RN w/Renal background contemplating switch to hospice

[moondrop]

I have 11 years' dialysis background including acute dialysis in an in-patient setting but have no formal med-surg experience and was wondering if anyone could give advice about becoming a hospice nurse. I worked for several years in a large hospital based unit and have some experience with treatments, dsg changes, etc. But does anyone think I wouldn't be considered for a position given my background? I have taken care of many dialysis patients in ICU settings so I've seen a lot and have had some patients in the chronic unit with chest tubes, fresh transplant post-ops, lots of CHF, and cardiac. I was the charge RN for a year and directed/participated in CPR until the code team got there so I've been exposed to a lot of different situations. What are the qualities a good hospice nurse must possess? I'm used to working autonomously. My last position was doing patient ed for dialysis patients and I worked from a home office and drove to different facilities covering a very large area on the east coast. Does anyone know the better hospice organizations in my area? I live 4 miles from Boston, MA but prefer to work on the North Shore. Any info would be much appreciated.

[mollie]

Hello ,

I started out on a renal floor and I love Hospice. I think it is a great honor to help our patients to have as good a death as possible. And to be able to help the families cope with coming to terms with the fact that life will always end with death at some point and we all must find our way of coping and dealing. I would suggest you shadow for a day. That was how I made the final decision.

Hope you find the perfect position with the perfect company!

[leslie :-D]

hospice of the north shore, is in danvers.

they're a big outfit.

as to your qualifications, if hospice is a specialty you truly want to explore, then most will hire you, as long as you have some form of acute care experience.

wishing you the best.

leslie

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I came very close to taking a hospice/palliative care advanced practice nursing position recently and they loved my dialysis exposure. Good luck.