dianne68

I think the post is of stupid things said, not stupid people.

What area of the country are you at?

Thanks, Erin! I think you are absolutely right. At least in the hospital setting, I will have extra guidance needed until I can improve in different disease processes and basic nursing skills. Also getting a good assessment skills. I appreciate the advice!

Thanks, Leslie!! I was thinking it would be beneficial to get more technical experience, learn more of disease processes and get better with my assessment skills. I know I have the heart for it. At clinicals, I witnessed an 88 year old woman who just returned from dialysis, code and they worked on her for over an hour. It was just an awful experience! I know that she was not a DNR and family requested resuscitation, but it seemed so brutal. I just really believe that death is not always the enemy. I really feel that hospice allows comfort and peace and can bring so much to the end of life for the patient and the family.

Hi everyone, I am going to be a new grad in May...(hopefully after passing NCLEX!!). From doing clinicals, I have found that my heart is really into hospice. My philosophy is so much of the hospice fundamentals. Alot of my classmates want to get into different areas of nursing and think I am crazy to want to work with the dying. I feel like it is my calling to bring comfort and peace to those at the end of their lives. I had a friend who died of cancer a few years ago. We spoke of her impending death and what she wanted. She had come to terms as best as she could with her diagnosis and prognosis, but her biggest concern was being in pain. Thank God, she didnt know the suffering that so many have to endure. I worked in psych for 16 years and so I think I can appreciate the emotional and psychological processes that occur with the patient and the family. Ok, so here is my question: Do hospices hire new grads and what are your thoughts and feelings of a new grad going into hospice. Thanks, I appreciate your comments, Dianne

Wow, this really makes me sad!! I am in nursing school right now and one of my concerns was that I would be looked at like the "grad nurse." I am more than willing to do my "time" and learn from you more experienced nurses. Please have patience with us. You, after all, were once the new kids on the block.

I am in my first semester of nursing school and I am 42!! It sounds like that the ER is where your heart is at and I say, do it!!! I am sure that when I graduate, I will be feeling less competent myself, already do...but you will learn as you go!! Good luck and congrats!!!

Thank you so much, I appreciate the information!! :)

Thanks, Janine!! I appreciate the advice. I will contact a hospice agency near me. Good luck to you also :)

Hi, my name is Dianne and I am a nursing student in my first quarter of an 18mth program for my ASN. I have always been interested in Hospice care. I have done home health in the past and had great satisfaction working with the elderly. Here is my question, I have never been involved in the hospice process. Would it be unusual to contact an agency near me and request to "volunteer" with a hospice RN? I would like to witness the in's and out's of the profession to see if I could "handle" it. I did not know if this would be appropriate. Thanks for any replies. Dianne