Re: How Much Autonomy Do Hospice Nurses Have?
I can't speak specifically for in-patient hospice, as you are still going to be w/i whatever is the culture of the institution -- after all, ICU RNs have a lot more autonomy, than the average med/surg RN, but that is going to vary from hospital to hospital, as well as the relationships between physicians/NPs and RNs.
If she/he is a good one, having a certified hospice/palliative care physician will make a big difference, because the traning includes an emphasis on working cross- inter- disciplinary, and recognizing that that the folks that are at the bedside have the best picture of the current situation.
Ideally, the RNs who are going to be working w/the doc would get to be part of the hiring process, but that's probably asking a bit much.
Nursing News