Hospice care nursing career options

[sameasalways, ASN, RN]

I am considering becoming a hospice nurse. I have been working med/surg for one year now. (I graduated last year). I did a clinical rotation at a hospice facility here in town while doing nursing school and that is when I fell in love with it. Also, my grandmother and both grandfather's died of cancer. My uncle of liver cancer, and my other cancer of Hep C. I am just starting out in my career of nursing and someday I would like to become a Nurse practitioner or atleast get my bachelor's degree and possibly work in Public health. But really I have so many interests I am not sure which direction I want to go, other than I know and have always known I do not want to do regular floor nursing. I love women's health and working with young adults/teens as well, and I love teaching anything to anyone. I originally wanted to be a social worker and got my associates in behavioral sciences prior to the birth of my 2nd son 12 years ago. But 4 years ago decided to go into nursing and began working toward my nursing degree.

I am at a serious point in my life where some major changes are going to occur such as a divorce and perhaps in the next year moving somewhere else. But the hospice facility near me will be hiring soon and I have been waiting for this for atleast six months. I actually applied a year ago when I first heard they would be opening a new wing this coming fall. I really loved the few opportuniteis I had to work with families and help them through the decision to make their family member a DNR/CMO at the hospital but I truly believe that at the hospital we do not have the time to give the comfort and education that the patient or family should have. The hospice facility I am speaking of is the very first time I did a clinical rotation and felt that this is what nursing should be about...(does that sound odd???). So I am concerned about making a change to hospice nursing for my career because I have to support my children and I wouldn't want to put myself in a situation where if I have to move a year from now that I would not be able to find a job. But I do not like my current job, although I respect all that I have learned there. I also feel like my job with the fast pace has taken my focus away from the caring part of nursing the way I felt things should be...I am not cold and calloused yet but I can see how working where I work can mold a person in to that if they aren't careful. I want to be able to really be able to comfort someone on different levels, not just to bring them morphine or their scheduled daily meds like I do at the hospital. Are my concerns legitimate? Is Hospice nursing a safe career alternative? Thank you!

On a side note, does anyone know of any program where an animal is brought into these faciliteis to help comfort these patients? I seriously considered training my labrador for this as she was the most calm dog ever, but alas she became old and I was focused on my schooling..we had to put her down for health reasons. REgardless, I love animals as well and it is still something on my mind that is of interest to me...I can see how animals could bring so much comfort to someone.

[nhelkhound]

By all means, if you feel a pull toward hospice, pursue it. I went to nursing school (in my 40's) to become a hospice nurse. You can make a huge difference in the final months (or,sadly, sometimes only days) of your patients and families. You can make a good salary. Investigate becoming hospice certified (I am) by going to HPNA.com. Best of luck.

[teach_hospiceRN]

wow, it sounds like you have many changes approaching in your life. change is the only constant in life however, and how you handl those changes is what counts. hospice is for those of us who have that calling to it, a desire to help patients and families during the hardest part of their life cycle. yhey need special people who are dedicated to this and if this is what you want, go for it. the other changes have not occurred yet but you can begin preparing for them and it helps to have something dear to you as your income to back you up for those changes.

as to the pet part of your question, absolutely! pets are used in therapy for all sorts of reasons now. hospices have pets of all kinds utilized, dogs, cats, rabbits, birds. most anything. if you have a pet, or get a pet, you can train them for this type of work as well.

good luck to you with all the changes.