Pace of hospice care?

doodlemom · Apr 13, 2008

My experience is that there are politics in any nursing job you do...it's all in how you handle it. You can choose to not get involved. We have a great deal of politics going on where I work - I hear about it but don't notice it that much because I really don't care to get involved...I do my job and take care of my work and go home to my family.

The pace of hospice work can vary depending on what the census is. When the census is going up, we always feel short staffed. Sometimes we have slow periods and we all take the time to smell the flowers.

nurturer · Apr 13, 2008

My experience is that there are politics in any nursing job you do...it's all in how you handle it. You can choose to not get involved. We have a great deal of politics going on where I work - I hear about it but don't notice it that much because I really don't care to get involved...I do my job and take care of my work and go home to my family.
The pace of hospice work can vary depending on what the census is. When the census is going up, we always feel short staffed. Sometimes we have slow periods and we all take the time to smell the flowers.

Thank you for your input. I am glad there is the option to not participate in the petty drama. :uhoh3: That's why I hated high school! From reading these boards I have been rethinking the nursing avenue. I don't want to enter a career at this stage of my life..(40) where I will be surrounded by people "who eat their young" and take out their negative attitudes and stress on everyone around them. I'd like to think this is merely the view of a select few pessimistic individuals...but from reading through allnurses....it appears to be a reality. It will take much thought. I sincerely want to go into this career to help others....to make money & have insurance. I understand that stress is part of nursing...I can handle anything as long as I don't have

fellow nurses piling on additional unesseary stress.

GoldenFire5 · Apr 25, 2008

I'm a mellow kinda gal. I'm currently a massage therapist and I have volunteered for hospice before. I liked it very much. I'm totally interested in psychology, providing comfort, and the intimacy of one on one care.
It feels unnerving to think that I'm it though....no calling in a doctor for help. The two families I accompanied in hospice we all very dear people. I enjoyed them all. However, if I were faced with a drunk guy getting angry at me.....YIKES!!!

You wrote your post a while ago, but I wanted to respond.

I'm an LVN, and I did in-home hospice for a few months. I think hospice would be a great choice for you. In the company I worked for, the LVNs do 12 hour in-home shifts, and the RNs visit once a day. There was a team of triage RNs we could call to ask questions. We called the patient's primary care provider for orders, but if their PCP didn't respond, we had hospice doctors to back us up to get the orders we needed. A good home health or hospice agency should make you feel as if you're part of a team and you are not out there alone.

Overall, hospice was a such a positive experience for me. I learned something new with every shift I worked, and most of the time I felt I really made a difference for the patients and their families. That said, sometimes the families are tough. It's an incredibly stressful time, and there can be such a wide range of emotions. Your interest in psychology would serve you well in this specialty. Hospice patients love back rubs, too.

That said, I would not totally rule out hospital nursing. I worked for an agency as a CNA while I was in nursing school. I went to a different location almost every day. Each floor has its own energy, even within the same specialty. I worked in places that were chaotic and stressful and out of control, and places where the staff truly worked together as a supportive team.

In general, I've found that healthcare workers are a pretty nice bunch. There are so many opportunities... I'm sure you'll find your niche.

Passion for the Job · May 23, 2008

Politics is 1/2 of nursing. Standing up for yourself and being a patient advocate, you will be faced with daily drama. I do and have in several work settings as a nurse, and it isn't easy. Remember, we are here for the patient~sometimes that takes wide shoulders and thick skin.

nurturer · May 23, 2008

Politics is 1/2 of nursing. Standing up for yourself and being a patient advocate, you will be faced with daily drama. I do and have in several work settings as a nurse, and it isn't easy. Remember, we are here for the patient~sometimes that takes wide shoulders and thick skin.

Yes, wide shoulders and thick skin may be necessary. However...many people who want to become nurses have big hearts...and the thick skin is what they evidently need to develop over time. Although I have not been a patient in the hospital many times...the few times I was....all I cared about was being at the mercy of nurses with big hearts. The thick skinned ones were scary!

Passion for the Job · May 25, 2008

yes, wide shoulders and thick skin may be necessary. however...many people who want to become nurses have big hearts...and the thick skin is what they evidently need to develop over time. although i have not been a patient in the hospital many times...the few times i was....all i cared about was being at the mercy of nurses with big hearts. the thick skinned ones were scary!

to clarify, the thick skin and wide shoulders aren't for the patients, it is to take the "crap" from management, dr., and other staff. i never show that to pt, i always give respect, and as i said before, i am a patient advocate. if i disagree with what is being done to the patient, i will stand up for the patient. i think any patient would rather have that (the patients best interest or asking questions for the pt. they may not think of) than one that will sit back.

nurturer · May 25, 2008

to clarify, the thick skin and wide shoulders aren't for the patients, it is to take the "crap" from management, dr., and other staff. i never show that to pt, i always give respect, and as i said before, i am a patient advocate. if i disagree with what is being done to the patient, i will stand up for the patient. i think any patient would rather have that (the patients best interest or asking questions for the pt. they may not think of) than one that will sit back.

thank you for the clarification. this does make sense to me. i understand that we can't be a helpless ball of loving mush. one of the biggest reasons i am entering the nursing profession is that i feel like i can connect to people on a deep, caring level...providing a level of care that is truly effective and a comfort to the patient.

it's much in the same way i am with my own kids. if there is something wrong with my kids and i don't agree with what the doctor is suggesting....i don't hesitate to speak up and disagree.....even though i am not even a nurse yet. once i am a nurse i think i will feel much the same way about my patients. :heartbeat once i have established a connection with them, you can bet money that i will do whatever i can to ensure their best care.