jeastridge BSN, RN

Faith Community Nurse (FCN)

BSN, RN, Faith Community Nurse

Columnist

All Content by jeastridge

  1. jeastridge

    Hospice: A Dream or a Nightmare

    jeastridge posted a topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I knocked the snow off my boots before knocking on the front door of the patient's home. His daughter, Clara, opened it and with a tired smile invited me in. Her father, Harold, was in a hospital bed...
  2. jeastridge

    Organ Procurement and Nursing

    jeastridge posted a topic in General Nursing

    As I clicked "submit" I felt a sense of satisfaction, knowing that my desire to be an organ donor was duly noted and registered appropriately. Although I had previously let my family know of my...
  3. jeastridge

    Surviving the Real World of Nursing: 8 Tips for the New Grad

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in General Nursing

    Thank you for sharing your excellent insights! I love the last suggestion--about making the first year of work an extension of school. What a great way to put it.
  4. jeastridge

    Surviving the Real World of Nursing: 8 Tips for the New Grad

    jeastridge posted a topic in General Nursing

    "I did it! I finished! I passed my boards!" My friend, Kathy, shared her news in the hall at church and I hugged her back, grateful and proud. Having nursing as a second career, Kathy is older than...
  5. jeastridge

    Surviving the Real World of Nursing: 8 Tips for the New Grad

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in General Nursing

    Thank you for your comment. I can tell by your sense of humor that you will succeed. Blessings,
  6. jeastridge

    Surviving the Real World of Nursing: 8 Tips for the New Grad

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in General Nursing

    Well said! And good job of synthesizing the essence of starting out and continuing to do well. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with all of us.
  7. jeastridge

    Hospice: A Dream or a Nightmare

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Thank you so much for sharing your insights from personal experience. You make some great points, especially about bringing in hospice when the discussion even begins to steer toward end of life....
  8. jeastridge

    Love Being a Nurse: 33 Years and Going Strong

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in General Nursing

    Like you, I had no idea that Parish Nursing existed until I read a job add in my church newsletter 20 years ago. I remember circling it in ink and writing on the side, "My dream job." Turns out I was...
  9. jeastridge

    Love Being a Nurse: 33 Years and Going Strong

    jeastridge posted a topic in General Nursing

    I pushed my computer top down hearing the satisfying "click" as a sign of the end of my work day. I moved around the counter in the kitchen and fixed a hot cup of tea, pausing to stir in a bit of...
  10. jeastridge

    Love Being a Nurse: 33 Years and Going Strong

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in General Nursing

    You make a good point. Long term nursing is not the career for everyone. And that's ok. I remember when one of my children had a teacher that should have left that career--she exhibited all sorts of...
  11. jeastridge

    Love Being a Nurse: 33 Years and Going Strong

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in General Nursing

    Well said. "Patients need nurses that love their career." We don't have to be peppy and cheerful every day but if we exhibit integrity in our care and are genuine people, through and through, then...
  12. jeastridge

    Love Being a Nurse: 33 Years and Going Strong

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in General Nursing

    Thank you for your comment. 40 years is a great record and inspires us all. Congratulations!
  13. jeastridge

    Love Being a Nurse: 33 Years and Going Strong

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in General Nursing

    Thank you for your response. I liked what you said, "not having the pressure eliminates a lot of stress, ironically making the day smoother and shorter." Such truth and wisdom in your words.
  14. jeastridge

    Why Can't She Stay Here? Getting Kicked Out of Inpatient Hospice

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Thank you for your comment. You make a good point. So often we see the negative side and can't see a "Third Way." For hospice, sometimes it means having a short "respite" stay inpatient so that the...
  15. jeastridge

    Why Can't She Stay Here? Getting Kicked Out of Inpatient Hospice

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I am sorry for your loss and I am sorry that your experience with hospice was "too little too late..." Thank you for sharing from your own experience. As you point out, many physicians are focused on...
  16. jeastridge

    Why Can't She Stay Here? Getting Kicked Out of Inpatient Hospice

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    You offer some concrete and helpful suggestions of ways to address the problem. Thank you! As a Parish Nurse, I do have opportunities to talk about these issues with people in my congregation but you...
  17. jeastridge

    Why Can't She Stay Here? Getting Kicked Out of Inpatient Hospice

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    You are so right! Every situation is different and it is so hard to know how things are going to go at home, or at the nursing home, or at the hospice house. We do the best we can with the information...
  18. jeastridge

    Why Can't She Stay Here? Getting Kicked Out of Inpatient Hospice

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I appreciate your point that it is important for family to continue to be family and not solely caregivers. This is an important goal and one that we all need to focus in on more. Thank you for...
  19. jeastridge

    Why Can't She Stay Here? Getting Kicked Out of Inpatient Hospice

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I am so sorry for your loss. I am thankful that your experience with your husband's dying in a hospice facility was positive. I know our hospice house is a wonderful place of tender loving care. As...
  20. jeastridge

    Why Can't She Stay Here? Getting Kicked Out of Inpatient Hospice

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    You are so right, Phil. We are caught in a difficult situation that needs to be addressed on multiple levels. While dying patients often do need to be discharged, the alternative settings can...
  21. jeastridge

    Why Can't She Stay Here? Getting Kicked Out of Inpatient Hospice

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Dear David, Unfortunately, there are some pretty poor hospices out there. It is hard for us who are doing it right and doing it well to be lumped into the same category. All we can do is keep on...
  22. jeastridge

    Why Can't She Stay Here? Getting Kicked Out of Inpatient Hospice

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Hi LadysSolo, As you so well said, there are no easy answers. Each case is different. The only common thread in all cases is the help of advance planning and conversations before the fact. That and...
  23. jeastridge

    Why Can't She Stay Here? Getting Kicked Out of Inpatient Hospice

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Dear "Nutella," Thank you for your thorough reaction/reflection on the article. I so appreciate your suggestions and input because they clearly come from someone with experience and also with a...
  24. jeastridge

    Why Can't She Stay Here? Getting Kicked Out of Inpatient Hospice

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Dear Kris, Thank you for sharing your wonderful and personal perspective! The fact that you have had all three experiences makes your perspective unique and particularly well informed. I encourage you...
  25. jeastridge

    Palliative Care + Hospice = A+

    jeastridge replied to jeastridge's topic in General Nursing

    You might consider reading some of the other articles I have written that talk about "A Day in the Life of a Hospice Nurse" or other hospice-related topics. They might give you a little more insight....