Hospice Case Management

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I currently work in dialysis but am interested in hospice. I don't have any experience but am trying to work prn so I can build a foundation before I try to get into case management. I enjoy the clinical side of nursing so I worry that it would be too much paper work? What is a typical case load? Are the hours flexible? I would love to get away from the 4:45 am start time and have a little bit more freedom with my schedule. Do they give you a certain amount of cases with the requirement to see your patients once a week?

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Specializes in School Nursing.

We see all of our patients at least once a week. Many are seen multiple times a week, it just depends on what their needs are.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

Although this forum has Hospice nurses, this is not the Hospice Nurse forum. Many hospice agencies will call their nurses "Case Managers", but they are not the same as many of the case managers that frequent this forum. With that said, please continue to read this forum for advice and assistance, but I am going to ask that this post be moved appropriately to the Hospice Nurse Forum. :)

Hospice Nursing

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Moved to the Hospice Nursing forum for best chance member advice. Workload varies by employer/ patient census + location: home/ SNF/ alternate setting and dying stage of client. Case Mgmt of 15-20 clients doeable.

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Specializes in Nursing Leadership.

Hi there! I am a RNCM (hospice RN case manager) in Florida. When I first started this job other nurses told me I will have "Princess Hours" and they were correct. I RARELY work past 4p or earlier than 8a. My case load varies from 12-17 depending on our census. My work phone is active from 8a-5p M-F and that's it. I do not work weekends. I usually (not always) start my day in one of our satellite offices about 8ish. I listen to vm and see if any of my patient's had issues over the night/weekend and need an immediate visit. If not, I plan on seeing 4-5 patient's per day and try to leave my end of the week open for falls, skin tear's, focus visits. I am usually done by about 3 but use the rest of my day to order supplies, get MD orders, and call family's with updates. There is no micro-managing by my boss, but there is lots to be done. I chart in while I am with my patient's, and there is no late night charting allowed. We HAVE to be done with our paperwork (computer charting) by 6p.

I love hospice nursing, and I love the freedom that case managing provides. Just because of your curiosity I encourage you to try hospice. I wish you luck and welcome to our world!

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I was a case manager for three years (now doing on-call), and I rarely worked less than 10 hour days. I had 14-17 home patients in my case load in a busy metro area with quite a bit of driving daily. The documentation requirements are extensive, I spent many nights documenting until 8-9 pm. The hours are not flexible because you have to be available to your case load during working hours, but your schedule within that timeframe is very flexible. Unless you have a patient with symptoms, you can see them whenever you want.

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Specializes in Nursing Leadership.

Oh yeah, by the way, all of my patient's are in assisted living facilities! There is usually at least a med tech around if not nurses to provided support and education. Good point Tammy G! Home Care RNCM's have a MUCH longer day. Sorry, I forgot to mention that!

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