Staffing for hospice, a question please

[laurasc]

I just had a job interview at the local hospice. I have a question regarding staffing. The hospice has 10 beds and is staffed by 1 RN and 2 PSW's (Personal Support Workers) on both day and night shifts. During the day there's also a resident care coordinator and lots of volunteers. At night extra help can be available but needs to be arranged during the day. Does that strike you as adequate staffing especially for the nights?

Just wondering.

Thanks

[jamieN]

It seems adequate from the standpoint that you are mainly administering comfort care, therefore are not concerned with the ADLS and such at night.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

I worked inpt hospice for four years, night shift. We did lots of bathing, massage, painted toenails, gave foot massages, etc at noc.

Many pts want to talk at night. A pt being able to discuss their fears and/or concerns while receiving care is wonderful for them.

I worked at three different inpt units for the same company. The largest was 12 beds, the smallest, 8. One nurse to two UAPs does not sound like enough, IMO.

Some family members were there 24 hrs a day. The families can be very demanding and take up a lot of your time. There is a lot of family education and psych/social support to give.

Some of the pts we received were in severe pain and sx crises.

Pain and sx mgmt for them could be very intensive.

Usually, we were staffed with three nurses for 12 pts, and believe it or not, things could get really busy and hectic at times.

[laurasc]

Thank you for your replies. To be honest, I had alarm bells going off in my head while I was being interviewed...especially after I was told that they had a lot of falls lately.

I turned the offer down.

Thanks again,

Laura

[renerian, BSN, RN]

The one I was at that was the same bed ratio and staffing ratio.

renerian