Is this a common requirement for being hired at a hospice?

[goodoldroxie]

I have found myself currently unemployed and I thought I would like to try hospice nursing. I passed the initial screening and was invited in for an interview. The interview was going quite well in my opinion until I mentioned that there had been a death in the family in January. The interview was immediately stopped and they said that it is their policy not to hire anyone who has had a death in the family within the past year. The interviewers were very apologetic about it and invited me to come back next year and apply again. I understand their premise that if one is still grieving, one may not be able to support the dying patient's family; however, people die all the time. What would happen if a person working there had a death in the family? Would they be terminated? Is that a legitimate reason for termination. Wouldn't it just add more problems to the grieving employee. I'm interested in knowing how this is handled.

[caliotter3]

Never heard of this although I can somewhat see their "point". Apparently they do not rely upon the person considered for hire having any degree of professionalism. I think this falls under the area of situational awareness. Knowing what not to say, or what to say, during an interview.

[MissIt]

I don't know about employment, but our hospice does ask volunteers who have had a recent loss to do administrative tasks, not patient care, for a year after (only volunteers that weren't working there during the loss). Nurses who have a loss in their personal lives aren't terminated, in fact they have access to our chaplains if they need someone to talk with while they are going through a difficult time.

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

At my company, our policy is to not hire anyone w/i a year of the death of a loved one. That being said, I lost my DH in Februay d/t CA. I went back to work in April and only see dementia pts. This was a mutual decision between my DON and myself. I do not want to take care of any CA pts for a while. I have had to go a couple of times, when helping out a team-mate, but the experience was very hard on me. Oh yea, I was very professional during the visit and did a good assessment and teaching, but cried my eyes out when I got back to my car.

People all grieve differently and it could be that you are emotionally ready to work in hospice. It is a wonderful job and it's very rewarding, but it can be emotionally draining at times. Wishing you the best of luck in your job search. :redbeathe

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I think too it depends on the relationship: is it a spouse or child? Or an elderly grandparent? Or a distant Uncle? And the circumstances? A traumatic sudden death or an elderly relative who is in generally declining health.

I think a blatant policy is not right.

[goodoldroxie]

Thank you for your responses. I appreciate your taking the time to answer. Please pray for me as I continue my job search.

[goodoldroxie]

To HospiceNurseLPN: So sorry to learn of your loss. God bless you.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

My hospice had the year requirement for hiring...no hiring if a first degree relative (spouse, SO, child, parent) had died in the past year. People who were already employed weren't asked to leave. If they had a difficult bereavement, however, things were done to help them cope better.

[goodoldroxie]

Thanks for the info.

[enchantmentdis, BSN, RN]

This is one of the reasons to not offer personal information in an interview. Just keep it hypothetical. Scenarios are better than true stories; and an interviewer should not encourage you to discuss your personal life either.

[surfnbeagle]

Where I worked it was not a policy. The nurses were all very professional in dealing with pts and their families. However, I did encounter several CNA's who had just had a recent loss and they would frequently talk to staff about their losses. It should be done on an individual basis. That was a good point from the other poster regarding what happens if a death occurs during the course of employment.

[goodoldroxie]

Advice well taken Enchantmentdis. I have not had to look for a job in many years. This is a new experience and everything has changed. I guess it's like going to court - "Just the facts, Ma'am".