flamingochic

I will reply to you on one of my typical days this week. I usually start the day at the Nursing Home. We have several pts living there. I check with the nurses at the center about any changes, i do a complete head to toe assessment, chart all of this in their chart and do a family contact (if the family is not there when i visist). I basically do the same thing at a pts. home, however, there are much greater needs there. Teaching, education and support of the caregiver is the greatest need to me (besides promoting comfort to the pt). They are the ones left with the pt when i go home and i must feel, within myself, that when i leave, they will feel comfortable taking care of their loved one. Now the reality of hospice nursing is this...work a 8a-6pm day, come home start supper and then (you are on call that night) you get called out for a pt.s death- drive 30 miles to the home, comfort the family, be the "strong one" leading the way in what to do, clean the pt up and allow the family time to say their goodbyes, call the funeral home, wait for the funeral home and while you are waiting, we must remove all the pt meds in the home, finish paperwork and oh...did i say WAIT on the funeral home to arrive...after this, you get home, supper is done, the kids are in bed and you lay down. .............the phone rings, you are on call, and you have to go out again.......etc... I love it, live it and I am blessed by it.!!!!

I am posting today because i need some advice. I went into hospice right out of nursing school 2yrs ago...I love it, live it and believe in it. I know that if you are a hospice nurse, it is not your norm 8-5 job or 7a-7p job...it is more than that...I have 3 daughters that require lots of my time and decided to do PRN hospice and PRN at a large hospital. Well the 1st 2 wks were nice, nice people, technology a huge plus, and great pay, but my heart yearns for hospice. I feel so confused when you look at the whole picture...follow my heart or force myself into a position in the hospital. I had my daddy in hospice last year, he passed away in my home where i was the nurse/daughter. what an experience to go thru the things personally that i teach my new pt/caregivers daily....maybe i am just rambling, but i wanted to reach out and see if anyone could relate..thanks for your replies...