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PCA nurses are qualified nurses who can handle situations mainly related to elderly people. They are not there only to fulfill a persons physical needs, but also emotional needs by being a friend or a companion. They can assist the elderly or the disabled in many things such as bathing, eating, walk, changing their clothes, running errands for them, spending time with them etc.
PCA nurses can be hired for a full day or on an hourly basis. The average amount they charge for an hour is $12, however it may be lower or higher based on individual nurses and the tasks required.
If you happen to have old people at your home or a loved one who is sick or injured then hiring a PCA nurse is a good choice as they can take very good care of such people. However, there are some factors involved that you need to know before hiring them. Lets have a look:
What Are Your Needs?
First of all, you need to make a list of all the things that you want the nurse to do. Does it include running errands for your old parents? Do you want the nurse to spend time with them and make them feel comfortable? You will be able to find the right nurse once you know exactly what you want the nurse to do. This is important also because the amount of money you pay also largely depends on the tasks the nurse if required to perform.
Nursing Agency Vs Local PCA Nurse
It all depends on your needs and budget. If you have a sound job and can afford a little extra then by all means contact a nursing agency because they can provide nurses who are experienced, qualified and know their jobs well. When you contact a nursing agency, they will ask you about your needs. Which includes:
How experienced do you want the nurse to be?
For how much time do you want to hire her?
Do you want to hire a nurse on hourly basis?
The more experienced the nurse is, the higher you will have to pay for her. An experienced nurse is good at almost everything.
They assist the older people in doing some of the most basic exercises which is good for them and also act as a friendly person so that they do not feel lonely in their house.
They do cost a lot because they are trained under doctors and in the hospitals. The benefit in hiring a nurse from an agency is that you can request a replacement if things dont work out with the current one.
On the other hand, there is the possibility to hire a local PCA nurse. They charge less compared to an agencys nurse. However, now there are agencies that provide PCA nurses, and if you hire such an agency then you will be in safe hands.
Budget
It all comes to what you can afford. If you are looking to hire a nurse for a long period of time then the wise choice would be to test her for a week. See if he/she can influence the elderly people or the person for whom they are hired for. Observe how their behavior is, and if they are ideal for the job? If all looks good, you can finalize the deal or move to other options. This would also help you understand if you need to pay more. The lowest is around $9 while the highest can be above $50 per hour.
Write Down Your Expectations In The Contract To Avoid Problems
Mention all the tasks in detail that you want the nurse to perform once you hire them. Let them know at the start what youre expecting from them. Mention the hourly rates youd be paying and also mention about bonuses and increments before hiring them. Everything must be in writing so that there is no confusion.
Interview Them
You will get a chance to speak to potential candidates and judge their skills. Prepare a set of questions regarding their skills and abilities and judge how passionate they are about what they do.
They must be friendly, compassionate and love their job, otherwise they will not be able to take care of the elderly in your home.
