Hospice Nursing FAQs by Holly

Introduction

• Presenter: Holly
• Purpose: Answer frequently asked questions about hospice nursing

How to Become a Hospice Nurse

1. Education: Attend an accredited school of nursing.
   • Options: Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
2. Licensure: Pass the licensure examination to become a Registered Nurse (RN).
3. Experience: Obtain 1-2 years of clinical experience (e.g., ICU, ER, Med-Surg, Telemetry).
4. Certification: Optional certification as a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse after one year of hospice experience.

Salary of Hospice Nurses

• National Average: Approximately $75,000 annually
• Variables: Location, experience, and other factors
• Resource: Website link provided for location-specific salary information

Role of Hospice Nurses

1. Settings: Home care or inpatient facility
   • Home Care: Nurses act as case managers, handle symptom management, and work on scheduled and PRN visits.
   • Inpatient Facility: Provide closer monitoring and fine-tuning of medications.
2. Patient Care: Patients with terminal diagnoses (prognosis of less than 6 months)
3. Symptom Management: Key symptoms include pain, shortness of breath, and anxiety
4. Graduation from Hospice: Some patients may graduate from hospice if their condition improves.
5. Holistic Approach: Focus on holistic care and teamwork.

Stress and Challenges in Hospice Nursing

• Common Stressors:
  • Family tensions: Differing expectations on treatment
  • Emotional toll: Dealing with frequent deaths
  • Need for patient and family education

Is Hospice Nursing Hard?

• Depends on the Day: Some days are easier, while others can be emotionally tough due to sad circumstances or family dynamics.
• Balancing Act: Managing patient comfort while dealing with family and personal emotions

Qualities of a Good Hospice Nurse

1. Passion: Essential for hospice work
2. Compassion and Patience: Important for dealing with patients and their families
3. Knowledgeable: Understand the dying process and patient care
4. Goal Alignment: Focus on comfort, not curing terminal conditions
5. Team Player: Effective teamwork is crucial in hospice care
6. Boundary Setting: Maintain professional boundaries with patients and their families

Personal Reflections and Preferences

• Holistic Care: Enjoyment from providing holistic and team-based care
• Disappointment in Hospitals: Found the absence of holistic care in hospital settings

Future Topics

• Tips for New Hospice Nurses: Holly plans to make a separate video for this topic
• Interactive Q&A: Encourages viewers to leave questions for future videos

Conclusion

• Closing Remarks: Thanks viewers for watching and encourages them to leave questions and be on the lookout for future videos

Note: Holly sources these questions from Google searches.