Hospice unit in a hospital setting

[Ayonti]

Does anyone work for hospice but in a hospital setting where you work solely in the hospital and not have to travel all the time. Is it less stressful?

[leslie :-D]

Does anyone work for hospice but in a hospital setting where you work solely in the hospital and not have to travel all the time. Is it less stressful?

not all hospitals have inpt palliative care/hospice units.

but thankfully, word is getting out and many hospitals have implemented these particular services.

it is typically fast paced and short-term, with the hospice services anyway.

it is also more acute in nature, w/the potential of putting out many different fires.

the biggest misconception i have found is nurse to pt ratio.

some units will assign 1 nurse, 1 aide to 8 actively dying pts.

some are still receiving chemo and radiation.

some have many systems failing simultaneously.

and just as important, is the time constraints.

most times, the pt and family have just learned of the futility of treatment, and were immediately transferred to hospice.

i would suggest you ask about pt acuity and time-consuming nsg mgmt.

i worked in-pt for sev'l yrs.

many times, i only had 2-3 pts.

but that was after persistent requests, along w/showing how standards of care suffered (and so, the dying pts), when pt loads were unrealistic.

and please, it's so important the medical director has experience in this speciality.

best of luck to you.

leslie

[suebird3]

I worked as an Agency nurse in an Inpt. Hospital Based Hospice several years back. Decent place. Any job is 'stressful', but....Hospice has always been dear to me.

SueB :)

[Ayonti]

not all hospitals have inpt palliative care/hospice units.

but thankfully, word is getting out and many hospitals have implemented these particular services.

Thanks leslie for the info. I quit my very first nursing job after 3 months of employment because of the stress. I thought hospice would be alittle different but it seems it can be just as stressful. I am home now, unemployed trying to figure out what I can do with my BSN and 3 months of experience without all the stress.