Originally Posted by -Midget-
What clinical experience is best to get before moving to a hospice or long term care environment?
if you want to work with our elderly in ltc, you could probably get a job out of nsg school. i would expect a reasonable orientation. keep in mind that our elderly are living longer; and the acuity level is much higher in a skilled nsg facility, than it was yrs ago. it's important to realize that the elderly population comes with their own unique set of health concerns.
if you want to work hospice, it's highly preferable to have a med-surg background. if you work in hospice home health, you are alone and don't have the usual set of resources you would find in a hospital or other facility. you work independently and your assessment skills need to be top notch. it's also very helpful to know the implications of not only the disease process that is terminal, but multi-system organ failure as the body shuts down. they also have inpatient care facilities (hospice houses); and often you'll be going directly to a hospital or ltc facility. but for the most part, you work alone which commands a comprehensive knowledge base of pathophysiology, the symptoms of any failing system, the steps of dying and impeccable communication skills in talking with your pts, their families.
but nothing is written in stone. there's always someone willing to hire a nurse who might not have the desired experience but does have the enthusiasm to be the best there is.
leslie
Would you like to comment?
I do feel free to ask her any questions, and I do...but I find I understand stuff best when I get explanations from a few people! 
