blame the morphine

That's sad to hear from your co-workers. It demonstrates a lack of knowledge and education. Yes, I hear it from family and try and use those moments teachable ones. But your right it is just sad when it comes from professionals.

It sounds like you peers would benefit from some hospice education...

Thanks all! What resources or classes or books would you recommend to despell these kinds of myths? Like a hospice 101 crash course! And yes, the med director does not take charge of the hospice. In other words he lets the uninformed nurses call the shots.

Use NHPCO and HPNA resources...

Contact your state or regional hospice association...

If your hospice is not providing adequately for the symptom management needs of your patients then you are not meeting your CoPs. How can you say that your patients have their pain adequately controlled in 24-48 hours post SOC when the agency is practicing like this?? These are mandatory reporting data.

Sometimes people need to hear things clearly. As previous poster suggested your co workers could gain merit from more education. Meantime I personally would be very direct if questioned by simply stating that their perceptions "Are simply not accurate ". Stick with the facts.Pts need advocates like you. Nice job!

I'm having trouble understanding how non hospice trained personnel are even providing hospice care As a certified hospice palliative nurse I educate frequently on the myths of morphine and the actual signs of active dying process. Uneducated patients and families and other medical professionals buy into the myth and it is essential that they be educated over and over

Use NHPCO and HPNA resources...

Contact your state or regional hospice association...

If your hospice is not providing adequately for the symptom management needs of your patients then you are not meeting your CoPs. How can you say that your patients have their pain adequately controlled in 24-48 hours post SOC when the agency is practicing like this?? These are mandatory reporting data.

Lets just say their pain assessments are different than mine. Them missing non-verbal s/s of pain among other issues! I think they believe breathing 50 breaths a minute is just fine and dandy. I am considering a change, but before I do I am looking for some easy and quick educational materials for staff/family.

I'm having trouble understanding how non hospice trained personnel are even providing hospice care As a certified hospice palliative nurse I educate frequently on the myths of morphine and the actual signs of active dying process. Uneducated patients and families and other medical professionals buy into the myth and it is essential that they be educated over and over

I wish you could come and educate at this hospice! They are RNs and think they are hospice trained. Where I live one does not have to be CHPN to work in hospice. I would love to attend a symposium or class regarding this issue.

Generally, there is no requirement to be hospice certified to work in hospice. It depends on the particular organization. Personally, I would leave, as quickly as I could given the realities of employment, an agency that didn't have at least the medical director and most case managers certified.

A resource that's handy, free, and readily available with a smart phone, I-Pad, etc is Hospice Fast Facts.

End of Life/ Palliative Care Fast Facts

It's no substitute for a good hospice education program, but it's a quick reference for guidance in symptom control, communication, teaching, etc.

As hard as it is I believe you must educate and tell these coworkers and families involved that this is just not true. We all have a tendency to downplay that the pt is dying and there is no hope for recovery. I see this all the time in my ICU. Families just won't let go, and we are afraid to talk about the truth with them for fear they will think we are trying to kill their loved one.