Transitioning from HH to hospice

nutella, MSN, RN · Feb 4, 2016

RN with 19 yrs experience, CMSRN currently working I the home health field in NC. I am very interested in transitioning to hospice with goal of obtaining holistic nurse certification. Any information on hospice nursing/holistic nursing appreciated!

I never thought about "holistic certification" so I can not offer much information regarding that.

Home hospice and palliative care was very interesting and I liked it.

Since you are already in home care it would be an easy transition for you in terms of organizing your caseload and such. Of course there is a special skill set and not everybody who tries home hospice ends up liking it as most patients really die. I liked the team approach and I can see how being holistic would be helpful though symptom management largely happens through medication.

I did get certified in hospice and palliative care and right now work in a hospital in palliative care.

What I liked in hospice is the challenge, the variety of tasks and so on - never a boring day...

On the minus side - pay may not be as good (depends on the agency) and because a lot of agency are not fully staffed case load can get too high leaving you with not enough time or too much work.