home health nurse to NICU primary pt?

[morebluetiful]

I am a NICU nurse and I have been taking care of a baby as his primary nurse for about 7 months. He will eventually be discharged with a trach/g-tube/home vent. I had heard in the past that nurses can request to be hired on by a patient's home health agency to care for that baby, and I have been thinking about doing so part time. I have heard of other NICU nurses who have done this, but I am undecided. I don't know anyone who works in home health, and honestly don't even know if this is a true option. Any help or advice would be appreciated!

Thanks!

[SDALPN]

Sounds like private duty, not home health. But you can sign on to the agency the family chooses to continue to work with the patient. If the agency hires you, you can have the family request you. Its done all the time. Make sure you haven't signed anything keeping you from working with a patient outside the hospital. Sometimes the agency will meet the pt and family at the hospital and maybe you could talk to the agency at that time. Just know that agencies are competitive and a few may stop by to influence the parents decision.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

If you are talking about private duty, yes it can be done. Families refer nurses who they want to work for them to agencies all the time. Many states also have the option to become an independent nurse through their medicaid system and then you bill medicaid/are paid directly for your services. That can be a bit of a logistical nightmare though, especially if you're new to PDN. Find out what agency the family will be using for their services and then apply to that agency/express interest in this case specifically. Happens all the time.

[caliotter3]

I know an RN who did this. She worked with the client for many years, about 12, until the parents were forced by circumstances to have the child placed. During the entire time she held both her full time NICU job as well as a full time position with this client.