Should I stay with Hospice?

renerian, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2003

I always think a good med surg or similar acute unit experience helps your development but some do fine without it.

renerian

Agnus · Dec 16, 2003

Originally posted by jmg6481
I am about to end my 3rd semester in an RN program. I have been a HHA for Hospice since last March. They have given me a scholarship and a job offering after I graduate. I absolutely love everything Hospice stands for and I love my job. My problem is that I don't feel I will get the appropriate experience being a Hospice Nurse as I would working on a Med/Surg floor. I feel like I need that experience right out of school, but I don't want to give up such a great oppurtunity. I would appreciate any input! Have a good night!

I agree with you. Hospice is not the best place to start a career for many reason.

If they want you now you will have no problem getting back into hospice if and when the time come that you want to and feel ready.

You have too many doors open to you now to slam them all shut by ignoring the fabulous skills you have yet to practice. You will loose too much by going Hospice this early.

eagleriver · Dec 17, 2003

I went right into a small memory care facility, where most nursing skills languish, but I was continuing on to get a master's degree, so I didn't worry about it. I don't understand why someone can't get the clincal experience at their convenience, rather than feel like they have to dive into it immediately after graduation. If there's a problem with waiting, I guess I'll experience it, but so far, so good.

One thing I'd be concerned about in your situation is, how the other nurses will treat you. I did both CNA and home health work prior to becoming an RN. Some of the RNs who "knew me when" seemed a bit sullen toward me after I got my RN license. It seems that some people just don't like to see others change roles, particularly when their new role places them at an equal or advanced status.

Here's something hilarious. When an agency CNA is working on a unit, the regular staff CNAs often try to get the charge nurse to assign the agency person all the most difficult patients. They will unashmedly do this right in front of the agency person. These same folks blame the agency CNA for anything that goes wrong, if possible. They do other mean stuff, for example, after I got all the patients up on one side of the hall (12 of them), they told me I had to switch to the other side, where all the patients were still in bed. Anyway, I'd worked at this facility just a few weeks before getting my RN license. A few weeks after getting my license, I showed up at the facility. I had the RN tag on, and two of the CNAs hightailed it into a shower room and stayed there, occasionally cracking the door to see if I was still just outside at the nurse's station. I guess they thought I had gotten a job there, and figured that I'd be out to "get them," because of how they'd treated me just a few weeks before. I made it a point to hang around outside that door for as long as I could. Actually I was working for a case management company and was checking charts. In this instance, I took a bit more time, with a smile on my face as I watched from the corner of my eye, the door cracking every now and then.

hpyrn · Feb 21, 2004

I have felt since becoming a Hospice nurse that I am so glad I had the experience I had prior to this job. With Hospice Homecare you spend alot of time alone and make alot of decisions somewhat independently. Since you have spent time learning the Hospice philosophy you know what it is and you probably already have it in your blood. But as the nurse it is very draining emotionally especially if what you try doesnt work for a pt you love. I cant see me doing anything else now but am thankful for the experience that I brought to this experience. Good Luck, we need more like you!

akamom9041 · Feb 21, 2004

Personally I would work on getting RN practice, time and skills under my belt first...at least until your confidence is really firm. Once in a home setting you do not have the luxury of grabbing another nurse off the hall to recheck that BP or listen to this wierd sound from the patient's belly, or reassurance about the green goo from the tube etc...experience is a big plus. But if you feel like you already have the confidence and skills you need and really feel like Hospice is your calling, I would not want you to feel disappointed or let down in taking another job. Best of luck in your decision.

tlmhospice · Feb 21, 2004

You are very smart to think this through and wanting to gain more of the clinical nursing skills that are very sparce in hospice nursing. When I quit my job to stay at home with the kids, they had me train a newly graduated nurse that had been working with our company as an aide for years. I really discouraged that idea, but she was insistent she wouldn't have a problem. What happened (as I suspected this would) is she had a great deal of knowledge on how to take care of her pts through her nurses aid experience along with "book knowlegde" from just graduating. However, she lacked the confidence within herself to make judgement calls which snowballed for her and absolutely crushed her image as a nurse.

I would listen to your instincts and take a job elsewhere to gain experience until you are comfortable coming back into a field where you make most of the decisions yourself.

Best of luck!

T

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2004

IMO, the hardest thing to find in nursing is a job you love and where you are appreciated. If your hospice is offering you this, I would stick with it. However, I would require that they provide a preceptorship w/ an experienced RN where you work.