Make a Wish

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I am a pediatric home health nurse and my patient may be nominated for trip to Disney World with Make a Wish foundation. The family has asked me if I would be able to go to help with her nursing cares. How does that work, who would pay my wages or is this something that I would have to volunteer my time. I don't have vacation time to cover it and I would be working while I went.

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I'd ask your agency. My patient went on a Disney Cruise for her Make a Wish, and her old PDN went.

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

Hi,

I would be careful with this! If you volunteer or work for yourself you may not be covered for liability!

Annie

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

You also have to take into account licensing issues. Are you able to render nursing care for a the family's vacation to Florida if you are only licensed in, let's say, Georgia?

When I did adult PDN, my patient mentioned that the agency was unable to provide her RNs during her occasional travel due to licensing issues.

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Specializes in Pedi.

When I was a manager in a home health agency with a large PDN population, our nurses did accompany children on their Make-A-Wish trips. The nurses were paid for the hours they worked while there and the agency paid for their FL license or arranged something with the Florida BoN. I'm not really sure because I know, from my last job at a national home infusion company, that nurses in Florida need orders from a Florida MD to provide home nursing care. I am honestly not sure who covered the nurse's travel expenses- Make-A-Wish, the agency or the family.

All of this should be arranged through the agency that places you in this patient's home. DO NOT try to arrange this yourself with the parents. No good can come from that.

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