[CityKat]

Hi

I'm a nursing student graduating in May 2007. Just this past week, I had my first experience with hospice. I have to say, I didn't know what to expect and honestly, I was afraid. I went to a hospice inn out here on long island. When I arrived, I was so amazed. It was such a comforting place, warm and the staff was very light hearted
I've always heard that hospice nurses were strong, kind and amazing people. Well, I certainly received a taste of that. I had this amazing nurse J, who showed me things and explained things to me. I loved it
Coming from that experience, I have a completely different view about death and dying. Completely different. I'm writing about this today because while working in my clinical today, there was a patient who was actively dying and the team of physicians were working so hard to keep him alive even though he was actively dying. Hospice was such a tranquil experience for me. I can definitely see myself working as a hospice nurse someday.
I can see why my friends love it so much. Just thought I would share

[mlynn]

I'm so glad that you enjoyed your first hospice experience. Hopefully, you will carry that with you and maybe think of working in this wonderful field of nursing someday. I've worked in several different fields and have been a hospice nurse now for 3 years. I love it and can't see myself doing anything else.

Good luck to you.

[mc3]

Me neither! I feel like I'm so fortunate to be able to have this job, and I look forward to going to work every day..how many other nurses can truly say that?
mc3

[aimeee]

I am also grateful and proud to be able to serve in this field.

[EmptytheBoat]

Dear StudentNurseBean:

Thank you for sharing, it's refreshing to read about
your positive experience, nurse J is to be commended
for taking the time to make sure of that and I hope
you shared your appreciation with her/him.
Death & dying is truly a phenomenon, as is life itself.
Physicians don't usually work hard to keep an actively
dying patient alive, but usually the entire Hospice
team works hard to keep the actively dying patient
comfortable so that the transition from this life to
the next may be peaceful for patient and family.
Best wishes on your studies and career!

[CityKat]

thank you It was a very wonderful experience. I never thought I would walk out of there thinking that I would want to be a hospice nurse. I've always wanted to work in critical care and do detailed things in nursing and help people in their most critical states. It was definitely a change for me after Tuesday. Nurse J was really great and she was very aware of my feelings and knew exactly how to handle everything. It felt really good. As far as the doctors trying to keep the patient alive from yesterday, I was told from the nurse that he was dying, so I just thought actively dying? Maybe he was in the beginning stages of dying?

[earle58]

Originally Posted by StudentNurseBean

thank you As far as the doctors trying to keep the patient alive from yesterday, I was told from the nurse that he was dying, so I just thought actively dying? Maybe he was in the beginning stages of dying?

everyone in hospice is dying.
there's typically a 6 month prognosis to be hospice-eligible.
i'm pretty certain the doctors were managing a new onset of symptoms and doing everything to make him comfortable.
the pt very well could have been in the beginning of the terminal phase, but symptoms can appear at any and all times throughout the process.
some are more acute than others.
welcome to the privileged world of hospice nsg.

leslie

[clemmm78]

In our palliative care residence, patients are generally admitted if they have a prognosis of three months or less.
Our place is a happy place. Full of light, handmade quilts, a living room with a fire place, and tons of home comforts. We've had weddings there, baptisms and other celebrations.

The thought behind palliative care is not only the comfort and pain relief that we can provide, but the idea that we live every day that we are alive. It truly shines through in our home.

[cookie102]

don't know if this is the right place to post this, but i don't know how to start a new posting...i work HH, but our agency has HH and hospice share call....this weekend i had a call from a patient that is followed by the hospice team, terminal diagnosis, 38 yo, but does not want to officially sign in with hospice, in pain, anxious, could not sleep, so i made a visit, she did not want her PCA increased, so i asked to see all the other meds she had, thinking perhaps she is not taking them as should, she told me she had NO other meds in the house, i have over heard many conversations in the office about this patient so i had some knowledge of her before i even met her. i called the on call MD and asked if she could call in some ativan and something for sleep for her.......i am far from a hospice guru but would not common sense dictate that this patient should of had these meds in the home for prn use. believe me she did not experience anxiety and difficulty sleeping for the first time this weekend....when i mentioned it in the office this morning, the director told me --well she's not hospice so we would not have the "emergency pak" out there, i said she's 38 yo and dying i think someone should have had these meds out there long ago....!!! please advise me. thanks

[windsong]

Hi, I am new here.

I have 5 years experience in hospice nursing.
You are right about the patient needing the meds in her home long ago.

Here is a solution for future problems. The nurse who admits a hospice pt.
should anticipate that pt's . needs in advance. Look at the DX. Ask yourself
does this pt. have the potential to have a increase in the need for pain meds? Will this pt. have anxiety? Will this pt. experience nausea?

You would assume the pt. will need some meds in the home to take care
of these needs when they arise. It is better to be prepared in advance than
waite until someone calls you at midnight and tells you they are in pain and
nauseated. It is difficult to contact a doctor and pharmacy at that time of the night.

Make a emergency kit for each pt.s needs and keep it in a lock box in their
home. Then there will not be the worry about having to deal with it in the
midnight hours.

I would also make sure you speak with the nurse who admitted this pt. I would find out before hand , if the nurse made sure the pt. got everything
they needed. That way you won't be caught by surprise when you make
your visit. I have been stuck many times in terrible situations after hours, because the previous nurse did not take care of the pt's needs or failed to inform the on call nurse. It is difficult also when you the nurse who is visiting lives a long way from that pt. The drive is hard enough to deal with
much less the problems you may encounter because someone else failed to complete their assignment. This can be very frustrating for the pt. and
add even more anxiety to all their other problems that they are dealing
with. It all comes down to plan and oraganize. These two things will head of a world of problems and help increase the comfort and care of your pt's.
Blessings, Windsong