Hospice nurse with no nursing experience

Specialties Hospice

Published

I graduated in 2005 and i got my license in 2010.i never worked as a nurse before.The agency said they're gonna train me.Is it hard to work as a hospice nurse if you dont have any experience?What do i need to expect?Than you so much :)

Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.
Wecome to hospice and good luck with your new job! Be patient with yourself. It can be overwhelming, but rewarding in ways you can't imagine!

Ditto!

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

Think about what you're going to see in hospice. Wound care -- LOTS. People with every kind of drain, dressing, trachs, every kind of critical care equipment. Families going "cuckoo for coco puffs" and extreme family dynamics. And you're there alone, nobody to ask about a new piece of equipment (and calling isn't the same thing as hands on). If you haven't had a lot of experience, then how have you had experience with people actively dying, done post mortem care and worked with families in grief? I'm not trying to be mean, I just don't want you to get into a horrible situation. I've been a nurse 5 years, and I would have never taken on hospice straight out of school...I know how much can go wrong when you're in a hospital and have lots of help, as opposed to someone's home where they're looking at you to be the expert in everything.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

Sorry, just saw you're going to be in an inpatient setting. That's different. Good luck, and just remember not to let yourself burn out.

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there is a huge learning curve for the speciality of hospice. one as an rn must have sharp assessment and clinical skills. these can not be taught but rather learned on the job. hopefully your employer will make good on the "gonna train you" part. so many hire and then lack the support internally for a new nurse. i wish you luck.

so true.

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Specializes in Skilled, Long-Term Care, and Alzheimer's.

:nurse::nurse:

I graduated in 2005 and i got my license in 2010.i never worked as a nurse before.The agency said they're gonna train me.Is it hard to work as a hospice nurse if you dont have any experience?What do i need to expect?Than you so much :)

You should go to a skilled facility for a while to get your skills on with meds and inter-acting with families first in a less sensitive setting....then go to Hospice. You will love it!

I just joined this site today. let me know how you do. You co-workers will help you. Ask LOTS of questions if you decide to go directly to Hospice....not sure if that is a good idea. Get your skills 1st.

Good luck to you.

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