Tell me some things I can to do be treasured by LTC

DixieRedHead, ASN, RN · Feb 21, 2012

Make sure orders are in place.

Make sure the meds are delivered before the patient if your hospice provides them.

Pick up meds quickly when a resident dies. We don't want to be responsible for them or have to count them if we don't have to.

If a resident is ordered a special mattress or make sure it get's there before the resident so the patient doesn't have to be moved twice.

See that hospice equipment is picked up quickly. Space is always at a premium.

Please see that the family is kept up to date.

Hospice care is supposed to be in addition to, not in the place of care provided by the facility. Please see that the hospice aides are doing what they are supposed to.

Answer your phone.

Just be nice. the hospice personnel who come to my facility are great.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2012

Just listen to us when we tell you something. We know our residents/patients and their family dynamics. We know if your suggested plan is going to work d/t the residents/family attitude etc. I know that most hospice follow a certain protocol but its not a one size fits all kind of thing. Sometimes what works with one doesn't work with another.

I love the hospice nurses that come in to my facility. They actually listen to the floor nurses and ask their opinions etc. Things go much smoother that way. Prior to this company being our hospice service we had another...one word...UGGHHH! Never listened to what we were saying...poo-poo'd and disregarded anything we said or suggested. It wasn't good.

wishing you the best in your new endeavor.

RNBearColumbus, BSN · Feb 22, 2012

I'll second what the previous responders have said, and add that I think of working with hospice nurses as a partnership. We work together to make sure that the patient and family are supported and cared for.

However, here are a couple of things that I think are important to remember:

Please remember that I have been taking care of these patients for a long time, and that I know them and their families very well. I'm not going to stop being their nurse just because crisis care has been started.

Also, please don't lecture me about the uses of Roxanol and Ativan. I know what they are used for, and I know how to access my patient for pain and terminal restlessness. We can work together to make sure the patient is as comfortable as possible.

One thing that I wish hospice companies did a better job of is starting crisis care when the patient gets close to death. I'm an experienced LTC nurse, and I've worked with enough dying patients to know when the end is getting close. If I call to let the hospice company know that it's time for CC, I'm not just panicking. I truly do not want my patient to die alone, or have the patient's family be unsupported during the last few hours of life. Since I am unable to stay at work 24 hours a day, I like knowing that my patients and their families are in good hands, and will be supported through a difficult time.