I am Really Enjoying My Hospice Clinicals (Community Health Class)

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I am currently doing a rotation in Hospice. I love the whole purpose of it. The interdisciplinary team. Working with the families. I really feel like people deserve to have all the support and care Hospice offers at end of life.

How do you all recommend I get into the field. Many are wanting two years acute care.. I understand building skills but I hate to wait two years to enter this specialty.

[cmfrt_care_rn]

I also wanted to go directly into hospice. I got a lot of great experience working as a CNA at a hospice facility while I was in pre-nursing and nursing school. I learned a lot about what to expect in the dying process and whether or not I would be able to handle it emotionally. Even with 3 years CNA experience, I left that job for a skilled nursing unit in LTC so I could work on my nursing skills after I got my RN. I'm very glad I did that, even if only a year (I would have gone to med-surg but couldn't find/get a job there). If you can find a facility/assisted living with services that specializes in end-of-life care you can learn a lot while having the support of other people. When you are a case manager, which I am now, you spend a lot of time on your own. Hospice is such a rewarding job for me. Occasionally it's hard, but for the most part I love helping people and their families through a special time in life. Good luck and best wishes!

[Kittypower123, BSN, RN]

I also worked in LTC first. I learned a lot and feel that I was better prepared for hospice.