From office to private duty?

liznrs30, LVN · Aug 20, 2019

Im currently per diem LVN at an LTC and i am looking for a clinic/doctors office job and no luck yet bc i wanted part time but just found a private duty nurse position but in the process of getting hired from the client. Since i had experience as a CNA its just like home health, i was told by the agency that its basically you monitor the patient in their home rather than in a LTC setting the difference is, its just you and the patient or maybe a family member. I wanted to ask how did you get into working in an allergy practice? once i start the position ill give you up to date on my experience. I only did it as CNA but not as an LVN but itll be instead of 35-40 patients, ill only have 1 patient to take care of my whole shift.

NurseJessica86 · Aug 20, 2019

@Liznrs30 I live in Tennessee and allergies are awful down here! There are lots of allergy practices here, so yrs ago I was a patient care tech at an allergy office. After I got my LPN license, I applied for a different allergy practice and have worked here ever since. It's super interesting!

Maryrose, MSN, RN · Aug 27, 2019

Many years ago, I worked in home Health with vent dependent children. I even got to take them to school. It was great working closely with them and their families. I went back for my RN and worked in the hospital for years then clinic and education.

I really enjoyed all aspects of private duty, clinic nursing, education, and hospital nursing. One of the best things about nursing is that there are so many paths you can take. It’s good to learn new things and see what you like. You won’t know until you try!

Maryrose

3.24.95, LPN · Aug 27, 2019

I wish I could say something good or encouraging, but the following comes with a lot of experience and tenacious effort and desire to work things out.

If you're lazy, complacent and comfortable with parents that refuse to accept that their child is sick/needs medical attention, you'll do great.

And pray that the recruiters/schedulers aren't manipulative bullies, cuz I swear, it's becoming a job requirement. And the more kind, flexible, experienced and intelligent you are, the more you'll pay.

I've been written up for things that didn't happen. One so bizarre, I asked the office director "what inappropriate thing did I do...that she (the on-call supervisor) apologize for...?" The director said she asked the same thing.

I was written up based on 2nd and 3rd hand comments/accusations, from co-workers, that I had expressed concern about. With no input from me. The next time I saw Mom, she said "I want you to know, I didn't call the office."

I was written up for confirming the status/dates of some unlabeled trachs, with PCG.

I rearranged a few things to make them more accessible and easier to inventory, and asked Mom if she was OK with it. She said "looks great." The night nurse put everything back the way it was, and apparently mom called and c/o me rearranging things, to the point that no one could find them.

I was devastated when I overheard -- she didn't realize she hadn't hung up -- our new Nursing Supervisor mocking and ridiculing me, to her superior. I had never met either one of them.

I wish I could say I was exaggerating, but I've worked at the 3 biggest, in my area, and above is just a fraction of the insanity that is Private Duty Nursing.

Orion81RN · Sep 4, 2019

I worked Asthma, allergy, Immunology. Then did 2 years SNF before switching to private duty. I think you'll be fine. If you sign up with a good agency, you should get education on traches and vents through them. My company is awesome with trach vent education and orientation. The things you'll need to learn, you'll have plenty of time to learn bc you will only be dealing with one patient at a time. You should check out the private duty section under specialties!

liznrs30, LVN · Sep 5, 2019

Thank you for the info i'll definitely check it out.

NurseJessica86 · Sep 5, 2019

Thank you so much!