does anyone do pediatric hospice?

I was just curious about your job and what all it entails. How long do you spend with each child, what sort of things do you do or say to the parents. Inpatient or in the home setting? Basically tell me as much as you can about your specialty. I'm very interested.:redbeathe

Thanks!

Michelle

[Spendercash]

I have done Pediatric Hospice for years it's difficult but, very important to make sure that child has a good death so the family can lessen the guilt they sometimes feel espcially when it is an infant with birth defects. I have done Adult care for the last year because I needed a break from my kids dying. I am a Hospice educator as well so you would think it would get less emotional and painful but it doesn't. I'm going back to Peds this month though enough of adult care for me...lol

I would be glad to provide any info I can if you would like to email me privately.

Sherri RN

[jmsnkids]

Hi--I am one of the first nurses to work at George Mark Children's House in northern California. We are the nation's first free standing end of life and respite facility just for kids:yeah:. It is the career of a lifetime for me and I plan on retiring and becoming a volunteer in 20 or so years!

My day is so filled with love, joy, laughter,tears, grief, frustration, accomplishment and challenge that it truly is hard to put into words. I have never worked in such an incredible place with such talented and compassionate team members. Our kids and families are the most wonderful and appreciative people I have ever known:bow:. I am truly blessed and exhausted every shift I work!

Thanks for the interest in this vocation of my lifetime..JeanMarie:redpinkhe

[chicagogirl541]

Hello!

I"m also interested in Pediatric Hospice and Peds Palliative Care. I've looked around for educational opportunities, but it seems that the National Hospice only allows you to sit after 2 years of experience.

Like the first post - I"m interested in the day to day work that is done as the primary nurse.

Thanks!

[rachelgeorgina]

I have a job interview in my state's (I'm in Australia) only paediatric hospice - one of three in the state.

I'm a student at the moment and going for an AIN position.

Paeds is my ultimate goal for nursing etc so I really, really want to get this job. It's such an opportunity. I've been reading up and researching as much as I can... but I'm still really nervous!

[mimi55]

jmsnkids

Just curious are you still in pediatric hospice? This reply was from 9/2008. If so I have questions.

[rachelgeorgina]

I got the hospice job a few months back. The facility I work at takes children and can accommodate their families as well and we take terminally ill children for respite as well as end of life care.

- The main tasks throughout the day are feeds (a good majority of kids come with PEG tubes) and meds and of course basic nursing tasks like baths (which we tend to make a lot of fun- we recently got a brand new, swiss hydraulic bath, which we put the kids in with plenty of toys).

- Meal times are a family affair - we have a dinning room and an on-staff chef and the families, patients and staff all eat together family style.

- We have a play therapist on staff who manages leisure and recreation for all our kids, though a lot of the time the kids are happy to watch DVD after DVD or play the ten thousand different video games we have.

- The facility is located in a bedside suburb and we often take the kids on outings (with the resident dog, often) down to the shops or to the beach. We had one little girl who was only comfortable in her tub chair (you know, a water chair?) So we took her to the beach in her water chair!

[jmsnkids]

Hello again,

Thanks for the new posts regarding Pediatric Palliative/Respite/Hospice Care. George Mark Children's House is the nations' only freestanding independant facility for this kind of care. It is still the job of a lifetime for me! Please feel free to ask any questions. Thanks for your interest. JeanMarie

[Taliacoley]

Jeanmarie,

I am a nursing student and presenting a presentation on Pediatric free standing hospice facilities. I have been looking up information on George Marks. I was wondering if you would mind me using your testimony about what you do? Also would you be able to direct me to where i might be able to view pictures of George Marks and possible parent testimony?

This presentation is a special project for our Nursing Program and only a few selected topics were accepted to present so i am trying to make it as informative as possible and I really want to touch the audience.

Thanks so much for what you do and for your time.

Talia Coley

[jmsnkids]

Hi Talia,

You can email me by clicking on the envelope icon above for any further questions or information on our program. I also suggest that you check out the online sites for Canuck Place in Vancouver Canada and Helen House in London. They are the templates for all Pediatric Palliative care centers to come and were very supportive of our development. Please drop me a note and I will help you as much as I can!

JeanMarie;)