The Complete Checklist for Hiring a Private-Duty Nurse
Bringing a nurse into your home is a big decision. Use this checklist to verify credentials, ask the right questions, and choose with confidence.
Hiring a private-duty nurse is one of the most important decisions a family can make. You are inviting a clinician into your home and trusting them with someone you love. The good news: with a clear process, you can choose confidently. Use the checklist below.
1. Define exactly what care is needed
Before you talk to anyone, write down the specifics:
- Diagnosis and clinical needs — wound care, medication management, IV therapy, tracheostomy/ventilator, diabetes, post-surgical recovery.
- Hours and schedule — a few hours a day, overnight, or 24/7.
- Personal care needs — help with bathing, mobility, meals, transfers.
- Must-haves — language, gender preference, experience with a specific condition (e.g., dementia).
A clear care picture is what lets a good match happen quickly — and it's exactly what CaraLoom's matching engine uses to surface the right clinicians.
2. Verify licensure and credentials
Never skip this step.
- Confirm the RN or LPN license is active and unrestricted in your state.
- Check for relevant certifications (e.g., wound care, hospice/palliative, ACLS).
- Confirm malpractice/liability coverage.
- Ask about specialty experience that matches your loved one's diagnosis.
On CaraLoom, identity, license, and background checks are completed and continuously monitored before a clinician ever appears in your matches — so the verification work is already done for you.
3. Run a proper background check
A clean record is non-negotiable. A thorough screen includes national and county criminal databases, the sex-offender registry, and healthcare-sanctions (OIG/GSA) exclusion lists. Confirm screening was completed recently — not years ago.
4. Ask the right interview questions
When you speak with a candidate, ask:
- Tell me about your experience with [your loved one's condition].
- How do you handle an emergency or a sudden change in condition?
- How do you communicate with families and physicians?
- What does a typical shift look like for you?
- Can you provide references from families you've cared for?
Listen for specifics and calm confidence, not vague reassurance.
5. Confirm the practical details in writing
- Rate and what's included (transparent, no hidden agency markups).
- Schedule, start date, and coverage for missed shifts.
- Scope of duties — clinical vs. personal care.
- Payment terms — escrow protection means you only pay for care delivered.
6. Watch for red flags
🚩 Reluctance to share a license number · 🚩 No references · 🚩 Pressure to pay cash up front · 🚩 Vague answers about emergencies · 🚩 No clear plan for missed shifts.
The shortcut
Vetting a nurse the traditional way can take weeks of phone calls. CaraLoom compresses it: you describe the need, review verified, background-checked clinicians with transparent rates and real reviews, message before you commit, and book with escrow-protected payments. The checklist above is essentially built into the platform.
Bottom line: a great private-duty nurse changes everything. Take the time to verify, ask, and confirm — and lean on tools that do the heavy lifting for you.
