Find an independent private nurse who is right for you

If you’re looking for quality care at home for yourself or a loved one, a home nurse service can assist with a wide range of healthcare needs.

Home care nurses are committed to high-quality patient care outcomes and many have experience working for aged care providers. Hiring a private nurse is probably easier than you think, and Mable is the ideal place to find one.

What is a home care nurse?

Home care nurses provide quality care for patients within their own homes. A home nurse can visit people in any living situation. For example, they see people living in independent housing, retirement communities, and aged care facilities (to supplement the support of aged care providers).

How do you book a private nurse?

Mable’s easy-to-use platform is an ideal way to book private nurses. A good place to start on Mable is to consider what type of nursing assistance you need. For example, are you after short-term healthcare support following an injury or illness, long-term support for an ongoing health condition, or even around-the-clock nursing care for a loved one?

Next, consider how you’ll pay for a private home nurse. Home nursing services are included under several funding models, including the government’s Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and Home Care Packages. To receive these, you must be 65 years or older (or 50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people) and pass an eligibility assessment.

NDIS participants may be able to use their funding towards home nursing services. The NDIS originally funded nursing support from the Capacity Building Supports budget, but in 2019 they fast-tracked access by allowing participants to temporarily claim them through their Core Supports budget (Assistance with Daily Living category). It’s important to note this arrangement ends once your plan review is completed.

NDIS-funded nursing support must be disability-related, support your long-term well-being, and be delivered over a limited time.

Anyone can also pay for a home nurse through fee-for-service, which may be claimable through your health fund.

With Mable, booking private nurses is simple. All you need to do is sign up to Mable for free and you can look for and book local private nurses meeting your needs.

What can a private nurse do?

In-home nurses can assist with a range of healthcare needs. These include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting health assessments
• Medication management
• Chronic disease monitoring
• Pain management
• Oxygen therapy
• Post-operative recovery
• Wound care
• Catheter care
• Dementia support
• Continence management
• Palliative care

What does a private nurse do that a support worker doesn’t?

Registered nurses (RNs), enrolled nurses (ENs) and support workers can work in people’s homes, but the level of care they provide differs. Registered nurses have a tertiary nursing qualification and must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

RNs can assess patient care needs and complete more complex healthcare tasks, such as wound care, continence education and giving prescribed medications.

ENs are qualified through a Diploma of Nursing course. They usually need to work under an RN’s direct or indirect supervision. ENs may complete further training to become an ‘endorsed’ enrolled nurse, which allows them to give people their medications.

Support workers often have a Certificate III qualification in individual support, aged care, community care, or similar, although you can work as a support worker without formal training.

Support workers support people needing assistance to function within their home or community, rather than assistance with health or medical issues.
 

Do I really need a private nurse, or could a support worker be the answer?

This depends on the support you (or your loved one) need. For example, a private nurse might be best if you need assistance managing a short- or long-term illness or recovery after surgery.

A support worker is a right choice if you need assistance with everyday tasks, such as cooking, personal care, social support, gardening, or transport.
 

What types of people book private nurses?

Private nurses support all kinds of people with various health needs. For instance, if you have a health condition that requires ongoing reviews (such as high blood pressure or diabetes), a home nurse can help to treat and monitor your condition.

They can also provide short-term restorative care to help you regain independence after an illness or injury – such as helping you manage a catheter or your wound after surgery. People with disability may book a private nurse for similar reasons.

If you’ve had a stint in hospital, you may be eligible for nursing support as part of a transition care program, which is designed to help you regain independence and avoid the likelihood of needing longer-term care or support services.

Nursing care can be delivered in your home, the community, an aged care facility or a mix of these.
 

How do I ensure quality care for my loved one?

Mable has safeguards in place to help ensure you or your loved one receives the quality care you’re looking for. Before any worker is added to Mable, they must have an ABN and a current Police Check (and a current Working With Children Check, if relevant). We also complete reference checks, qualification checks for the delivery of specific services, and checks for current AHPRA registration for nurses.

Mable’s ratings feature lets you view how many stars they’ve received from clients and read what clients say about them. You can view each nurse’s work and educational background, areas of expertise and services they provide. Listings include information about characteristics such as personality, languages spoken and pet-friendliness, which means you have the best chance of finding a private nurse to meet your needs.