bethm7

I have 13 years experience as a NICU/PICU nurse. I most recently have been working per diem in the hospital and was thinking about supplementing with home care. I have hesitated bc I have not heard great things about the companies in my area (MA). Recently my name was brought up to a former family in our NICU who is looking for private duty home care nurses as they have been also unhappy with the agencies and nurses they are using. I have been doing lots of research but still am a bit lost as where to begin so I cover both myself and the family legally and financially. I would like to establish myself as an independant private duty nurse. I do not need health insurance or benefits. I have seen that the important steps are.. -establish a contract with the family ( i actually believe the mother is a lawyer) -obtain a tax ID -cover myself with malpractice insurance -obtain a NPI -obtain a medicare provider # Can anyone elaborate more on the above steps and what else I need to be thinking of? I have several questions... - Is this even worth it? Is it feasible legally or a big headache? - Can the family pay out of pocket and I still be covered as a RN if I do the above steps? The nurse who talked to them about me made it seem as though they just wanted to avoid agencies and pay privately. Anything else i need to cover myself if this is the case? - If they want to try to use their private insurance, can I bill with all private health insurances? Or only with medicare/medical? - Does anyone know of any good resourses for me to get started.... I will be working in Massachusetts Any tips, thoughts or advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

@jib1985: No I was just thinking of relocating. My husband was being recruited to ATL but think we may turn it down. I filled out an application on a weekend and the NICU recruiter called me on Monday! She said they were very interested. But I just asked her questions and told her we weren't sure if we were even moving so I would get back to her if interested. I do have 12 years of Level 3 NICU experience so i think that helped.

Good answer by Rockabye. Biggest thing, if you are not already in nursing school try to go to a nursing school that does internships/externships with local hospitals with NICU's. If not definately try to get a job as an aide, secretary or any position in the local NICU you want to work. If you are a good employee most units like to hire from within. I am of no other help. I got in as a new grad 12 years ago after working as an intern/co-op student at Boston childrens.

We do breastmilk labels and do double check with 2 RN's.

I just spoke witha recruiter at CHOA and she quoted around $3.25/hr for weeknight and $6.50 for weekend night. Hope that helps. That was for NICU. No idea other hospitals or units.

I am a experienced Level 3 NICU nurse. I have almost 12 years exp. Originally from Boston area... worked at Childrens Boston. Have lived in Cali for past 8 years, was a travel nurse then been staff at a large 84 bed NICU at a Childrens Hospital. My husband and I are thinking of relocating to Atlanta for his job and therefore I will be looking for a job also. I really like taking care of very high acuity but also attend deliveries, stabilize without a neo present and place umbilical lines. I dislike chronic feed growers but understand that is part of nicu. I really like complex hearts, surgical kids and micropreemies that are very sick. I have done charge and precepted. I am looking for not only the NICU that meets what I want clinically but socially too. I am 34, married with a 3 year old. We socialize frequently with my coworker and their families. I want a unit that has that same feel. Younger nurses that enjoy working with each other. Anyone who work at these NICU's or even these hospitals I would LOVE their input... esp regarding payscale, benefits, scheduling, flexibility with scheduling, how the managers are, childcare, how new the units are? My hospital is only 15 years old and has very nice technology. We will probably live in the North atlanta area- likely Buckhead or Brookhaven.