Graduate nurse: Path to hospice?

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2011

I think there are some inpatient facilities who hire new grads. All of the companies in my area, both inpatient and home hospice, require at least 2 year experience in med-surg, oncology, or LTC. Good luck. I've been working in hospice for the past 12 years and I love it.

ErinS, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2011

I strongly recommend, particularly if you will be working in the home, that you get a good solid year of med/surg experience. I worked in float pool, and if you could get into that it is particularly helpful. It gave me a solid understanding of pediatrics and neonatal care, which I am thankful for while caring for dying children. Working in the hospital also helps me empathize with some of the terrible things people go through before coming onto hospice. I think if you were working in an inpatient hospice, where there was someone who could support and train you, that would be fine. Good luck!

evolvingrn, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2011

I started as a new grad in an inpatient facility, its very hard to get a job as new grad but it has been fantastic in building my assessment skills. One of the things i love about inpatient is that we get a little of everything, a lot of med-surg skills but we also function as an 'er' per say and we get unstable pts at all times of day and night from the in homes. I eventually will move to case mgt but i feel this experience is invaluable in building my skillls.