Full time 8 Hours

Mister Chris, MSN, NP · Aug 24, 2004

Hello hospice nurses,
I am considering joing your ranks. I have shadowed with a night nurse for 4 hours and I am thinking of working evenings/nights.
Do any of you who work an in-patient unit work straight evenings or nights 5 days a week? This is making me nervous thinking of being at work practically every night. I work 12 hour shifts currently so its a big change.
Is it different in hospice, is the work load better or worse than med-surg floor nursing. Will I experience a loss of my social life in working those 5 days and not just 3?
Any stories, advice or suggestions are welcome for this struggling decision, :chair:
Thanks,
JacelRN

We welcome you to join the ranks of 'night-shifters' you will definitely find a few changes to days.

You will also find changes working in palliative/terminal care.

Iwill attempt to answer your questions but not in the same order.

The work is not necessarily better or worse in paliative care than med-surg, it is different in many ways. There is a sort of peaceful aura most of the time and we do have a lot more contact with the relatives than in the usual run of hospitals.

I hate to be blunt but the thing that hit me the hardest was the fact that virtually all of our clients do die. The very few that don't go home to die. They do not get 'better'. They come to us for peace, pain relief, comfort, love from family and friends, (and us) in their final time alive. It is our job to help them through the physical and mental stresses they are or may be experiencing, and give them and their family and loved ones support and somewhere to turn. A shoulder to cry on even. And 24 hours a day - round the clock.

I find it hard to explain in a few words, but as you have been nursing already I expect that you may have experienced some 'terminal' situations.

As far as the hours and the nights are concerned, you will most likely lose some 'social' time. You will therefore save some money - and you do get paid more on nights!

I am working 8 - 10hrs for up to 5 or 6 nights regularly, but I sleep well during the day, eat a well balanced diet and take a small to moderate ammount of regular exercise! It works for me! I have been on continuous nights now for several years, taking the odd few day shifts once in a while to make sure I know what still happens on days! I also take holidays too.

I do think though night shift does not suit everyone. Try it and see how you go, be positive and you find from regular night staff you will (I hope) get support and advice.

Extra compassion and empathy (and some time out for yourself) are some of the little extras I found I needed away from the surgery and medical areas.

Positivity, passion and patience help too.

Good luck.

Mister Chris :)

JacelRN, BSN, RN · Aug 26, 2004

Thank you Mister Chris! :)

I just interviewed with the hospice manager today and it is working out nicely since I last posted.

I am going for parttime nights, 3 nights a week, 8 hour shifts 11-7am. Then I plan to work optional on my current floor 12 hours a week night shift to keep my med-surg experience for now and not jump into anything hastily. I recognize that I am the type of person to fit with Hospice nursing. I tend to be compassionate to all my patients and my favorite patients are those I can connect with on a more spiritual basis. I am hoping Hospice is my true calling.

So far so good with everything and perhaps in the near future I will work 5 days a week but for now, I'm gonna try something a little less extreme!

Thanks for all the kind words and advice, I just needed to hear that someone loves this type of work and that the hours are worth it. :balloons:

God Bless,

JacelRN