As stated in my previous post I'm very unsettled in what I do right now in LTC. If curious please see my other post, I'm too exhausted to rehash it and completely saddened today that my one day off in the next 5, my son left early from previous plans. He gave me a heartbreaking hug, so I'm in a fragile state.
Completely unexpected I stumbled upon a postion for an educator for a hospice organization. Not only does it pay more (which is saying alot since I make as much as a hospital RN around here) however I didn't go into nursing for the money, bills must be paid. But they are willing to completely train! sounds a little too good to be true right? Besides life experience, I do have management experience, but agreed....in a whole other ballpark.
I read about how many nurses know from the get-go that they don't want bedside but it's necessary (this of course doesn't apply to those who love it, and I am not trying to be disrespectful) to understand the other jobs. It makes sense of course to have that experience to fall back on. But what I'm getting at, is after awhile much of the bedside skills are forgotten no? If someone is begrudgingly in that hospital knowing that they are going to leave for non-beside, this is good for the patients how? Esp when the skills will get rusty anyway. AND even more important is much of the hospital is paperwork and more paperwork, agreed? How many times do we read that nurses who want to provide direct care really can't in the way they want?
I'm leaning more and more these days towards some type of research I think. However I greatly respect the hospice mission statement.(so this may be a viable segway on the journey) I used to say (back when I was clueless and starting the nursing journey!) that I wanted to help people to the other side. So that may be what fits for now, and then build onto something for research later.
I'm not exactly sure if I stay in my LTC for a year how that will really benefit my nursing abilities. We do some skilled care, but anything we are doing is pretty repetative b/c of the same people. There are some that are different, but I'm not sure a year's time is going to provide me with that vast of an experience. Which leads me to the end question I had on my other thread. Is hospital bedside nursing a definite to be able to be the best at whatever you move on to do?
Or do any of you know any nurses who had relatively a short time as bedside and moved on quickly to non? I read one experience here from 2008 Of a nurse who left bedside after only 8mos. I only have a couple mos. am I completely crazy to want to try something else so soon?
I think I will still go on the interview and see what is what. But I just wanted perspective on when you know what you're doing really isn't cutting it, why must you waste more precious life keeping on the same hard path. Perhaps b/c of my age, I am very quick to realize what is not working, I have little tolerance for sticking through something that is making me more miserable than giving me joy in terms of work, b/c I have BTDT and just b/c it wasn't in the nursing sphere does not mean those trials and hard times should be eradicated. Nevertheless I don't want to skip valuable steps that I would regret later.
Maybe if this other position works out, it could be for now, while my son is still home, then if need be go back to a hospital? Or as I keep asking, is the hospital absolutely 100 pct necessary?
I am a former hospice nurse, it is a very rewarding type of nursing.
Several questions. How do you feel about Death and Dying. Have you have you had life experiences which can help you relate to patients? How are you pain management skills?
I would suggest you spend a day or two with a hospice nurse, so many nurses would think hospice was there dream job only to leave once they realize the intensity of dealing with death on a daily basis.
If this job turns out to be your dream job go for it, but usually it doesn't look good if you job hop.
Medsurg, I wanted to address your questions.
My beliefs are that while it matters what we are doing here on earth, that is not the "big picture" the big picture is getting to the other side and our real "home" without going too deep into it! My wish in the beginning was to help people get to the other side. That's one of the reasons I felt pulled towards the burn unit. It greatly interested me to help people understand while they may have deformities or handicaps or sickness here, they will be healed and whole and well and full of joy in heaven. Too many focus on what they have or don't here on earth, when this is just a "blip" passing through if you will. Of course for me, the hospice I would be affiliated with would have to match my Christian beliefs, not necessarily my practicing denomination but one definitely rooted in Christ's principles. This does have that, as well as another facility that had me send them my resume.
I've lost both my parents. My dad in 2003 from a sudden brain anyurism, I made the decision to take him off artificial rx and not prolong the inevitable, which is why I'm having trouble w/one of my resident's whose family refuses to see what is best and it's constant struggle for us to keep the tube in. I understand the pain of making that decision, but that's one way that hospice appeals to me, people have already reconciled that very hard decision.
I lost my mom suddenly Sept 2008 (just barely started back to nursing school to complete my 2nd year) She was healthy (for 83) bowled 2 leagues, etc.... basically she had a vasal/vagal and stopped her heart, very peaceful, very heartbreaking for those left behind. It was very hard as I basically had to shelve all of my feelings to push thorugh that last year. There was not much grieving time as I had to stay focused. Hard sometimes to keep it together on clincal but I managed. My strength touched my instructors, so they told me. But that's something I carry with me to this day. I was not able to grieve properly as I could for my dad. It's hard to lose a parent especially a mom. The timing of it all.....only God knows.
But one day I will see them again, I take great joy and comfort in that knowledge.
Pain management skills, I'd imagine I'd need to read up on and learn a ton more. This area does interest me, just from what I've seen at my facility. So I guess I'll just take all of this onboard and think some more and figure out the steps that would be best suited all around.
Sounds like you have had the personal losses to allow you to have empathy that a hospice nurses needs. I don't think LTC would give you that experience.
As far as pain management, that can be taught, but you seem to get the principles behind hospice care.
You sound like you would be a good fit for hospice. Perhaps you can ask to shadow a nurse in that environment and see if it fits with your goals and values? Maybe you could even get a staff position even if the educator thing does not work out. I would apply and see where it leads. The worst they can say is no and even if they say no it could lead to other opportunities in the area.
As far as needing bedside nursing experience, it is a hard question and the answer is different for everyone. Here is my experience: I was only a hospital nurse for less than a year before I went in to school nursing. The learning curve was steep, but I was able to make it work because I had a great mentor who I could call at any moment, and I have really good assessment skills (this is an absolute MUST for school nursing). I do not regret making the switch and I am happy being away from traditional bedside nursing.
That said, part of me wished I had either held out to get that elusive one year hospital experience, or at least stayed on PRN. Why? There are many aspects of nursing that interest me. I am attracted to peds, obviously, and would enjoy a PRN job on a pedi floor (although I would not want to do it full time). I like the idea of PACU nursing and/or ambulatory surgery nursing (few patients at a time, focus on the patient, etc). I like the idea of mother/baby, nursery, or postpartum (but not L&D). NICU/PICU interests me. If I had that one year "Magical" experience, I might choose to dabble in any of these or other areas on a PRN or part time basis while still following my bliss of school nursing. Since the vast majority of my experience is outside the hospital, these positions are hard to come by for me. In some ways, I feel like I may have cheated myself out of following some of my other interests in nursing because I did not stick it out. Don't get me wrong, I left for what I feel were good reasons, and I do not regret it. But I do regret not seeking other ways to keep my foot in the door for a traditional nursing position. Oh, and because I want to teach nursing someday, I would be a better clinical instructor in more areas if I had that experience as well.
Only you can decide what is best for you. You are right that life is too short to be miserable at work, especially when it effects your home life. If there is any chance that at some point in your career you might want to explore other areas, I would advise you to at least keep a foot in the door. Maybe try hospice bedside nursing and see if you are happier? Perhaps just because you are not happy at THIS particular bedside, you might be happier at the side of a different sort of bed? :)
Like I mentioned before, feel free to PM me if you'd like.
Before I read your reply, I actually sent in my app for 2 hospital positions! I think I am starting to see that maybe you can move up/around w/o the hospital, it would probably be more difficult than the ones w/ that edge. So I'm going to try to dive back in.
I agree w/you that maybe I'd enjoy a different type of bedside altogether. I really feel for what I'm doing, I'm not being challenged enough. Perhaps, that's a key....if you're not going home crying as a new nurse, you're not learning enough!
We'll see how it goes. I'm not exactly holding my breath on these positions. Unfortunately my hospital that's affiliated to my school holds no allegiance towards helping out it's grads. Their concern now is filling the new grad positions that they haven't gotten budget approval on, and those will be filled in July, but the new grads of course will have preference. The recruiter said those of us from the previous class can apply to the ones that say "temp permit okay" even though they're under regular staff nursing heading not GN, we should stay away from applying for the ones that state "valid RN license" as we're underqualified for those still! How confusing can one place get?
I think that's also part of my reluctance to even try to re-enter the hospital. I'm partial to this one, as it's one of the better ones IMO, but I feel as well as others that graduated with me, that we were shafted I realize though it's b/c of the economy. The only position they were able to offer me was way over my head and I know I wouldn't have made it.
In contrast, other than some of the people I have that need skilled tasks done for them such as tube feeding, or the occassional O2, there are times I'm getting bored/restless. I want to do more. Last night, the last 2 hours sort of dragged as everything was done and I can't stand that! My coworkers were also done and didn't need help. I need to be busy constantly. It's like a push to get everything done when I first get there before dinner so then we're super busy, and actually I adapted a heck of a lot quicker than I thought I would. But my 8's are no big deal at all so unless a fall happens or something that shoots the night w/paperwork, it can be slow at points. I guess that's my answer, I'll just stay here in the meantime, but actively try to get back into the hospital at some point. Plus at least the hospital is 3/12's. That alone I think would make a huge difference.
As always Purple, thanks for your thoughts....I do appreciate them!
kittyhawk it sounds as though you are getting some bedside experience , if so and it has been for a period of time then you should have no problem re . bedside experience . Now I'm somewhat confused as to why you started this thread , as I recollect you were asking was it really necessary for you to have bedside experince before going for a hospice teaching post ?
Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.
That was my point...interview for the job...but I am surprised that a hospice agency would hire a nurse as a staff educator who has no hospice experience.
kittyhawk it sounds as though you are getting some bedside experience , if so and it has been for a period of time then you should have no problem re . bedside experience . Now I'm somewhat confused as to why you started this thread , as I recollect you were asking was it really necessary for you to have bedside experince before going for a hospice teaching post ?
Medsurg, hit on what I was trying to get. Basically I understand that what I'm doing can also be called bedside. But when I started the thread I wasn't really coming from the viewpoint that what I'm doing is the springboard to move on to anything else the way that traditional "bedside" hospital positions are. Not only do I feel that I am missing oodles of skills (while granted, building others) I know I don't want to stay where I am longer than need be, I wondered must I go on to get the hospital (bedside) experience. Hope that clears it up.
I agree that I would need hospice to be a good educator. I most likely will not go on the interview (I don't like to waste my/or an interviewers time) My plan is now to somehow get back to a hospital setting whenever they start to open back up. Because now I'm leaning more towards working in the community maybe as an educator I'm not sure. Moreso in terms of prevention and promotion with nutrition and natural ways first, then pharm measures if need be. Plus I like the idea that no matter what I do in the future, I think I will try to keep a few shifts in the hospital to keep the skills fresh (that is WHEN I can even get back to the hospital! Ha)
I'm starting to slowly let go of "I can't handle the hospital atmosphere" (part of it I think is I will feel intimidated that I don't know enough) but certain things that I am catching to report to the doctor that the daylight nurse didn't and just different things that based on what the resident is c/o I have a good idea of what I should be assessing, what my questions should be. (I always verify my instincts were okay since I'm so new) but I think that I do have what it takes, and I'm my own worst critic and that creates much of the stress. I'm very hard on myself. Here's to hoping that I'll have that worked out by the time I can get to the hospital.
Oh and I never thought you were rude in your posts, you gave me good advice, thank you.
sounds a little too good to be true right? Besides life experience, I do have management experience, but agreed....in a whole other ballpark.
Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN
541 Posts
Medsurg, I wanted to address your questions.
My beliefs are that while it matters what we are doing here on earth, that is not the "big picture" the big picture is getting to the other side and our real "home" without going too deep into it! My wish in the beginning was to help people get to the other side. That's one of the reasons I felt pulled towards the burn unit. It greatly interested me to help people understand while they may have deformities or handicaps or sickness here, they will be healed and whole and well and full of joy in heaven. Too many focus on what they have or don't here on earth, when this is just a "blip" passing through if you will. Of course for me, the hospice I would be affiliated with would have to match my Christian beliefs, not necessarily my practicing denomination but one definitely rooted in Christ's principles. This does have that, as well as another facility that had me send them my resume.
I've lost both my parents. My dad in 2003 from a sudden brain anyurism, I made the decision to take him off artificial rx and not prolong the inevitable, which is why I'm having trouble w/one of my resident's whose family refuses to see what is best and it's constant struggle for us to keep the tube in. I understand the pain of making that decision, but that's one way that hospice appeals to me, people have already reconciled that very hard decision.
I lost my mom suddenly Sept 2008 (just barely started back to nursing school to complete my 2nd year) She was healthy (for 83) bowled 2 leagues, etc.... basically she had a vasal/vagal and stopped her heart, very peaceful, very heartbreaking for those left behind. It was very hard as I basically had to shelve all of my feelings to push thorugh that last year. There was not much grieving time as I had to stay focused. Hard sometimes to keep it together on clincal but I managed. My strength touched my instructors, so they told me. But that's something I carry with me to this day. I was not able to grieve properly as I could for my dad. It's hard to lose a parent especially a mom. The timing of it all.....only God knows.
But one day I will see them again, I take great joy and comfort in that knowledge.
Pain management skills, I'd imagine I'd need to read up on and learn a ton more. This area does interest me, just from what I've seen at my facility. So I guess I'll just take all of this onboard and think some more and figure out the steps that would be best suited all around.