Hospice CNAs??????

adorblepuppy · Apr 12, 2009

It mostly what you feel comfortable doing. Can you handle being around people you know are going to die soon? In a nursing home you know they are going to die but for the most part they are not knocking on death's door. We have one resident now who i believe is very close. I know it is going to hit me like a ton of bricks when it happens. The other residents i think are going to be around for a while. So like i said it really depends on what you think you can handle. Good luck in whatever decision you make.

texastaz · Apr 12, 2009

I love hospice - not everyone is cut out for it. Ironic emotionaly I cannot take working with children-I turn into a cry baby. The best thing I like about hospice is you have more time for one on one care, supplies are never short and the hospice teams are fantastic with communication. The biggest emotional for me has been when young patients tell you they are afraid to die. You have to be strong also because when you see that a person is actively dying - such as many times the shape of their ears change, blood starts to settle in different areas and so forth the family will constantly ask you how much longer do you think they have, what signs do we see. I avoid to give a direct answers because I don't want loved ones to remember their loved ones physical appearance with the specific signs we see, also while I am on mark in my mind 95 % of the time-there are always thoose exceptions patients living longer than anyone on the health team could fathom possible. When a person's lungs start to secreat-that is very close to the end. The patient is given medication to help we also don't explain lung secreations to the family. Families usualy have a social worker and they have been given alot of information about the death process when their loved one is placed on hospice.

Family members are often the most difficult part of the job. Many are in denial (try to force feed the patient/try to give them beer or wine when they are no longer drinking-will ask you about other possible treatments). Many family members get self absorbed and want to be the center of attention, many get into big family arguements with eachother-and want the medical staff to take sides.

There are always thoose patients that touch you more than others, there are always times when you will have back to back deaths of 3 or 4 patients and that wears on you. There is also the joke by friends and so forth they will start calling you the Grim Reaper-I just tell them I don't like it when they call me that. There is also a hidden fear that while the family members are usualy so thankful for your services-I worry sometimes that they might see me in public and the truth is - I don't even remember many of my patients.

I find hospice very rewarding despite the pit falls.

jschut, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2009

I think it takes a special heart to work in Hospice care, and if have that kind of heart, you can be a blessing to those you care for.

Good Luck!

ladybugg53 · Apr 13, 2009

I want to work with Hospice bigtime....I think they're one of the best organizations the medical community ever came up with!! I've had family members pass away under Hospice care...they were fantastic.

rachelgeorgina · Apr 13, 2009

I'm an undergrad nursing student working as an AIN (Australian version of a CNA) in an aged care facility where a lot of the residents are on palliative measures. In a way, it's just extended hospice care anyway - the only way they're ever going to get out of there is when they pass away. It sounds awful but it's true...

However, I have an eye to work in paeds and I sent my CV to the children's hospice (the only one in the state) and got an email back from their NUM asking if I wanted to interview for an AIN position. I almost fell through the floor. Getting into paeds is tough around here, especially for places like Bear Cottage (the children's hospice).

I'm scared and excited. I've been doing a lot of reading and research on paediatric palliative care... I hope I'm cut out for this. Only one way to find out, though. My dad passed away in one of the best hospices in the state a few years ago. They had cats... I thought the nurses were a-mazing. Honestly. I'd love to be able to provide that sort of care for someone and make a difference in their end of life care.