[washingtonrn]

I have been an RN for over 23 years and have always felt that it would be a wonderful speciality....my problem:
I just am not sure if it's my time yet...It has been in the back of my mind for years. Then through my own mother's death from CA and now most recently when I was at the bedside of a dear friend who died from liver ca.
I love the idea of hospice nursing and am a parish nurse at my church. Yet to be honest, I'm a little affraid too because there is so much I don't know. Any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated to know if I have the "calling" or not. Thanks!!

[tencat]

Hi! I've been a hospice nurse for about a year, and though it is intense, I really love it. If you feel drawn to hospice, you should give it a go. You certainly have a lot of experience behind you, and that will help tremendously. The only way to really know if it's for you is to try it. It is a whole different kind of nursing, and the learning curve is steep. However, it is very rewarding.

[Hospice Nurse LPN]

I remember my first job offer in hospice. I had wanted to try hospice because I felt I was "being called". The administrator told me she was going to try me for 3 months (LPN with 3 years experience in LTC only). 9 years later, I'm still there. Changed companies twice, but still doing hospice. It can be stressful at times, but it is so rewarding. My suggestion is to try it. Good luck!

[Ms Kylee]

If you feel the calling, then it wouldn't hurt to try it. Work a few PRN shifts and see how it goes.

I worked my first shift yesterday, and I loved it.

[Hal_Dol]

Hello All:As an LPN with only 3 years experience I wanted hospice because I was frustrated by only having time to pass meds and then say "Hello" as I backed out of the room to answer the next call bell at in a nursing home. Hospice has given me great satisfaction from the time to interact with pt AND family. If you too like psychology and think surgeons are just high-paid-mechanics, you'll probably enjoy hospice.
Only Drawback: I'm 62 and work 13 hour night shifts so around 4am my body asks why I don't get a "day job". <grin>

[seattledeb]

I like it because I think it is the way all healthcare should be-on the patient's terms, schedule, their needs and not dictated by a system or insurance company. I started in NICU, often triage at births and now I triage in hospice. They seem very similiar, some deaths-with family and friends coaching, laughing, supporting, feel a lot like births, like a transition to a new phase in life.

[Texas25]

I have been a nurse for 8 months now and working on the cardiac floor in one of the hospitals where I live. I work nights and have requested to go to days, which has not happened yet. The work load is heavy and I feel I am being dumped on. Often I have 6 patients when the more experienced nurses will have only 4 - 5. Often, I see them sitting down chatting while I am trying to keep afloat in the care of my patients so I can leave at a reasonable time in the a.m.
I have a friend who has been trying to get me to switch to hospice nursing because she loves it and she tells me that I would love doing hospice nursing. I find myself serious contemplating making the switch. I am a Christian and believe passing is just the end of this journey on earth and the start of a brand new one. Although I love the nurses on my floor, I can't stay for them and I know I have to do what is best for me and the best for my career.
Any advise from anyone who has been in hospice?

Thanks
Texas 25