Would nurses be interested in this business idea?

Published

  1. Would you use the service?

    • 2
      Yes
    • 9
      No
    • 3
      Depends (feel free to leave a comment)

14 members have participated

I'm in an MBA program and a group of us came up with this idea to build a website that helps nurses who want a few extra hours meet senior citizens who need care. Do you think something like that would interest you? We're open to suggestions!

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How is that different from a home care agency?

I'd be worried about more informal care agreements for liability reasons. Also nursing processes usually take more than a few hours, with no goal in mind. Are you sure you aren't talking about nonskilled caretaking?

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I would say nurses, no. But CNAs and non-clinical caregivers might.

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Specializes in Home Health, PDN, LTC, subacute.

My experience is people want a "nurse" for their relative but what they need (unskilled tasks) and are willing to pay for ($10/hr) is a home health aide.

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My experience is people want a "nurse" for their relative but what they need (unskilled tasks) and are willing to pay for ($10/hr) is a home health aide.

Yes, how would the website and the RNs make enough money for it to be worthwhile?

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Specializes in Oncology.

I would have to be making $100 to make it with leaving my house on a day off

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As someone else commented, most families love the idea of a "nurse" caring for their loved one, but can't afford to. I think this is more targeted for CNA's or Home Health Caregiver (someone to help with showers, light housework, cooking, and spending time with their loved one).

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Do you think something like that would interest you? We're open to suggestions!

1. No

2. My MBA-related suggestions specifically don't involve nurses. In fact, that is the suggestion. Can't you all pick on lawyers for awhile or something? :sneaky:

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Even if you are talking about unskilled help, doesn't this already exist? It's called care.com. Most people know this website as a babysitting matchmaker but it has a section for "senior care."

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I'm in an MBA program and a group of us came up with this idea to build a website that helps nurses who want a few extra hours meet senior citizens who need care. Do you think something like that would interest you? We're open to suggestions!

If I want a few extra hours, it's super easy for me to get time and a half from my regular employer. I just stay over a few hours or come in a few hours early ...or volunteer to work a partial shift on an "off" day when they could use extra help.

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Clients who can afford to pay for RN care at home, or to be more specific, care at home performed by someone with an RN license, usually have no problem finding willing employees through word of mouth, from an agency employer, or by placing an ad. And finding the willing employee is probably a task that would fall to their household manager.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

If the senior in question needs skilled home care, they would be admitted through an established agency and be assigned a nurse. That nurse would then assess them and develop their plan of care, and carry out that plan of care.

Care that requires a licensed nurse is NOT care that can be assumed on an hourly basis with an unknown client.

If you are talking about unskilled care like showering or a.m./bedtime care which a CNA/home health aide can give -- that's not going to be financially worthwhile for a licensed nurse to make a special trip for. I mean I make $44 per hour; I would require an even higher net pay to work on my day off. Would you be able to charge clients enough for the service to pay what I as an RN would require, AND keep you all in the black? We can generally pick up hours through our employer, or take a 2nd "prn"/"per diem" job where we can pick up when we want to.

Also a previous poster mentioned liability. As professionals who can be sued for malpractice --

and who require a license in good standing to work -- this type of work could be very risky. I would NEVER touch a wound or provide education or do assessments and make recommendations on a client with whom I have no professional relationship -- and whose history and records I am not privy to. Never.

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