Any Hospice nurses out there?

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2010

They have their own forum under "Nursing Specialties" under the "Specialities" tab at the top of your screen. Mods - should we move this thread?

cmmny · Jun 5, 2010

Oh, sorry! I don't know how to move it..

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2010

Oh, sorry! I don't know how to move it..

You can't :) - I left that message for the moderators. Eventually your thread will get moved.

But in the meantime, I highly recommend you check out the hospice-specific forum. I'm an onc RN and I know hospice RNs are fantastic; they'll be more than willing to help you out!

cmmny · Jun 5, 2010

I want to work in Oncology but can't seem to find a job anywhere, so I am considering doing Hospice in the meantime.

SWS RN, ASN, RN · Jun 5, 2010

Before this gets moved I want to add my two cents.

I worked in patient Hospice at a free standing facility and I LOVED it.

I also went out in to the community and did home hospice and did not care for it at all. However, that's a personal preference I think.

I was paid roughly the same rate that I was making in ICU in a large hospital. The benefits were about the same too.

What was not the same was the attitude of the patients and families.

I always felt appreciated in Hospice and never once did I feel as if the nurse was being taken advantage of.

It was very sad at times but by the time they were admitted to our care, most of the families and nearly all of the patients had come to terms with the fact that their lives were coming to an end.

It was gratifying to help them have the best end of life experience they could possibly have.

Keeping them clean, comfortable, pain free and dignified was a wonderful experience. When the time comes, that is how I hope to go out!

Again, I loved it!

as a last thought I do think it is important to have some hospital experience before venturing into Hospice.

It is also important to come to terms with how you personally feel about the end of life and the cessation of agressive interventional treatment.

Palliative care is its own speciality with its own belief system.

This may be a little difficult to come to terms with if you are in the oncology mind set...where all stops are pulled out when it comes to care.

And never give up seems to be the motto...at least when I worked Heme/Onc.

Hospice is really not giving up/more like acceptance and knowing when you've fought the good fight and now it's time to move on to the next level.

It can be a peaceful and beautiful thing. There really is such a thing as a "good" death.

Good Luck,

S

cmmny · Jun 6, 2010

Thanks so much for the advice SWS..I am a recent RN graduate but was an LPN for 14 yrs prior. Most of my experience has been in long-term care so I have had alot of exposure to Hospice. I have a friend who worked Hospice for a while and she loved it except for the enormous amount of paperwork she had to do.

SWS RN, ASN, RN · Jun 6, 2010

Good to hear.

Many of the nurses I worked with in Hospice were LPNs too.

Have you ever done Home Health in the past?

I did and did not care for it and the same for home hospice. I do have friends who do hhc and like it quite well. Expecially crisis care when it comes down to the last few hours.

I just like the aura of being in a facility. I also did LTC and I think that can be a good stepping stone.

Again, I think your attitude and beliefs are more important that experience.

Try it, try it, try it!

s

ps. I think it may make somewhat of a difference if you work for a "for profit" vs non profit organization...I'd go for the non profit every time!

neutrophil · Jun 6, 2010

I have found hospice work very rewarding. I found that you get personal with the patient and the family, more so than hospitals or LTC. I have cared for some people that, as many elderly, have a past full of wonder. Those are the patients that I remember the most. Some can really get under your skin.

I have found that comfort care, is important however you really need to weigh your thoughts on that. You will normally be given the "cocktail," to give. Roxanol 20 mg/Ml. Ativan, perhaps 0.5. Atropine, or scopolamine patch. When death is imminent, the respiration's are low and labored, you might give some roxanol and they may die in 2 to 10 minutes. You will do rectal disimpactions, breathing treatments, IV's, well a variety of things. I think the closeness with the patient and their family is special. You have to be cut out for it, but won't know til you try it. As Mother Teresa said. "In this life we cannot do great things, only small things with great love." That attitude helps.