Retired nursing opportunities in end of life care - Stanford

[davidStanfordMD]

We are starting a program to help people and their families have their wishes known and honored when the end of life is near. To do this we are imagining something like a doula model, but for patients who likely have a year or less to live. We had hoped to use retired nurses as these "doulas" to develop relationships with patients/families, guide them through conversations and education, and meet them in their homes.

Do you think this would be something of interest to retired nurses?

What level of payment would be fair for retired nurses?

If nurses got to know these families, would they willing to be "on call" in case a crisis arose?

Thank you so much for your input! We are very grateful

[Nashvillejeanne]

Interesting idea....kind of like being a midwife for the dying. If you are not taking Medicare dollars then you are FREE of the endless regulations they impose on you. I have heard of 100% non Medicare hospices, but they are few and far between. I would charge an hourly rate based on ability to pay. Keep it simple and I think retired RN's would be a great idea. I would think about incorporating CAM therapy as well...aromatherapy, acupucture, hypnosis etc.....

Peace

"Everything I have learned in life is from those with no life left"

[twinsmom788]

We are starting a program to help people and their families have their wishes known and honored when the end of life is near. To do this we are imagining something like a doula model, but for patients who likely have a year or less to live. We had hoped to use retired nurses as these "doulas" to develop relationships with patients/families, guide them through conversations and education, and meet them in their homes.

Do you think this would be something of interest to retired nurses?

What level of payment would be fair for retired nurses?

If nurses got to know these families, would they willing to be "on call" in case a crisis arose?

Thank you so much for your input! We are very grateful

This is absolutely sounds

like something I would be interested in and several of my retired nurse friends as well. Please feel free to message me. My MD daughter is very interested in end of life issues as well as am I. Although we are all on the East Coast area, we would welcome dialogue re: this project.

[joe a.]

What a phenomenal idea. After a forced early retirement due to illness I became a certified hypnotist in California. I have worked several end of life cases and have felt quite welcomed by hospice and visiting nurses. Given my knowledge base I was able to mm provide valuable information about the patient that eased his transition. Retired nurses still have a role to fulfill. We are teachers. Teaching about the death experience is something we avoid in nursing becsuse most patients go home.

I would love to be considered for this program. Thank you.