Need help from a palliative care NP

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I am trying to get into palliative care but I'm hit with the old, do you have experience? No? Sorry, no dice. I have applied as an RN, same issue. Maybe I can mold my résumé with a sprinkling of a few key phrases from the palliative care perspective.

Thanks

Tim

Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.

Wow RNgrad2006, good for you and a great idea. Currently looking for work when I'd much rather be working. I'll contact them tomorrow. Thanks.

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I was hired straight out of NP school to work in the hospice field but I had hospice background as an RN, but we just hired an NP that has no hospice experience because we thought she would be a good fit for us, so it takes finding the right place with the right people.

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Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.

GREAT NEWS! I have accepted a position with hospice and start the 14th of this month. Due to the bizzare nature of the NP law in this state, I am hired as an RN until my NP license has been approved. Thank you all for your good wishes and advise.

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Alright!! Goooo Tim! I am so very happy for you!! ???????? Best of luck in your new career!

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Specializes in retail.

Hi,

I have been looking into Palliative Care as well and there are some people/MD's I've talked with that say your personality and desire to work in this field are the most important things, but then they also say it is necessary to have a very good understanding of pain management/narcotics before you can do the job.

In other words, you can't just take the job without formal training.

I'm curious what they told you was needed as far as your skills and if they said they were going to give you real training.

thanks

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Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.

The agency that picked me up was good with training me and being patient with neophitness. I think what got me the job was my ernest desire to make people comfortable and desire to learn the trade. Read "Demystifing opioid conversion by Lynn McPhearson" or the handbook of palliative care. Or it could be that I'm devastatingly hansome, nope not that so it had to be my deep seated desire to make people more comfortable. Good luck and keep at it, it's a wonderful field.

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I agree that your personality and commitment are probably the most important aspects success in Palliative Care. Everything else can be taught. Pain management and opioids are not that difficult and you can pick up a great deal by reading. Tim's recommendation on Lynn McPhearson's book is a good one. It is an often cited source for learning opioid conversions which is an important skill to have.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

The Abraham book is amazing as well.

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There are also a ton of CME on pain. Medscape has a whole series for free. You should also look into the REMS series that is required for long-acting opioid prescribing. My local AHEC offered a free class that was pretty good.

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Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.

So an update. I am resigning my position in October as that would make it 1 year. It's not for me. So it's off to my next adventure.

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Does anyone know what the salary would be for a palliative care NP ?

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Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.

Average for the area.

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