RNstat123

Good insight, quite true, whether called or not, all humans should be treated with dignity and respect. I guess what I'm trying to say is, based on what I've seen/heard, I see a big difference in attitude between those who have true passion for nursing versus those who does it for other reasons. But difficult working environments can also be a factor. Everyone can show care for humanity in many ways, but nursing is specific. IMO, I think that many are "called" without realizing it. Maybe called to care for others at a whole new level such as nursing.

This might sound weird, but I think nursing is a calling. I used to have a roller-coaster ride of emotions back in nursing school and when I finally became a nurse. There were times I just wanted to run and quit. The stress of it all ate me alive. I came home crying and hiding in my closet during the first couple of months. Always remember, we are dealing with human life, human realities - the reality of sickness and death. It was hard for me to grasp this. I didn't want to be in a job that reminded me of how fragile life was. But there was something about nursing that I couldn't run away from, the reality of love, that despite how short and horrible life is, as a nurse, I could be a ray of sunshine for someone, maybe if it only lasts for a shift, or maybe a moment. All emotions would collide all at once, anger, frustration, urgency, sadness, empathy, love, mercy...welcome to nursing. Maybe, one day as I lay dying in a hospital bed, I hope and pray there would be nurses who are in the profession, not because of money, or prestige, but because they genuinely cared, even if it meant sacrificing their time and sanity (and back).

For those who have extensive experience as a hospice/palliative nurse, any advice, experiences, you would like to share? I am about to apply to a Hospice/Palliative Center that also does Home Care Hospice services. I recently moved from another State, and have 3 years of med surg experience, but my unit also dealt with inpatient hospice. I had home health experience before but I was more of a patient assistant prior to getting my RN license. Are there any good free online resources I could look into and just read up on or any videos/books, etc? What usually do hiring managers ask when looking to hire a hospice RN? What questions should I be asking before I say "yes" to the job? Thanks so much in advance for all your replies!