Has hospice agencies changed so much, we just don't recognize the industry??

[SoCalRN1970]

I know this may be more or a rant or not, but over the last 6 months I have had one hell of time bouncing from agency to agency.

Not because I can not do my job, but more or less the pressure or the bizarre unwritten rules for some?

I have been in hospice almost 9 years. I remember my first job. I worked for a smaller agency 80 patients. I had a super close team, and a SMALL office support staff. I should of stayed here instead of venturing out and getting nailed to the wall with the realistic, non patient centered care and priority.

I have worked for too many agencies in just this six months. 2 !! One office had 3 General Managers before I left! I was given a huge huge area to manage. I lasted 5 months there. Last employer was by far the worst. I listed it below as BAIT AND SWITCH. It was an unwritten rule. You carried a full time load. You were expected to take admits and work over time, god forbid you have kids, a class or other outside obligations. If you did not work over time you were frowned upon. ( mandatory ot is not ok ) ONgoing issues with payroll and worst? Huge service area that was NOTHING like I was told. On Call.. a month after I was hired ( I was not no on call !! ) I also was expected to maintain that full time case load for 4 days and be an admissions RN on the 5th day.. with NO help for my patients. It was horrific, and they shorted my final pay to the tune of hundreds of dollars. My sweet manager who liked me, did NOT like me by the time I walked out with a short notice. Productivity, numbers, and why did it take you an hour and a half to drive 40 miles in midday traffic. My job before that asked me to fruadulently document on patients who were not appropriate for hospice and I asked to "make some numbers up" to show decline. Imagine that!!B??

Am I just hitting bad luck? I mean this is awful! Is this almost the industry norm? Its enough to want to go into IPA Case Management or something.

[tewdles, RN]

Noey, you have definitely been through the employment ringer over the past months. I has been almost painful to follow it through your posts.

Unfortunately, just like with any high stress nursing job, the stress of the workplace can speed our development of compassion fatigue. It is, after all, difficult to meet the very intense needs of our patients/families, when you feel that not even your most basic professional needs are being met by your employer.

I can only recommend that you take care of yourself. Do some research on hospices in your geographical area. Interview with the ones recommended by happy staff. Make sure that you are asking THEM the hard questions so that you can feel an improved level of trust at the outset.

I have been there and done that on a smaller scale and I feel your pain...Good luck!

[AtlantaRN, RN]

I can't imagine being questioned why it would take you 1 hr to go 40 miles through midday traffic. Some companies are just unrealistic and they are hellbent on getting numbers up without giving the patients already on service, the care they need.

I'm with tewdles-take care of yourself, take some time to regroup, and if you are still in the area of the first job you mentioned, i would try to go back.....they seem to be the only ones with "heart".

[mrr5745]

http://www.glassdoor.com is a good place to check. Sometimes the company reviews are brutal, but tend to be pretty accurate...