Are private duty nurses, independent contractors, or self-employed?

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Are private duty nurses the same as independent contractors? Or are they just self-employed?

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Specializes in med-surg, teaching, cardiac, priv. duty.
Are private duty nurses the same as independent contractors? Or are they just self-employed?

I suppose a nurse "independent contractor" could be doing a wide variety of things and not just private duty.

I do private duty but through an agency. So, I am not self-employed nor am I an independent contractor. I prefer to do private duty through an agency. I like how the agency is the liaison and deals with all the logistics, paperwork, taxes, insurance, etc. I wouldn't want the hassle of being on my own.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Private Duty Peds.
i suppose a nurse "independent contractor" could be doing a wide variety of things and not just private duty.

i do private duty but through an agency. so, i am not self-employed nor am i an independent contractor. i prefer to do private duty through an agency. i like how the agency is the liaison and deals with all the logistics, paperwork, taxes, insurance, etc. i wouldn't want the hassle of being on my own.

the same here, i do private duty but through an angency also, this way i don't have to worry with all the non nursing paperwork.

just makes life easier that way, at least for me .

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I'm the clinical director of nursing for an agency that contracts with nurses to perform private duty. We consider the nurses who contract with us as independent contractors. We also consider them to be self employed. The nurses decide when they want to work. They are responsible for all nursing supplies such as blood pressure cuffs, gloves, and writing utensils. Most of our independent contracting nurses are LPN's. Under their scope of practice, they have to work under the direction of either a MD, dentist, or RN. We do not put any nurse under contract, it's per diem per shift. These nurses are considered both independent contractors and self employed.

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Hmm. This is an excellent question. The best place to get an answer is through the labor board. If your were working as nurse, finding your own clients, setting your own fees and getting paid directly by the clients then you would clearly be an independent contractor. But if you are working though an agency that finds the clients, sets the fees and Does have a schedule for you and you are putting in full time hours for them. Think about it most agencies have shift work available meaning you have to work 12 hour shifts or 8 hour shifts or hours that the Client decides they want a nurse to be there. Doesnt sound like a nurse controlling their own hours to me. And the pay is set. You get paid whatever the agency tells you you will get paid, you have no control over it. And if you dont work the hours and days they need you to work the agency usually wont offer you any work and give the job to someone else. I know some agencies give nurses their entire salary and expect them to pay their own taxes out of it. Even so doesnt mean you are not their employee. A lot of agencies wind up getting into trouble with the state workers comp, unemployment insurance benefits, over stuff like this.

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Can I work for myself as an independent LPN private duty in Massachusetts, does anyone know what is required before I take on a position?

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Can I work for myself as an independent LPN private duty in Massachusetts, does anyone know what is required before I take on a position?

Work out the agreement between yourself and the client. Put the contract in writing. Make certain that you are making your tax payments correctly, and then you are good to go. If you want to receive payment from a federal source such as medicare, you have to get the appropriate independent provider numbers from them. Do a search here to find several threads and posts that discuss the process. And do not forget your and health insurance. All of these necessities come out of your pocket as usual, if not paid by an employer.

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what type of professional insurance does one use in private duty nursing?

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Specializes in private-duty, hospital, LTC, clinic.

NSO has a policy for the self-employed nurse, full-time status cost

me $ 345.00 annually.

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Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.
Work out the agreement between yourself and the client. Put the contract in writing. Make certain that you are making your tax payments correctly, and then you are good to go. If you want to receive payment from a federal source such as medicare, you have to get the appropriate independent provider numbers from them. Do a search here to find several threads and posts that discuss the process. And do not forget your malpractice insurance and health insurance. All of these necessities come out of your pocket as usual, if not paid by an employer.

AN RN or LPN can bill federal sources like medicare and medicaid? Wow. I didn't know that.

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AN RN or LPN can bill federal sources like medicare and medicaid? Wow. I didn't know that.

Yes. You have to get an independent provider number. The process has been discussed on the site, you can find threads about it. Once you have obtained your provider number, you can bill these reimbursement sources directly for your services. This is not an avenue that I have pursued at this time. I find it easier just to be an employee of an agency. My private duty case treated me as an employee. The client had their CPA do our paychecks taking out the taxes and such for us. That was plenty fine by me at the time.

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I am an independent provider in Ohio. I have been self employed for 6 years now. I am currently planning on moving to Michigan, does anyone here know what the requirements are to be a home health nurse independently employed in the state of Michigan? There medicaid website is terribly confusing!!!!

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