What is a Concierge Nurse? What Do They Do?

• A concierge nurse is able to provide health services to patients from outside a clinical setting.
• Originally, the field of concierge nursing was thought to be controversial, but it has come a long way since then.
• Interested in learning more? Check out Nursing CE Central’s inside scoop on what it means to be a concierge nurse!

Concierge nursing is relatively new to the industry and serves as a great way for nurses to continue to provide care for patients without the hectic, non-stop pace of a hospital or clinical environment. 

For example, a concierge nurse may work in a post-operative setting or providing in-home services for patients who do not wish to be cared for by their families or loved ones.  

Additionally, a concierge nurse can visit patients in their homes, hotel rooms, Airbnb’s, or hospital rooms; they can even accompany a patient that is traveling!

Originally, the idea of concierge medicine possessed a negative connotation in the healthcare industry, as its “retainer” payment method was viewed as disadvantageous to underserved and chronically ill populations.  

However, American Sentinel University assures that although the start of concierge nursing practices seemed to only benefit the wealthy, the field has slowly become more accessible over time.

What Does it Mean to be a Concierge Nurse?

You might be asking yourself, “This sounds like a great opportunity, but what makes a concierge nurse different than an in-home health nurse?” Keep reading! 

The Professional RN Network highlights a few of the differences between a concierge and an in-home health nurse, these include: 

• In most cases, a concierge nurse is an independently practicing RN; meaning they do not have to be employed through an agency, hospital, or physician.  

• Unlike home healthcare agency nurses, a concierge nurse will not bill a patient’s insurance company or government health plan. 

– Along these same lines, as long as the requested service is within the scope of nursing practice, a concierge nurse can provide any service that a patient may need.

What Does a Concierge Nurse Do? 

As you already know, nursing is its own healthcare specialty and nurses can do a lot without a doctor’s order to support the health of their patients.

The original concierge model of boutique concierge healthcare services started in 1996 when a program in the states of Oregon and Washington began offering their residents direct and unlimited access to healthcare services for an upfront (and expensive) price.

Back then, it would cost up to $13,200 per patient, and $20,000 for a family plan per year. Currently, there are still plans like this that are available across the country, and some nurses even offer a monthly subscription or hourly service!

For patients who have had a medical procedure, a concierge nurse will provide personalized patient care from the comfort of their own home. 

Additionally, their services are usually offered to those who are bed bound.  

Private nursing care facility, Jill Tucker Nursing Services, highlights a few of the services their concierge nurses can provide to patients:  

• IVF Injection Administration 
• IV Home Infusions 
• Medical Escort from Office 
• Registered Nurse for Sign-Out 
• Wound Care and Bandaging 
• Private Care in the Hospital 
• Palliative Care Home Hospice Care 

What Does the Pay Look Like? 

As of May 2021, online job recruiting agency, ZipRecruiter, outlines that the average annual salary for a concierge nurse is roughly $61,977; of course, pay scales range based on location. 

With the popularity of concierge nursing continuing to rise, opportunities are often found in large cities like New York City and Los Angeles.  

If you have a niche or are a seasoned professional in a nursing specialty such as plastic surgery, PACU, ICU, or primary care, concierge nursing could be an awesome gig for you!

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