Have any of you started out as volunteers?

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

Hi, all,

I must say that being a hospice nurse has always been part of my career "blue print"; I was hoping it would be toward the end of my career (after much experience), but is seems that not much is working as planned nowadays.

I have done some acute care (and learned that it's definitely not for me), as well as several years of dialysis. Now I'm looking for work, but no outpt or home care employers (including local hospices) are hiring. So I have decided to start volunteering at the hospice I am most impressed with and hope that it may lead to employment once they start hiring again (which they must - right?!) And perhaps I may find out that I don't really want to do this... but I doubt that.

Anyway, do you think I'm wasting my time (not that volunteering is wasting time, but one might say I should spend more effort looking for paid work). Or could this be an opportunity to be considered for employment? And of course, they may decide to keep me for free instead of offering me a job

I'm excited to finally get some "inside" info of a nursing specialty I have always felt passionate about - palliative care and death with dignity. So I'm sure that I won't be "wasting my time", no matter what.

Thanks for any input, and best wishes to all practicing hospice nurses -

DeLana

[MissIt]

Is this inpatient or outpatient hospice? I have found that volunteering at the inpatient hospice is an invaluable way to make contacts and see if it's a good match. At our company, we can't volunteer as nurses, but as a patient care volunteer, we do a lot of CNA type work. It's wonderful.

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

Is this inpatient or outpatient hospice? I have found that volunteering at the inpatient hospice is an invaluable way to make contacts and see if it's a good match. At our company, we can't volunteer as nurses, but as a patient care volunteer, we do a lot of CNA type work. It's wonderful.

This hospice provides in home and nursing home care and has an inpt facility (hospice house) as well; I want to volunteer (at least initially) in the hospice house. It's the same here, nurses can "only" assist with with pt care. I'm looking forward to it and hope to get some valuable inside information along the way.

Are you a hospice nurse who volunteers as well?

Thanks for the response,

DeLana

[MissIt]

I'm taking an RN refresher and will start prn at the inpatient facility as soon as I'm done. And, yes, I plan to continue to volunteer. I actually like volunteering even better than nursing, but it doesn't pay very well! LOL

You really get to know the CNAs and other support staff because you are doing things like going down to the kitchen for mashed potatoes or helping with a bedbath. You are often the extra muscle when people need turning. The nurses and nursing assistants know that I"m a nurse and that I'm planning to work there. I've had people grab me when they're doing procedures, wound care, etc. to show me things and explain things to me. After my clinical bit for the RN refresher (I'll do it at the local hospital in oncology, which is my background), the nurse manager is letting me shadow for awhile so I can learn the hospice specific things before I start for real. I'm sure they are all helping me so much because I'm part of the team. And this will be the easiest job transition ever-- I already know where things are stored, who to call for different needs, the personalities of the staff. And, most importantly, I love it there-- the staff, the patients, I love everything about it. I can't wait for my shifts.

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

Thanks again, what you describe is exactly what I'm hoping for. No matter what, I know it's not a mistake to volunteer with the hospice.

BTW, I always wanted to do oncology, but it has never worked out (not by choice, by circumstance)... and I hoped it would prepare me for my "career destination", hospice. You will indeed be a very prepared "new" hospice nurse!

Best of luck with your refresher course and beyond,

DeLana