What is private nursing at home?
Private nursing, also called private duty nursing, provides skilled clinical care from a licensed nurse in the comfort of your home, arranged directly by your family rather than ordered through Medicare. At Health Care Connectors, private nursing is part of our concierge care program and can be scheduled from a few hours a day to 24 hours a day, for as long as it is needed. Our nurses provide hospital-level care at home, including tracheostomy and ventilator management, wound care, IV and infusion therapy, injections, catheter and ostomy care, respiratory treatments, cardio-pulmonary support, and vitals monitoring.
How is private nursing different from Medicare-certified skilled nursing?
Medicare-certified skilled nursing is ordered by a physician, requires the patient to be homebound, is delivered in short intermittent visits (typically one to two visits per week of an hour or less), ends when the goals in the plan of care are met, and is covered by Medicare for eligible patients. Private nursing has no physician order or homebound requirement, can be scheduled for any length of shift up to 24 hours a day, continues as long as your family wants it, and is paid privately. Health Care Connectors provides both. Many clients use Medicare-certified skilled nursing visits for the core plan of care and add private nursing for the hours in between.
Who needs private duty nursing?
Private nursing is right for anyone whose medical needs go beyond what a home health aide or family member can safely manage. Common situations include recovery from major or elective surgery, tracheostomy or ventilator dependence, complex or non-healing wounds, IV antibiotics or infusion therapy, progressive neurological conditions such as ALS, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis, cancer treatment, congestive heart failure or COPD with frequent symptom changes, and families who want a nurse present overnight so they can sleep. For more on why skilled nursing at home matters, see our article, The Importance of Skilled In-Home Private Nursing Care.
What can a private nurse do that a home health aide cannot?
A nurse can assess your loved one’s condition, administer medications and injections, manage IV lines and infusions, perform wound care and dressing changes, insert and manage catheters, interpret vital signs, and communicate directly with physicians to adjust care. A home health aide provides non-medical support such as bathing, dressing, meals, mobility help, companionship, and medication reminders, and cannot administer medication or perform clinical tasks. Many families use both: a nurse for skilled care and an aide for daily living. Health Care Connectors staffs both from one team, so the aide and nurse work from the same plan. For a fuller comparison, see our guide, Home Health Aide or Private Nurse.
Is private nursing covered by Medicare or insurance?
Private nursing is a private pay service. It complements Medicare and health insurance rather than replacing them, and we bill you directly rather than through an insurer. Some long-term care insurance policies provide benefits for private nursing at home, and Health Care Connectors can assist with claims documentation, including invoices, care logs and other information required by the insurance carrier. Coverage and benefits depend on the individual policy. We accept most major credit cards.
How much does private nursing cost?
Private nursing rates depend on the patient’s clinical needs, schedule and level of care required. Following an assessment of the patient’s needs, we provide a service agreement outlining the proposed services and rates. Services do not require a long-term commitment and can be adjusted as a client’s needs change.
Can I get 24-hour private nursing at home?
Yes. Health Care Connectors provides 24-hour private nursing for patients who require continuous clinical support at home. Around-the-clock private nursing is staffed based on the patient’s clinical needs, with licensed nurses scheduled to provide continuous coverage. A registered nurse is also on call 24 hours a day for every client. Around-the-clock nursing is most often used after a hospital discharge for a ventilator-dependent or post-surgical patient, or for a loved one whose condition changes quickly.
Where do you provide private nursing?
We provide private nursing in private homes, hotels, assisted living and memory care communities, and any other recovery setting throughout Fairfield County, including Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Westport, Wilton, Weston, Ridgefield, Fairfield, Trumbull, and Bridgeport. Our office is at 1 Sound Shore Drive in Greenwich, and we regularly coordinate with discharge planners at Greenwich Hospital, Stamford Hospital, and Norwalk Hospital. If you live outside these towns, call us and we will confirm availability.
Do I need a doctor’s order to start private nursing?
No referral or physician order is required to begin private nursing. Your nurse will coordinate with your physician for any treatments that require a medical order, such as prescription medications, infusions, or wound care protocols, and will keep your physician informed of changes in your condition.
Who supervises your private nurses?
Every private nurse at Health Care Connectors works under the oversight of our registered nurse clinical leadership, led by our President and Administrator, Tutu Olomola, MPH, BSN, RN. Health Care Connectors is licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health as a home health care agency and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC). Our clinicians are appropriately licensed and credentialed and complete applicable background screening, license verification and other credentialing requirements before providing patient care, and they receive ongoing clinical training.
Can private nursing help with recovery after cosmetic or elective surgery?
Yes. Our concierge nurses provide post-operative care after any surgery, including elective and cosmetic procedures, in your home or hotel. Care can include pain management, wound and dressing changes, drain care, vitals monitoring, medication administration, transportation from the surgical center and to follow-up visits, and help with meals, bathing, and dressing during the first days of recovery. See our Post-Op Care page for details.
How will my family stay informed about my care?
Our nurses and therapists communicate regularly with patients and families about their care. As appropriate, our clinical team also coordinates with nursing teams at assisted living communities, physicians, specialists and other members of the patient’s care team to support continuity of care and keep everyone informed.
Last reviewed: September 2026
