Nurse Resources and Who to Contact
Clear Guidance for Independent Nurses Working With TLC Nurse Solutions
Independent nurses often work alongside clients, families, physicians, specialty pharmacies, healthcare facilities, and other members of the care team. Knowing where to direct different questions helps keep communication organized and ensures clinical, scheduling, and administrative matters reach the appropriate person.
TLC Nurse Solutions supports independent RNs and LVNs through thoughtful coordination, responsive communication, and clear expectations. This resource provides practical guidance for nurses currently providing services through TLC and explains when to contact TLC, the client or authorized representative, a prescribing provider, specialty pharmacy, healthcare organization, or another appropriate resource.
Who Should I Contact First?
| Question or Need | Best First Contact |
|---|---|
| Routine scheduling with an established client | Client or authorized representative |
| Schedule change affecting an accepted visit or shift | Client or authorized representative and TLC Nurse Solutions |
| Future coverage or additional nursing needs | TLC Nurse Solutions |
| Assignment or coordination question | TLC Nurse Solutions |
| Medication delivery or infusion supplies | Specialty pharmacy |
| Prescription or physician order | Prescribing provider or pharmacy, as appropriate |
| Medication dose, infusion rate, or treatment protocol | Prescribing provider or specialty pharmacy |
| Change to prescribed treatment | Prescribing provider or specialty pharmacy |
| Medical equipment issue | Appropriate equipment provider |
| Documentation or nurse-note question | TLC Nurse Solutions |
| Invoice or contractor payment question | TLC Nurse Solutions |
| Credential or required-document question | TLC Nurse Solutions |
| Significant clinical concern | Appropriate healthcare provider or established clinical contact |
| Emergency | Emergency services, as appropriate |
Scheduling and Accepted Nursing Opportunities
Once a nurse has accepted a visit, shift, or ongoing schedule, reliable communication is important to the client and everyone coordinating the care.
For routine scheduling matters with an established private-duty client, nurses may communicate directly with the client or authorized representative when appropriate. TLC should be informed when a change affects an accepted visit or shift, an ongoing schedule, future coverage, or another coordination need.
If a nurse becomes unable to provide previously accepted coverage, please notify TLC as soon as reasonably possible so the coordination team is aware of the change.
For recurring schedules, nurses should keep TLC informed of changes in their availability that may affect future coverage. This is particularly important for continuity-focused services such as Private Duty Nursing Support and 24-Hour & Ongoing Private Nursing Support, where clients may rely on coordinated schedules involving one or more nurses.
Assignment-Specific Information and Questions
Each nursing opportunity is different. Before accepting an opportunity, nurses should review the available information and determine whether the requested services are appropriate for their experience, qualifications, availability, and scope of practice.
Depending on the care arrangement, information may include the location, requested schedule, anticipated nursing responsibilities, relevant clinical needs, treatment information, documentation requirements, and other details available to TLC at the time.
If important information appears unclear or differs from what was provided when the opportunity was accepted, contact TLC so the situation can be reviewed and the appropriate parties can be involved.
Independent nurses remain responsible for exercising their own professional judgment and practicing within applicable California nursing laws, their licensure, qualifications, and scope of practice.
Specialty Pharmacy, Medication, and Treatment Questions
For infusion and specialty pharmacy referrals, clinical treatment questions belong with the healthcare professionals or organizations responsible for the prescribed therapy.
Questions involving medication orders, dosing, infusion rates, treatment protocols, premedications, laboratory requirements, medication delivery, treatment supplies, or changes to prescribed therapy should be directed to the prescribing provider or specialty pharmacy, as appropriate.
Nurses providing IVIG and Specialty Infusion Nursing Support or other Infusion Therapy Support should follow the physician orders, pharmacy instructions, treatment protocols, and other clinical information applicable to the individual referral.
TLC coordinates the nursing component of the referral but does not prescribe medications, establish treatment protocols, change physician orders, or make clinical treatment decisions on behalf of the prescribing provider or specialty pharmacy.
When Client Needs or Clinical Circumstances Change
A nurse may recognize during the course of care that a client’s condition, functional abilities, equipment needs, schedule, or support needs have changed.
Clinical changes or concerns should be communicated through the appropriate healthcare or clinical channel based on the circumstances and established care arrangement. Changes that may affect the nursing schedule, requested services, or future coordination should also be communicated to TLC.
Nurses should not independently expand or materially change the requested nursing services or prescribed treatment plan without the appropriate authorization or clinical direction.
For medically complex clients receiving High-Acuity Nursing Care, clear communication among the nurse and appropriate members of the healthcare team can be especially important as needs evolve.
Safety, Urgent Concerns, and Emergencies
Nurses should use their professional judgment and follow applicable physician orders, treatment protocols, established clinical communication procedures, and emergency procedures based on the circumstances.
Clinical questions should be directed to the healthcare professional or organization responsible for the client’s medical care. Emergency services should be contacted when appropriate.
After addressing the immediate clinical or safety need through the appropriate channel, please notify TLC of significant events that may affect the nursing arrangement, future scheduling, or TLC’s coordination responsibilities.
Documentation and Nurse Notes
Complete, accurate, and timely documentation is an important part of professional nursing practice and the administrative process associated with each referral.
Nurse notes should accurately reflect the nursing services provided, relevant observations, visit or shift information, and other documentation required for the particular care arrangement. Documentation should be completed and submitted according to the requirements communicated for the referral.
Some specialty pharmacies, healthcare organizations, or other referral partners may have their own forms or documentation requirements. Nurses should follow the requirements provided for the specific opportunity.
Questions about TLC documentation procedures, required forms, submission methods, or missing documentation should be directed to TLC Nurse Solutions.
Invoices and Contractor Payments
Independent nurses are responsible for submitting invoices in accordance with TLC’s current invoicing requirements and the terms applicable to their nursing services.
Before submitting an invoice, please make sure the dates and times correspond with the services actually provided and are consistent with any supporting documentation required for the referral.
Questions about invoice submission, processing, payment status, or a discrepancy should be directed to TLC Nurse Solutions.
Credentials and Required Documents
Nurses are responsible for keeping required professional credentials and documents current while participating in the TLC registry.
If TLC contacts you regarding an expiring or missing document, please provide the requested information promptly so your registry file can remain current.
Questions about credentialing requirements, document submission, or whether TLC has received an updated document should be directed to TLC Nurse Solutions.
Professional Communication and Boundaries
Independent nurses may communicate with clients, families, healthcare professionals, specialty pharmacies, and other authorized individuals as appropriate to the nursing services being provided.
Professional boundaries should be maintained throughout the relationship. Questions or concerns involving the nursing arrangement, requested services, scheduling structure, or circumstances that could affect the professional relationship should be brought to TLC rather than handled through informal arrangements outside the established coordination process.
Respectful, factual, and timely communication helps everyone understand what has occurred, what has changed, and whether further action is needed.
Working With Healthcare Facilities and Professional Care Teams
Nursing opportunities may take place in private homes as well as healthcare and community settings. Nurses providing Healthcare Facility Nursing Support should follow applicable facility procedures, assignment-specific requirements, and their professional scope of practice.
Clients may also have case managers, discharge planners, fiduciaries, therapists, physicians, family representatives, or other professionals involved in their care. Nurses should communicate with authorized members of the care team when appropriate while maintaining client privacy and confidentiality.
TLC can assist with coordination questions when responsibilities or communication pathways are unclear.
Privacy and Confidentiality
Client information should be handled professionally and confidentially in accordance with applicable privacy requirements and the requirements associated with the nursing opportunity.
Clinical information, photographs, documentation, and other protected or confidential information should be shared only through appropriate channels and with individuals or organizations authorized to receive it.
If you have a question about where or how information should be submitted to TLC, please contact our team before sending it.
Nurse Resources and Future Opportunities
Nurses interested in learning more about working independently through TLC can visit Join Our Network of Independent Nurses. Nurses who are ready to provide their information and required documentation can continue to Start the Process.
For those who would like to learn more about TLC Nurse Solutions, Explore Our Nursing Resources is our broader library of website pages covering nursing services, specialty care, healthcare partnerships, educational articles, independent nursing opportunities, and other TLC resources.
We Are Here to Help
We want communication with TLC to feel clear, professional, and comfortable. Questions are welcome, and we would much rather have a nurse reach out when something is unclear than feel uncertain about the appropriate next step.
For registry-related questions, coordination needs, documentation, invoices, credentials, or changes affecting an accepted nursing opportunity, please contact TLC Nurse Solutions.
Call or text: 510-780-1800
We appreciate the professionalism, communication, clinical experience, and individual strengths our independent nurses bring to the clients and healthcare partners we serve. Our goal is to support positive working relationships in which nurses feel informed, respected, and comfortable reaching out when they need guidance.