what is it like to work in a hospice facility?

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My brief experience in hospice was limited to home visits, I am considering going back into hospice as I enjoyed the work and pace..can anyone describe what it's like to work in hospice in-patient facilities? What is your patient load like? It's not as chaotic as hospital, right? (hopeful)

Does anyone work for an agency that allows you to float back and forth between home and facility?

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I manage an inpatient unit with a ratio of 1:6. It is rewarding and a great environment to work in. The one hard part of inpatient care is the emotional stress from the frequent patient turn around. Self care is very important. I find the floor to be as busy as the hospital (my past life was oncology), but a different kind of busy. The care you provide is not only the care of the patient, but also the care/support of the family.

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our ratio is 1:4 max.

but we have very few respite cases.

most of our pts, are acutely and seriously ill, w/unrelenting symptomology.

often i will only have 2 pts, who command every available part of my heart, brain and soul.

put emotionally fragile families into the mix, it's a surefire recipe for instant burnout.

but still, the relationships formed, are solid, deep and meaningful...

in spite of all the chaos, i couldn't see me doing anything else.

leslie

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