Options for using my RN in Hospice

tewdles, RN · May 9, 2012

It would be difficult for you to function in hospice without clinical experience. Even in a managerial or administrative position it would be expected that you would have some knowledge of the clinical application of hospice nursing in order to oversee operations at any level.

Why not work with hospice in an inpatient setting, get your feet wet clinically and see what happens?

Good luck!

MissIt · May 9, 2012

I agree that hospice inpatient would be a great place to start. After that, many hospices have nursing positions in things like quality assurance, infection control, IT, etc.

ErinS, BSN, RN · May 19, 2012

Our company uses several nurses with minimal hospice/homecare experience to do our intake. These nurses get orders, build the charts in the computer and coordiante care with md offices and insurance companies. This may be an option for you.

westieluv · May 19, 2012

I am a hospice intake nurse and I use my hospice clinal knowledge everyday in my job. When patients or their families call the office with symptom management questions (e.g. "My dad is really short of breath right now, what should I do?") it is understood that the intake nurse will manage this over the phone instead of interrupting the case manager's day for routine symptom management. I ask the appropriate clinical questions to get a good idea of exactly what is going on with the patient, and use that information and my clinical experience to determine if I can handle the problem over the phone using standing orders or if the patient requires a nursing visit. If I can handle it over the phone, I then leave report for the case manager after I follow up later and confirm that the patient's problem is resolved. If I can't handle it over the phone, I page the case manager or one of our contingent field nurses to go see the patient. These decisions require nursing judgment.

I handle clinical situations very often. I would not be able to do my job effectively without clinical knowledge. This is the reason why hospice companies use nurses in intake positions, and they need to be nurses with a solid hospice clinical knowledge base.

crossingfingers10 · Jun 4, 2012

Hi,
I have a RN-BSN degree and have been out of the nursing field for several years now. I only worked in it a short time after graduation and have since been pursuing other areas of interest. I am now looking at getting back into nursing. I enjoy patient care, but not the clinical part of it and want to find another role where I can still use my degree. I don't have any nursing management experience but I have an interest in working in Hospice possibly in a different role, whether involved in helping administration or the running of the facility. I'm not sure what I can do with my degree in this area that isn't clinically related. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

I agree with previous posters that even for administrative/management positions in hospice, you do need at least some clinical experience. I am working in QA and would not be able to do my job well without the clinical experience. That being said, I did only work as a case manager for about 6 months before moving into QA, and I learned a huge amount of information in the period of time and it makes a world of difference.

That being said, some offices used nurses as their intake coordinator while others do not so that may be another route for you depending on the hospice.

Good luck to you!