Depends on the what organization a private duty nurse works for. Around here it is $60-75 an hour, the organization has to get it's cut. The hospital loves a private duty nurse, they don't have to pay them, but the nurse is still saddled with the hospital policy when it comes to getting what their patient needs and road blocks can be thrown in their way by extra protocols they must follow. This is as much to protect the nurse and the hospital in case of a lawsuit as it is to cause a slow down in care.
I believe in family members to be fully empowered in the decision making process, because they KNOW the baseline of the patient. My concerns and anger over aspects of Shrek's care have been reported, also the manner I was treated when voicing my concerns. I also have the advantage of being a classmate of the Nurse Manager of the hospital in question, she knows me and my work.
Heck hath no fury like a nurse taking care of her own ogre.