What's it like to be a private duty RN?

[nightengalegoddess]

Just....what's it like? Is it terribly boring to hang out for eight to 10 hours at someone's home ? Of course you are doing your nursing process and duties; but compared to the 12 hour shifts of an ICU.....what happens between repositioning, cleaning the patient, turning them, suctioning them, assessing and monitoring, giving meds? How close do you find you get personally to the patient and the family? Are your professional boundaries challenged? Are you able to provide the therapeutic relationship ongoing without having conflicts arise around professional boundaries?

Any information would be appreciated. Myself, worked within hospitals for my entire career most recently ICU. Know private duty is less money but not interested in money much anymore. Being able to feel calm and actually help people would be nice.

[SDALPN]

It depends on the area. There are 2 decent sized cities near me. The one city is nice, most people have good jobs and insurance. That city has more private insurance cases through the agency. The other city is really bad. That city has mostly ghetto cases and the cases are government insured so they are lower paying. You also have to worry about getting shot there.

It also depends on the state. Some states offer higher reimbursement to the agency or pay more due to cost of living.