I sometimes don't understand how people get approved for skilled nursing care. A lot of parents seem to obtain services and think they got a free nanny. I had one client who needed someone to go to school with her just to keep herself from smacking herself in the head and to feed her and change her diapers. She easily could have done with a HHA. Plus there were 3 aides in the classroom who were there to handle those things anyway. There was only one med she took and the school nurse could have easily have given it to her. Another case, a 23 year old MR girl, the foster mother would do all the meds and start the tube feeds right there in front of me, turning down my offers to do the actual skilled nursing care, since that's why I was there. Nope, all I was there for is to play with her all day, just to entertain her with musical baby toys. Those were long days. Another client, a 12 year old MR girl, mom just needed someone to take her for a walk in her stroller and push her in her swing, but mom gives the meds. If the girl seized, mom would push me out of the way and care for her herself. I know some mothers are control freaks with care and meds, but I dislike feeling underutilized. I enjoy working w kids and don't mind doing these things, but I wish the nanny tasks were in addition to actual skilled nursing care. Straight babysitting is not what I worked so hard in school for.
