---
title: "What Is Private duty nursing? Home Care Glossary | HomeCare.com"
description: "Private duty nursing is one-on-one nursing care at home or another setting, delivered by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. It is often longer..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/private-duty-nursing/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Types of care

# Private duty nursing

Private duty nursing is one-on-one nursing care at home or another setting, delivered by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. It is often longer or more continuous than part-time home health visits. It is medical care, unlike companion or personal care, and a doctor usually orders it.

## Why it matters for your family

Private duty nursing fits people with complex medical needs, such as a ventilator, tube feeding, or frequent skilled monitoring. It is not the same as non-medical home care. A nurse can do tasks that an aide cannot. Families often assume insurance covers it. Medicare home health covers only part-time or intermittent skilled care and not 24-hour care at home. Some state Medicaid programs cover private duty nursing for eligible people, so ask the state Medicaid office and the doctor. Check that the nurse holds a current license in your state before hiring.

Source: [medicare.gov](https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services)

## Related terms

-   [**Skilled nursing care**Skilled nursing care is nursing and therapy that only licensed professionals, or staff supervised by them, can safely provide.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/skilled-nursing-care/)
-   [**Registered nurse (RN)**A registered nurse (RN) is a licensed nurse who assesses patients, gives medicines and treatments, helps make care plans, and teaches patients and families how to manage illness at home.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/registered-nurse/)
-   [**Licensed practical nurse (LPN)**A licensed practical nurse (LPN), called a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in some states, gives basic medical care, such as monitoring vital signs, changing bandages, and helping with bathing and dressing.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/licensed-practical-nurse/)
-   [**Home health care**Home health care is medical care given at home for an illness or injury, such as skilled nursing and therapy.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-health-care/)
-   [**Medicaid**Medicaid is a joint federal and state health coverage program for people with limited income and resources.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicaid/)
-   [**Home care agency**A home care agency is a company that employs or contracts caregivers and sends them to clients' homes.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-care-agency/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

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