I am new to hospice. I am perdeim. I am working essentially out of two different offices for the same company.
I am not getting the best feeling from hospice. I cannot put my finger on it but I am not entirely sure anymore if this is what I should be doing. (Or maybe the company)
Everyone is very nice. BUT. I just can't put my finger on it. I am not getting the education and information that I need. I feel left out of the loop. Though I have done everything to keep myself informed.
I am presented with face sheets only on patients. It seems that I am to deduce everything by osmosis or mind reading.
Maybe I am slow. My so called orientation took several weeks BUT was haphazard fragmented and very incomplete. I spent a lot of time during orientation just spinning my wheels and looking at the backs of my hands. When I suggested time could be better spent I was told not to worry.
So here I am supposed (I guess) to know what I am doing and making mistakes. I can't keep one patient from another straight in my mind and it seems that I am expected to. Although I have seen many patients often only once or twice.
I don't know from one day to the next if I will be working as they don't see fit to inform me. Yet I am supposed to provided them with a detailed calendar of my availablity.
They are very nice BUT. I just don't know. I am unclear about what is and is not hospice criteria. Don't know how to tell which meds and treatments we are covering on a given patinent. On one pt. we may cover resp. meds and O2, and with another we may not.
I just am not used to feeling this uncertain about something and having it work out. I was told by one nurse that I confided a little in to give it at least 6 mo.
I don't want to job hop. I feel I am giving a lot a free time away, because of the way we have to do our time and travel reports.
Sounds like a sad situation, Agnus. Bravo to you for sticking to your guns and not allowing yourself to be stretched beyond the breaking point. I hope they wake up and direct their efforts at a remedy that will allow them to cover their bases without undue stress on their employees.
I can see some real workable solutions that could benefilt everyone. [bUT]
Everyone is in LOVE with thier stress. They seem to get their sense of importace by how much stress they carry and how much they can self induce. The message I was getting we are miserable and we will not stand for anyone not being miserable along with us.
I am also fairly new to Hospice and it has been a dream of mine since I did a Hospice rotation in nursing school. I have been in my position for about 8 months and love it. That is not to say that there are times when I question myself but luckily our Hospice works with the team approach and all the nurses work together and are always willing to teach or lend a hand. Also we have a pharmacy that is very helpful that we can call anytime and check if something is covered under our per diem. Also we have a wonderful administration who supply us with retreats and a 3 week orientation that is wonderful so that helps. Maybe you need to talk to your director and suggest more of a team approach or a longer orientation. My team also makes a first visit to the patient that includes a social worker, bereavement coordinator, chaplain, myself, and a volunteer coordinator so that we all know what is going on with the patient from day one and get to meet the family. Also this makes the family feel more comfortable and you also have that support group to call on if you feel lost or unsure. Hope things get better for you because Hospice is a very rewarding career if you are made to feel a part of the team.
I am also fairly new to Hospice and it has been a dream of mine since I did a Hospice rotation in nursing school. I have been in my position for about 8 months and love it. That is not to say that there are times when I question myself but luckily our Hospice works with the team approach and all the nurses work together and are always willing to teach or lend a hand. Also we have a pharmacy that is very helpful that we can call anytime and check if something is covered under our per diem. Also we have a wonderful administration who supply us with retreats and a 3 week orientation that is wonderful so that helps. Maybe you need to talk to your director and suggest more of a team approach or a longer orientation. My team also makes a first visit to the patient that includes a social worker, bereavement coordinator, chaplain, myself, and a volunteer coordinator so that we all know what is going on with the patient from day one and get to meet the family. Also this makes the family feel more comfortable and you also have that support group to call on if you feel lost or unsure. Hope things get better for you because Hospice is a very rewarding career if you are made to feel a part of the team.
aimeee, BSN, RN
932 Posts
Sounds like a sad situation, Agnus. Bravo to you for sticking to your guns and not allowing yourself to be stretched beyond the breaking point. I hope they wake up and direct their efforts at a remedy that will allow them to cover their bases without undue stress on their employees.