medicaid. She said the only way for a raise was if medicaid increased the reimbursement rates. The director at the place I work now gave me a rather annoying "circular speech" - said a lot, but basically said nothing. He also insinuated that nurses make too much money already and we expect too much. Grrrr...How he said it was indirect...but it irritated me. C'mon, I don't know any job where you don't at least get a small raise periodically!! I know this is private duty - my pay expectations are low, but after 4 years I should at least have gotten maybe three or four .25 cent raises! The cost of living has gone up after all.

I've encountered the same thing with my multiple hh employers over the years. I get a load of bs when I ask why another nurse on the same case is being paid $4 an hour more than me. You know there is no satisfactory answer to that question. And when you consider that she was being paid that $4 an hour more so she could leave the client's house hours early and get paid for not even being there, it makes less sense! One hh agency paid well to begin with, in line with an appropriate hh wage, and gave pay raises on a regular basis. It was the agency that had a union in place. Funny that when there is a union, nobody gives you the crap about not getting reimbursed for your pay. The money comes from somewhere. I never realized how good things were when I was working for that unionized home health agency.

Wow, to the ones who went straight to private duty upon graduating, I pretty much did the same thing (although I know it isn't highly recommended). But, I too, was discourage during nursing school, not sure I could see myself making a career of it. Then I "stumbled" upon private duty nursing through an agency, and it's been so far so good. I have no desire to work in a hospital setting or long term care (although I know my skills will "suffer" because of this). I plan on going for my ADN while I'm doing private duty nursing. I too, like the one on one care that you are providing for your patient....it's very rewarding! No, the pay isn't the greatest, but I know I won't be in this position forever, and I want to get my RN. Most of the cases I've worked have been with students in their school setting, so I get school vacations/holidays off, which I love. I have also looked into teaching CNA courses, which I might be able to do on the side. I'm very interested in that....both of these jobs seem to suit my "INFP" personality..haha. Anyways, just thought I'd add my 2 cents

I'm a new grad in Southern CA and I make $19 an hour, no benefits whatsoever. Better than nothing though.

I've been in home care since I graduated from school. I've made b/w $18-$24 an hour even now on 1099.Honestly I feel stupid not knowing the difference in "private duty" and "home care or home health " nursing? In the begining I used to say I'm a private duty nurse, I was quickly corrected. When I say I'm a HH nurse...where I work with 1 pt only, I get told I'm a private duty nurse. Oh well, I've hopped around different agenicies over the years, just to find full time, right pay, right family. Now have been with this family for 2+ years and somewhat bored of it, so I'm in school again.

All home care delivered in the home setting is home health. Private duty, strictly speaking, is paid for by the client. You are an employee of the client, not of an agency. Many insist that shift work, or continuous care, is called "private duty". I was not taught that in school and most of my employers use the terms shift work or continuous care. I prefer to call employment paid for by the client, true "private duty", because that makes sense. The client hires you "privately" and pays you "privately". He does not rely on a third party to deal with you. No matter what you call it it is still the best kept secret in nursing.