Considering Hospice Opportunity

[NBMom1225]

I have also posted this in the Hospice Nursing forum:)

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?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

That sounds like a good opportunity. I personally have not ever worked in Hospice, but I have heard of potential drawbacks from others. Some things to check on:Is your hourly rate only paid for the time spent with the patient or for the time spent documenting as well? I understand that there can be a tremendous amount of documentation required for in-home visits.Will you be required to take call? If so, how would that work if you live 1.5 hours away?

[NBMom1225]

That sounds like a good opportunity. I personally have not ever worked in Hospice, but I have heard of potential drawbacks from others. Some things to check on:Is your hourly rate only paid for the time spent with the patient or for the time spent documenting as well? I understand that there can be a tremendous amount of documentation required for in-home visits.Will you be required to take call? If so, how would that work if you live 1.5 hours away?

In my interview their was no mention of taking call, and they even specified that there were seperate on-call positions available in addition to the RN case manager position. You bring up a good point on the hourly rate, I hadn't thought to ask at the time...I don't imagine there's a Kronos to clock into like I do on the floor of my current job:rolleyes:. I'll definitely have to ask some more detailed questions before accepting a job offer, if they even call me back of course, lol.