Need your help please

teysmith · Mar 13, 2009

sounds like a good opportunity, but I'm dont really know anything about this. If this happened to me I would be in your same position with the same questions..sorry, but good luck!

Ninja Nurse, ASN · Mar 14, 2009

Any thoughts would be nice.....................

pagandeva2000, LPN · Mar 14, 2009

I would probably charge $10 an hour. That's what I used to charge for private cases when I was an aide. It was a unique situation for me at that time because I was sent from an agency to work as a home health aide and their insurance only covered them for 5 hours three days a week. They wanted someone for additional time and this is what I charged. The patient died while I was there and two weeks later, they referred me to another family member that was in my neighborhood and that was what I charged them as well.

I do believe that there is an insurance policy for CNAs, and if so, ask them what the liabilities are...that is all I can think of at the moment. It does sound like good experience, it can be listed as experience and I would certainly ask for a reference letter at a later date.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Mar 14, 2009

sounds easy. It's not illegal if you work as a "caregiver" and not a CNA.

I did the same thing before I decided to even take the CNA class. I cared for a lady with Alzheimer's. She took 15 pills in the morning and 10 at night. I had to get her up in the morning, cook a special diet for her, give her breathing treatments, toilet her, bathe her, everything. Eventually when she was dying I had to feed her, turn her q2h, give her morphine, etc.

I learned so much I had no problem using it as experience when applying for a real CNA job and I used her family members as references.

They paid me $10/hr

BEDPAN76 · Mar 14, 2009

Hi! First, have a good talk with your friend and find out EXACTLY what is expected of you. If the mother is at her home, it should be OK. Make sure you have your friend's phone number and the mother's doctor's phone number. Hopefully she sleeps at night and you will mainly make sure to help her if she gets up. Are there meds to be given? vital signs? breakfast? Is she diabetic? As far as money... ask your friend what they can pay. Then ask yourself if this friend would do the same if it were YOUR mom. Also, as far as insurance....It never hurts. Check out NSO.COM to find yearly rate for CNA. Let us know what you decide, and how it turns out! :nurse:

Ninja Nurse, ASN · Mar 14, 2009

sounds easy. It's not illegal if you work as a "caregiver" and not a CNA.
I did the same thing before I decided to even take the CNA class. I cared for a lady with Alzheimer's. She took 15 pills in the morning and 10 at night. I had to get her up in the morning, cook a special diet for her, give her breathing treatments, toilet her, bathe her, everything. Eventually when she was dying I had to feed her, turn her q2h, give her morphine, etc.
I learned so much I had no problem using it as experience when applying for a real CNA job and I used her family members as references.
They paid me $10/hr

Wow......that's alot of responsilbilty for $10 an hour. I would only be toileting, assisting out of chair/bed, maybe a few baths a week, and some tidying up. But it would be for 45 hours a week from 6p-3a M-F. He mentioned $300 a week, but was still negotiable. I think that's too low. I mean I would be there for 9 hrs every night. But I wouldn't be doing all that much. I dunno, that's why I'm asking you guys :wink2:

Ninja Nurse, ASN · Mar 15, 2009

I'm still not sure about this case. I would rather charge 400/week. I also think I should have the clients expectations in writing. Is that a valid request?

CandAmommy · Mar 15, 2009

I think having what they expect of you in writing is ideal and what everyone should have so there are not any problems. If you feel that is what you should get paid, than discuss it. I'm sure you can agree on it as long as you are some what flexible and aren't sounding like you just are doing it for the money so to speak.

teysmith · Mar 15, 2009

I still think its a really good opportunity. you shouldnt charge too much. I dont know where you live, but I think 300 dollars a week is pretty good. The work May not be too bad. But anyway, Do what you feel is best! good luck to you! If you get the job, keep us posted. I would like to know how it goes. It may be something I would like to do myself.

Equinox_93 · Mar 15, 2009

Personally? I'd be very wary and I'm not sure I'd even do it in the first place... I'd have to sit down with a lawyer and discuss liability issues. YES I would have an insurance policy and NO I would not even consider doing a job like this without one.

Also- I'd be VERY careful about documentation, and be VERY aware of your scope of practice and DO NOT exceed it- even though this person is a friend. The "just this once" can turn into a lawsuit if something happens.

The liability concern is just huge in a case like this I think... So just be aware and cover your hind end.

BuddahNature · Mar 15, 2009

My honest opinion is, it is a bad idea all the way around,because mixing friendship with business can result in unpleasent outcomes, :cry: which can result in your friendship going down hill. if you want to help, pitch in ,and lend a hand from time to time, and maintain your role as a supportive helpful friend. A friend/ employee, is just too conflicting. I have a handful of times helped my close friends and family members out, but I never worked for any of them, so always maintained control over what I did and when I could come to do it. By keeping things that way,I always came out in the end smelling like a rose, :saint: by not being viewed as an employee. I prefer to remain on the sidelines :coollook:while hearing the moans and groans :crying2:about other nurses,home health aides, who had not met up to friend's exspectations. Once money crosses hands it is a totally different ballgame,:banghead:and in a situation like that friends often feel you should go the extra mile,and further base wanting to pay you cheaper rates, just because you are friends. I would think this one over carefully.