Considering Hospice Opportunity

[NBMom1225]

Yesterday I had an interview for an RN case manager position at a well-know hospice agency. I think the interview went very well, with the two RN's and myself talking for about an hour and I was then asked to fill out a criminal background check and employment reference paperwork. I was told I would hear back in about a week.

I live in Southeastern Michigan, about 30 miles north of Detroit. The only positions available at this time are for the Detroit area including as far as Monroe, which is about 1.5 hrs from my home. Mileage is reimbursed at 50 cents per mile, but I forgot to ask how the mileage is calculated (from the office, from my home, etc). The pay scale starts at about 90 cents less than I currently make per hour (surgical/oncology floor with some hospice pts, $25.50/hr), but they may consider starting me at a rate closer to my current wage.

The orientation includes approximately 1-2 wks classroom training in addition to computer and Blackberry training. They then pair you with another RN (who has attended special precepting class and actually wants to precept!) and you shadow/work together for 8-10 wks. Then you start off with a 3 pt load and increase it from there, and they stressed that they do not want you be overwhealmed and you are free to speak up and let them know if at any point you feel overwhelmed. The pts are about 50/50 home based and institution based. They pay for the standard 6 holidays per year plus two additional floating holidays, and they have seperate sick time and vacation time, not combined PTO.

This sounds like an amazing opportunity, and I love the thought of being able to actually provide pt/family education and spend the time with my pts that they deserve, rather than only applying a scopolamine patch and having to run down the hall to attend to the q2 hr Dilaudid sickle cell pt, or having to try an get an order for the lap belt that had to be applied to the LOL with Alzheimer's. I feel like most of my shifts on the floor are spent running to put out one fire after the next, throwing multiple meds passes into the mix and do not feel my 6 patients are getting the level of care they deserve.

I'm just worried about leaving a job I am familiar with. Plus, the benefits wouldn't kick in until the 1st of the month after being there for 30 days, so I'm looking at paying for 2 months of COBRA...ouch! I have only been an RN for 1 year, but have had inpt hospice experience on my unit, although I have no homecare experience. Has anyone ever regreted going from bedside hospital nursing into hospice nursing?

[Ginapixi, BSN, RN]

hi, since you have hospice experience and you think you can work with it, you might do well; the "all my patients are dying" can wear on you.

BIG difference is the home visits can take longer than "planned" and then you need to drive to who knows where.... 8 hr work days are not always normal (at least from personal experience and what i read here); if you have small children and need to be home at a certain time it might be tough;

their orientation sounds outstanding however!!!!!

the other difference is you are making decisions in the home you may never have to make in a hospital setting; you will not have a full supply closet at hand, you make do with what there is..... back to basics at times; i found - after the fact- it wold have been good to talk to some of the nurses before hand, just to get a feel for the day to day "life at hospice"; then again, i have not regretted one day - would not want to go back to institutional nursing!

if you are offered the position, is there an option to shadow for a day in the field (not the office) before you agree to take the job? or can you take vacation time to start and not resign from your present position if you are worried?

just my 5 cents, hope it helps:twocents: