Being a parent is one of the greatest gifts that life has to offer. However, when a child develops health problems and requires extra medical attention, it can be one of the most trying and emotionally excruciating times any parent could experience. Luckily, there are options available to keep the child as healthy and comfortable as possible, even in the comfort of their own home with their parents right beside them every step of the way. Pediatric Home Healthcare has been a godsend for countless numbers of families, with compassionate and competent Private Duty Nurses easing the burden and worry, and providing exceptional and trusted care in the time when it’s needed most.
It's difficult to know how to keep your children healthy when they have complex medical needs. A healthy life empowers your child to live a normal and productive life. Your pediatrician may recommend hiring pediatric home health or private duty nursing care. Harmony Home Care has you covered for those who don't know what private duty nurses do and how their care benefits children with special needs.
There are many misconceptions about pediatric home health. Understanding pediatric home care benefits can help clear up any questions or worries.
If you’re a parent looking for pediatric services for your child, or a nurse looking for a different career setting, Pediatric Private Duty might be your perfect option. Harmony’s own Pediatric Nurse Case Manager, Ginger Townsend, has a lot of helpful information to provide on the topic! Read on to learn more, and discover a list of important things to know about this exceptional home health service!
- It gives the clients and their parents or guardians the gifts of choice and freedom.
For pediatric clients and their families, there is a definite advantage to Private Duty Home Healthcare. “The client gets to remain in their home surrounded by their supportive family—an environment that provides safety and security,” Ginger says. It simply gives parents the choice to safely have their child cared for in the comfort of their own home, and it allows for a greater feeling of freedom to be experienced by all.
- Private Duty Nurses are more important than you could ever imagine.
As the nurses become comfortable and familiar in the household and with the client and family members, the typical client-nurse relationship becomes greater and more meaningful than ever expected! “The continuity of the nursing staff fosters a trusting relationship between the parents and child with the nurse,” Ginger explains, “the relationship builds over time and the nurse becomes similar to a trusted member of their extended family.” Simply put, it’s medical care that feels like family.
Also, these Private Duty Nurses play a vital role in this at-home setting, and their skills, expertise, and professional platform are of the utmost importance to the well-being of the client. “A private duty nurse must be able to work autonomously and have excellent communication skills to advocate for their clients and families,” Ginger says. “Oftentimes they are the first to discover a change in condition, they identify care gaps for both the client and family, and they facilitate the client and family through the striations of care.”
- Nobody understands the clients more than their own parents.
Something very important that every Private Duty Nurse learns is that nobody understands the clients more than their own parents or guardians. It’s vital for the nurses and parents to work together positively and always be open with communication, because, above all, the main focus is the same—the well-being of the child. “As nurses we are assigned shifts, and then we get to go home, but for the parents this is their life, and a huge sacrifice for every member of the family,” Ginger says. “We need to remember that having a special needs child is a twenty-four hour a day responsibility and we are guests in their home.”
- Every client will leave an imprint, never to be forgotten.
While every nursing job can leave a lasting impact on the nurse, the close bond that a private duty nurse makes with their clients will leave a lasting imprint, as Ginger puts it, both personally and professionally. “Every client, whether an adult or a child, leaves an imprint both personally and professionally because of the commitment and the investment into improving their quality of life,” Ginger says. “Every experience shapes you for the next, and lessons are learned each and every day through our experiences and relationships.”
- The connections that are made will last a lifetime.
As the bond between the nurses, clients, and family strengthens and grows, it inevitably creates a lasting connection. The nurses have taken care of the most valuable treasure these parents have, and they’ve done so right in the place that means the most to them—home. “The connections that are made between clients and family are long term and can last a lifetime,” Ginger reflects. As previously stated, it’s care that feels like family, and it’s like none other.
- Home care provides an optimized quality of life.
If your pediatrician has recommended private duty nursing care, it is likely because your child has complex medical conditions and will need prolonged medical care. Private duty nursing will offer support that ensures your child's medical needs are met while improving their quality of life. Your child will have assistance with equipment and personal care and managing medications with private duty nursing.
Your child will feel more confident in maintaining their independence and enjoy going to school with friends while independently interacting with their family. It is crucial for them to feel empowered just as their peers do.
Children who have complex medical needs might spend a significant amount of time at their doctor's office, which might not be an ideal way for your child to spend time as they develop and grow. With private duty nursing, your child can have treatment in the comfort of your home with a nurse's assistance. As a result, you spend less time planning your child's medical appointments, and fewer trips are made to medical facilities. Your child spends more time enjoying their life without the strain that a medical condition might put on them.
- Clients have personalized care planning.
Your child's individual needs will change as they grow and their health condition stabilizes, improves, or declines. Pediatric private duty nurses work with your family and medical provider to ensure that your child's experience is positive and beneficial. Creating a personalized plan of care is built around your child's challenges and goals, your family's needs, and what their pediatrician recommends. As your child's needs change, the plan is evaluated and updated to ensure that we always provide the most beneficial care experience.
A registered nurse (RN) with extensive pediatric experience will meet your child's needs with at-home health care. The specifics can only be outlined once your child is assessed. A nurse case manager often connects with your pediatrician to understand your family's needs.
- Private duty nurses reduce the need for hospitalization.
Many families find it stressful and struggling to see their child in and out of hospitals as their medical condition stabilizes. Your child might spend weeks at a time away from their friends and the things they love. Parents might have to take time off work to drive to a hospital that is miles away from their homes. They might spend multiple nights at a hospital and incur extra travel, meals, and lodging costs. These emotional and financial costs might be overbearing on the entire family.
Private duty nursing services can stabilize medical conditions. These services mean fewer hospital visits and more time with your child's family, friends, and school activities. If your child has a complication that requires a higher level of medical care, your nurse can notice early signs of symptoms and communicate concerns with your pediatrician. Nurses can monitor vitals and give an emergency team valuable information to make your child's potential treatments faster and more effective.
- Become an advocate for children with complex medical needs.
Pediatric private duty nurses' goal is to work with families and promote the best opportunity for enhanced outcomes for the children they serve. An essential aspect of this effort is advocacy.
Advocacy might include sharing information to help your children's school develop an effective educational plan. Private duty nurses can ensure that communication with a pediatrician is clear and concise. Contact community partners to find the right support, equipment, and services your child needs.
Pediatric private duty nurses use their exceptional and professional skills to identify care gaps and facilitate beneficial changes. Private duty nurses' professional expertise helps parents feel calm, confident, and supported as they navigate an unfamiliar situation. Harmony Home Care can work with you to find the right path towards ensuring your child is provided with every opportunity for success.
- Private nurses benefit the entire family.
It's essential to consider the benefits that services offer your entire family when understanding how pediatric private duty nursing works. Parents spend less time driving to and from doctor's appointments or the hospitals as many treatments, and lab tests can be taken care of at home. Nurses also provide assistance and support that empowers you to feel confident and comfortable managing your child's medical needs. Private duty nursing makes it easier for you to leave work knowing that a professional can provide outstanding care for your child. Private nursing benefits your family's budget, helping prevent your financial future from spinning into turmoil.
Your child's siblings may also appreciate the support of a private duty nurse. Professional home care makes it possible for parents to spend an equal amount of time focusing their needs on others in the family that need attention. Children experience less fear and uncertainty knowing that their sibling is receiving proper care, their medical condition is stable and receiving a higher quality of life. Private duty nursing improves the overall family dynamic.
Your family will develop a special bond with your child's nurse as time passes. Families typically view these connections as a unique treasure. Private duty nurses never replace your role as parents, but they provide additional support for your child. These connections are known to last a lifetime.
Pediatric private duty nursing can genuinely help your child remain safer and enjoy a higher quality of life in the comfort of your own home. A private duty nurse will provide a helping hand with essential medical companionship. Your child and your family can feel more confident and empowered as you help your child live a happy life.
Harmony Home Care provides exceptional private duty nursing care service for pediatric patients. Contact us if you're interested in exploring at-home nursing pediatric healthcare services. Together, we can find the best care plan for your family.
Pediatric Private Duty Nursing
Does Pediatric Home Healthcare sound like the best option for your child? Does a career in Pediatric Private Duty Nursing sound like the career opportunity of a lifetime? Contact us to learn more.
Harmony is founded with a single focus in mind: providing compassionate home care and home healthcare to the residents of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Our trustworthy caregivers are ready to lend a helping hand to your mother, father, children, and loved ones in Westmoreland County, Somerset County, Cambria County, and many more locations throughout the region. Contact us and one of our patient advocates will be happy to discuss how Harmony's programs can help your family today.
For more of the latest updates, be sure to follow us on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homewithharmony
Twitter: https://twitter.com/homewithharmony
Author: Michelle Adams