Hospice...job or way of life?

Hospicetex · Jul 1, 2010

Seriously folks...if you are working for a hospice who treats you like a visit machine, start looking for another hospice employer. If your agency has no qualms about sacrificing your personal life to care for their patients, and criticizes you if you say no...start looking for another employer.
If you feel like YOU are obligated to the patients more than the agency is...you are at risk for burnout ...pronto. Hospice nurses are not islands. We do not provide hospice care in a vacuum. This MUST be a team approach and that means that other nurses CAN see patients on your team...that MSW and pastoral care can respond to prn visits for dysfunctional families...that you may take a break and have time away from work.
I worked for a hospice that threatened the staff, had unreasonable expectations, and were NEVER satisfied with the efforts of the nurses. Nurses were told on a regular basis..."if you don't like it go elsewhere, there are tons of nurses looking for work". I am long gone...but the staff there are angry, tired, and have very poor professional self esteem. The agency replaces more nurses than it retains EVERY YEAR. The turnover rate for MSWs is also very high.
For many of us, hospice is a "calling"...that does not mean that I am called to be abused by my employer. Hospice is too emotionally demanding to also have to deal with emotionally abusive employers. We experience cumulative loss, we are frequently sad with our patients, we often have hectic and demanding work loads, and we have the added stress of driving in what are occasionally dangerous conditions and areas...there is no room in this specialty for unsupportive agencies which want to displace THEIR responsibilities onto us.
It IS okay to say no to after-hours visits if you are not signed up to provide that. The patients are not "ours" they are patient's of the hospice. We simply work for the hospice to provide the nursing care. The nursing needs of those patients during your scheduled off hours are NOT our responsibility...they are the responsibility of the agency.
Hospice nurses MUST have clear and good boundaries. Hospice nurses MUST take care of themselves in order to be healthy enough to care for the patients. Part of that self care is attention to the things you love...family, hobbies, etc.
Please do not be bullied into "living" hospice for your company...let the owner or managers or directors "live" it.
As leslie said...it is a bunch of crap...and it is based in disrespect for you and what you do.
Take good care of your patients and then go home and take good care of yourself.

I wanted to give you a standing ovation but it would only let me give you one kudo! I am looking for another job. I do love Hospice nursing and feel it is where I belong but at the end of the day I belong to my family and my life. Your right in each point you made. I know there are other hospice agencies that appreciate their employees.

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2010

For me hospice is a way of life. I'm working part time now d/t being a full time student. When I was full time, my DON would always ask me to do extra little things...but for me it was really no big deal. My kids are grown and gone from home. When my husband was dx with prostate CA and I needed time off for doc visits, etc. my DON had no problem with me going home early or starting my day late. She would often see some of my pts. for me. I agree that we all have to set boundaries and that's not always an easy thing to do, but I think management can make or break good staff (nurses, MSW's, CNA's). I'm grateful to work for an excellent group of people and look forward to working for them as an RN after graduation.

caliotter3 · Jul 2, 2010

Tewdles said it perfectly. This post can be applied to virtually all jobs.

tewdles, RN · Jul 2, 2010

wow...even after 2 glasses of wine...

LOL

annacnatorn · Jul 2, 2010

wow...even after 2 glasses of wine...
LOL

Tewdles.. :clown: ..Your to much!..:D...I hope it's Red Wine..:redbeathe:yeah::redpinkhe:up:....This is Friday...time for some Red Wine!...hehe..my fav!

tewdles, RN · Jul 2, 2010

"...but I think management can make or break good staff (nurses, MSW's, CNA's)"

Hospice Nurse LPN...so right...the management of the clinical staff is an extremely important aspect of having a successful hospice. Of course, by successful I do not necessarily mean profitable. Too many of the best not for profit hospices DEPEND upon charitable donations and fund-raisers to survive.

Bubbles · Jul 5, 2010

Thank you tewdles. Well said and something of which many of us need to be reminded. It is all too easy for hospice employers to take advantage of compassionate hospice nurses. I feel hospice employers SHOULD care for their nurses because of the difficulty of the work we do. I am currently not working and considering retirement. I have several years hospice experience and I loved what I was doing. I still miss my former hospice patients. But I know it was common practise for nurses to complete the paperwork after hours. There was a time when we were salaried employees. But then the hospice company I was working for was purchased by another. Our census started dropping and we suddenly became hourly employees with not enough patients for a 40 hour week. Eventually employees were laid off. I have had some interesting experiences since which have made me very cautious about joining another hospice. I worked for one hospice that had no company provided cell phones or Blackberries, no morning report, insufficient forms and medical supplies, and not one RN Case Manager with the company more than five months! Since that nightmare I ask a lot more questions when I interview with other hospice firms.

mschelee, MSN, RN · Jul 10, 2010

[! Since that nightmare I ask a lot more questions when I interview with other hospice firms.

Could you list a few good questions to ask on a interview for a Hospice Case MRG position? Ive only worked inpatient, so I did 3 12 hour shifts. I am seeing lot of talk of 50+ hours a week and it's a bit daunting. What questions will help me decide if it is a good company to work for as a new grad?