hospice education

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I have been employed with a hospice agency for two months and I am loving it. My nursing experience prior to this was med-surg. What I'm searching for is some type of educational guide specific to the hospice setting, something that will give me detailed info on disease processes and how to manage the symptoms. I can't find anything other than guides on medicines used for specific symptoms. Thank you.

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"Notes on Symptom Control In Hospice & Palliative Care" by Peter Kaye has been around for awhile but is still a good reference book. Go online to NHPCO - they have conferences and written materials you can buy. Join your state Hospice Association, or see if your employer has a membership. Often the state organizations put on yearly conferences that are well worth attending.

hospicenurse

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"Notes on Symptom Control In Hospice & Palliative Care" by Peter Kaye has been around for awhile but is still a good reference book. Go online to NHPCO - they have conferences and written materials you can buy. Join your state Hospice Association, or see if your employer has a membership. Often the state organizations put on yearly conferences that are well worth attending.

hospicenurse

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I finally have joined your ranks and got a job today at a local non-profit hospice. It will be my first hospice job (my background is ICU primarily), and I will be managing 12-14 patients; this is a full time job. I just recently joinedthe HPNA and ordered the book by Peter Kaye. What other resources do you all find useful? The nurse manager mentioned an algorithm book (name escapes me) that is pocket sized and she found helpful. Any other books or websites you all recommend? Also..since I will be spending a lot of time in my car, what can I write off, tax-wise and what records should I keep? Thanks a lot! Kim

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Congratulations! I've heard the Kaye book is very good but I'm not familiar with it myself. This is the algorithm book that our medical director recommends:

http://www.growthhouse.org/books/seaman.htm

I have that one and it is an excellent resource.

As for web sites, I continually return to the EPERC website to check out the Fast Facts. I see there is one there now on myoclonus and one on radiopharmaceuticals I want to read. Here is their url:

http://www.eperc.mcw.edu/start.cfm

And my other favorite site is the Journal of Supportive Oncology. The previous issues are available in PDF format and there are some fabulous articles there. There is one in the 2003 issues on managing dyspnea that is particularly good.

http://www.supportiveoncology.net/index.html

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I believe the Kaye book is called "Notes on Palliative Care" or something like that. I have it and it is a terrific resource.

You might want to check out the core curriculum book HPNA has. It covers just about everything you need to know as a hospice nurse, and if you are interested in certification in the future, it is a great study tool.

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aimee-

those 'fast facts' on the eperc website are awesome.

it covers everything one would need to know in a pinch.

many of what i read has vindicated what i've been doing all along with my hospice patients, which made me feel good.

also, the rn did most of the pronouncements where i worked. very seldom would a doctor do them....also most of the mds would delegate the task to me, of informing the family.

i believe i have some hospice/palliative care resources saved in my electronic documents on my desktop. once i have access to it, i'll look it up and send it along here.

leslie

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aimee-

those 'fast facts' on the eperc website are awesome.

it covers everything one would need to know in a pinch.

many of what i read has vindicated what i've been doing all along with my hospice patients, which made me feel good.

Exactly! I love that site and try to pass it along to all the new nurses who orient with our hospice. Its good to see in print that the "experts" are saying the same things that we are being taught.

Looking forward to seeing what resources you have to share, Leslie.

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I finally have joined your ranks and got a job today at a local non-profit hospice. It will be my first hospice job (my background is ICU primarily), and I will be managing 12-14 patients; this is a full time job. I just recently joinedthe HPNA and ordered the book by Peter Kaye. What other resources do you all find useful? The nurse manager mentioned an algorithm book (name escapes me) that is pocket sized and she found helpful. Any other books or websites you all recommend? Also..since I will be spending a lot of time in my car, what can I write off, tax-wise and what records should I keep? Thanks a lot! Kim

The handbook I like is " Symptom Management Algorithms-A Handbook for Palliative Care " By Linda Wrede-Seaman, MD

Best Wishes to ya and your new job!!!

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Hi ya'll. I am fairly new to Hospice and am looking for any good websites about hospice. (Palliative care, pain management) Really anything that will help me learn and help my patients out more. Does anyone know of any good books or websites that will help me?

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I've merged several threads here in answer to the last poster's question.

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