New LVN grad-Hospice Nurse?

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2012

Well, I would go for it. I love what I do - and boy, am I lucky! Most people don't get to say that. And as an LVN - or an experienced RN, for that matter - you should have someone you can call. We have three people who do triage and they're always available.

:)

NurseNanu · Feb 9, 2012

Thanks SuesquatchRN :) I almost didn't want to go because I let my nerves get the best of me. The interview (lasted 2hrs & 36 minutes! Lol I timed it) & they offered me the position. So I'm a little scared but more than anything excited to have a job & get started!

NC29mom, ASN, LPN, RN · Feb 10, 2012

I am sure you will be a great nurse......once you get some experience. I have been a hospice nurse for several years now, and personally, I don't think you should attempt hospice as your very first nursing position. You just won't have the assessment, critical thinking, or organizational skills which are required to work in hospice. Sorry, I don't mean that to be ugly, it's just my personal opinion, as a hospice nurse. I started out as a LPN (got my RN after working a few years as a LPN), working in a skilled nursing facility for approximatly 5 years. I also have experience in wounds, home health, and medical surgical nursing. And, I needed a lot of education when I first started working in hospice. Families will lean on you tremendously. Seeing a loved one dying is very emotional for a family. They are going to look to you for guidence. And, trust me, you are going to want to know what you are doing. Now some people may say, "well, it's just hospice, how hard can it be to keep someone comfortable?" Let me answer that for you...........Harder than you might think. It's not just about keeping the patient comfortable, you are also there as emotional support for the family. You will have to be sure about what you are teaching them, and sure about what your assessment is telling you. When you go out to the home for visits, it's only you. You won't have your buddy to turn to and ask questions. Don't assume your employer is going to educate you before throwing you out into the field......wishful thinking... I feel like we have a professional responsibility to make good decisions when choosing a job. Yes, they may hire you. But, the final decision is yours. Please get some experience first. Hospice is supposed to make death a little easier (but, it's NEVER easy) on the family and patient. If your mother was a hospice patient, who would you want as her hospice nurse? A LPN who just graduated with no experience, or a RN who has been in hospice for a bit? And, I'm not beating up on LPN's....I used to be one myself.....One year of school has not taught you all you will need to know in nursing...please get some experience first.

The hospice I work for does not hire LPN's. Apparently, you have found one who has. Medicare guidelines say, as a LPN, you would only be able to see stable patients, and would not be able to do on-call.

Best of luck to you. I think it's awesome you have some interest in hospice. But, please, for the patients, go get some experience first. Hospice will be here.....we aren't going anywhere. You will be a better hospice nurse for it, I can promise you. :nurse:

NurseNanu · Feb 11, 2012

NC29mom, I don't think you're being ugly at all! I appreciate the honest feed back. I called him today to decline the job after all. You're totally right about everything. I thought/cried about it all night & day. I'm desperate for a job but I don't want one a) working for a shady company & b) where I'm not trained.I think I was just on a high b/c it was my first interview & they hired me on the spot but the more I thought about what was said at the interview the easier it was for me to make my final decision.*They start the interview by stating they're in it to make money.* They made fun of some of their other nurses which is incredibly unprofessional * They didn't ask me anything about myself/goals.* The kicker is he stated "we throw you to the wolves"...umm... NO TRAINING! He said you should have nursing/assessment skills so you dont need to be trained.* When I asked do we wear identification/badges-"no I don't bother making any because the turn over is so high"* They cursed several times in the interview which I found very unprofessional*They spent most of the tone trying to convince me to take the job. Desperate maybe? I'm 100% sure I made the right decision. How can you not train a brand new graduate?! Especially if you're going too homes/facilities all alone. And taking care of fragile families & clients. What a nightmare.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Feb 13, 2012

Yeah companies like that only want "trained" "experienced" people but they are so horrible to work for they can't get anybody that fits that criteria so they just hire people with out experience and just well expect them to know what to do. To them the nurse is just a profit facilitating employee.

There are some places so bad its better to be sitting at home unemployed that to work for them.

flancb · Feb 16, 2012

I've been working Hospice since October of 2011 as an LVN. I just graduated in August 2011, and got my license in September 2011. I knew I wanted to work Hospice while I was in school, I just "felt the calling". All of the hospice companies in my area, and surrounding areas were only wanting to hire LVN's with at least a year of experience, but I got a lucky break through a contact.

I love working Hospice, and I don't think it's a bad first job either. My suggestion would be to know EXACTLY what field you're getting into, and understand what Hospice is. As long as your attentive, and compassionate about your work, you'll do fine. There are too many Hospice nurses who are not compassionate, and can't display empathy with patient's or especially the patient's families.

All in all, if you think you can do it, there's nothing wrong with Hospice as your first job, in my opinion.