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In this episode I welcome veteran hospice nurse, Michelle Ery.

During the show, Michelle shares with us how she obsessed over her patients to the point that she started using substances to manage the anxiety and obsession.

Michelle shares with us what happened to her on Memorial Day of 2020, and how this event was the catalyst that ended up changing her life forever.

Michelle covers her experience in a thirty-day addiction treatment center. She shares with us how this experience effected her nursing license. She also details how her place of employment handled everything that happened.

At the end of the episode, Michelle encourages any listeners who feel like they are struggling with addiction to contact her via her personal facebook page.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrsEryRN

During the show I also noted that I would provide a link to AA for anyone considering getting help.

Alcoholics Anonymous

I also encourage anyone who feels inspired by Machelle’s story to call the listener feedback line and leave her a personal voicemail.

816-834-9191

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In this episode I return to reviewing my series on Avoiding Hospice Burnout.

I cover several issues that I have observed causing major burnout for hospice nurses.

1. Are you waiting for hospice to get easier?
2. Are you unwilling to work an 8 hour day?
3. Do you struggle with autonomy?
4. Are you unwilling to turn off your work phone after hours?
5. Are you unwilling to learn to chart at the bedside?
6. Do you have to always be right?
7. Do you have to fix every problem?
8. Is it you or your agency causing you to consider leaving hospice?

During this episode I don’t pull any punches. The issues above are what I have seen be the leading cause of burnout for hospice nurses. If we are unable to master the list above, this work may not be what we should be doing.

I don’t want anyone listening to this episode to quit being a hospice nurse. Still, this work is not for everyone. It’s okay to realize that hospice is not for you.

At the end of this episode I spend some time discussing The Hospice Nursing Community. This community has a private group dedicated to hospice leadership.

In the last week I have taken a hospice administrator position here in the Kansas City area. I will be sharing some of my experiences in the private group for hospice leadership.

I also share that I have made a change to the pricing structure. The monthly subscription is now $19.99 and there is also an option to pay $199.00 for a lifetime membership that does not expire.

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As always, don’t forget to call, text or email to leave feedback! I would love to hear from you!

816-834-9191
James@confessionsofahospicenurse.net

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I’m back behind the microphone as I return from a month-long break from the show.

In this episode I take on the challenge of discussing hospice leadership.

I review some of my own challenges in my leadership experience. I also spend some time discussing the last 7 months I have spent in the field, and how much stress and emotion is involved.

I also mention that I would share some of my favorite leadership books here in the show notes.

Leaders Eat Last

It’s Your Ship

Developing the Leader Within You

Developing the Leaders Around You

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

The Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership (highly recommend)

I discuss some of the behaviors by hospice leadership that I think can be very toxic. I also share my thoughts on how leadership should handle staff members who are struggling.

Ultimately, I believe that the success of any hospice agency should be attributed to the field staff. Failures by the agency should first be examined by leadership to make sure the problem isn’t process related.

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In episode Twenty-Eight Chanel King returns to continue our discussion from episode Twenty-Seven.

In this episode we discuss Psychological first aide. Chanel reviews some of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and integrates them so well into our understanding of the challenges we face when caring for the dying.

We spend the majority of this episode discussing boundaries and the good and bad that come from crossing those boundaries.

Chanel drops a real truth bomb on us when she says, “We are more alike than different.” In a world where media tries to convince us that we are actually more different, Chanel’s perspective is a breath of fresh air.

Towards the end, Chanel shares with us the concept of a Recovery Strategy Care Plan which can be referenced as the anacronym, RSCP or “Recipe.”

You can download the RSCP by clicking HERE. Scroll down till you find the orange flower and click it. Right below the flower you can actually schedule a free 30 minute session with Instructor king to help you create your care plan. I recommend you take advantage of this right away. I don’t think Instructor King will have this kind of availability in the future. She’s a big deal!

I also remind everyone to be sure and get a google voice number if you have to use your personal cell phone. You can learn more by watching this YouTube video HERE.

I also mention a new blog series I’m writing called, “What to expect from your hospice nurse.” You can access the series landing page HERE.

In this episode I also mention that I will be taking the next month of. I need to engage in some self care as well. I can’t preach boundaries if I don’t exercise some for myself!

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As always, don’t forget to call, text or email to leave feedback! I would love to hear from you!

816-834-9191
James@confessionsofahospicenurse.net

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In this episode I introduce Chanel King to The Hospice Nursing Podcast!

Chanel King (Instructor King) is a Peer Support Specialist for medical professionals.

In her introduction, Chanel shares with us some of her own traumatic experiences and how the last couple years have transformed her life and led her on a journey to providing emotional support to thousands of medical professionals.

In this episode Instructor King answers a voice mail left by Erin who asked how we can handle grief for our dying patients. Chanel also reviews what compassion fatigue might look like.

During the episode, Chanel reminds us all of the “Faith and Work” audio series I shared during one of my earlier episodes. You can find that series by clicking HERE.

Chanel also shares with us a concept called a Safety Plan. We can use this plan to help us recognize when we are struggling emotionally and need to re-center ourselves. Chanel and I are working on a plan for me right now. It has been an amazing experience! I can’t wait for it to be completed!

This safety plan can be downloaded from the landing page on her website located at http://ThisIsBase.mn.co. Scroll down and click the big sunflower to access the safety plan.

While you are there, please consider singing up for your free membership. Instructor King provides a lot of free content including live streaming sessions covering many topics. You’ll be glad you did!

Stay tuned for Episode Twenty-Eight as Instructor King will be joining us again to continue this conversation!

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As always, don’t forget to call, text or email to leave feedback! I would love to hear from you!

816-834-9191
James@confessionsofahospicenurse.net

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In this episode I reimagine Part 8 of Avoiding Hospice Burnout for nurses.

I discuss the following concepts that will help create a healthy environment for staff and co-workers.

1. Listen-Validate-Communicate
2. Assume positive intent
3. The Speed of Trust (Get the book)
4. Getting burned
5. Gossip
6. Being authentic

At the end of the episode I take a few minutes to address leadership. It is my belief that leadership holds the greatest power over the culture of the office.

A good leader will take personal accountability for how staff treats each other. I believe that organizational staff will emulate their leaders both consciously and subconsciously.

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In this episode I review the last year and which episodes were the most popular. I discuss what those episode tell us about this community and what it means for the coming months..

The top 6 episodes from this last year are as follows.

1. Episode 16 “The Last 7 Days.”
2. Episode 10 “On call strategies with Tania.”
3. Episode 3 “For the record.”
4. Episode 6 “Plan your work. Work your plan.”
5. Episode 11 “Orientation strategies part 1.”
6. Episode 15 “Success in the ALF.”

In this episode I discuss one of my most recent blog posts where I journal the last seven days for one of my patients.

Click HERE to read, “The Last Bath.”

I also discuss solutions that include my PRIVATE community, this show, and something even more powerful….personal accountability.

I review some of the private group services available at The Hospice Nursing Community. Specifically, I discuss the private groups only for hospice leadership.

In closing I discuss the importance of changing habits to achieve more success. I also encourage everyone to find ways to avoid burnout and have more work satisfaction. I encourage a review of my “Avoiding Hospice Burnout Series” I wrote in 2021.

Happy New Year from The Hospice Nursing Podcast!

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In this episode I discuss my communication strategy when communicating with patients, families and facility staff.

Instead of trying to discuss specific scenarios, I review my overall 6 strategies I use to communicate effectively.

I don’t describe these strategies as the umbrella I function under. They are more like a roof. A roof is complicated. There isn’t just one item that provides the cover we need for our home. There are 2×4 and 2×4 wooden supports. There is also plywood sheeting that needs to be applied before the shingles can be attached.

The six roofing supports are as follows.

1. Be Non-Confrontational
   
2. Listen, Validate then Communicate
   
3. There is nothing wrong with a quiet room
   
4. Let people be wrong if it helps them feel better
   
5. Stop feeling pressure to know all the answers
   
6. Be like a four-year-old kid

Please don’t forget to complete the “Your Opinion Matters” survey being conducted by Shelley Henry.

If you want to take your communication to the next level, consider joining The Hospice Nursing Community.

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In this episode I interview Shelley Henry with Amity Staffing.

Shelley shares her 20 year experience in hospice and how it lead her to starting Amity Staffing.

She shares with us some of her strategies on bringing awareness to the challenges hospice nurses are facing in the field.

We discuss some of the details of her “Your Opinion Matters” survey for hospice nurses.

Shelley shares with us her social media journey, and how she is trying to help hospice nurses in her own unique way.

I highly recommend you follow her. Please use these links to follow Shelly on your social media outlet of choice.

Facebook
Tiktok
Instagram
linkedIn
Amity Staffing Contact Page

Be sure to take a few minutes right now and complete the SURVEY!

We spend a few minutes at the end allowing Shelley to share some of her hospice insights with us.

At the end of the episode I provide a few updates for The Hospice Nursing Community.

This Friday, December 8th, the website will take on a whole new look. I am rolling out a $10.00/month plan that will give you access to 90% of what is happening inside.

This includes my personal journaling of many of the hospice cases I am managing right now. My focus is to give my members an inside look on how I manage my patients in the last 7 days of life, and how I communicate effectively.

As always, don’t forget to call, text or email to leave feedback! I would love to hear from you! If you leave a voicemail I will play it on the air!

816-834-9191
James@confessionsofahospicenurse.net

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Ten weeks ago I left my role in leadership and went back to case management.

In this episode I review some things that I have had to learn as well as some things that have been reinforced.

I also discuss my assignment to a hospice friendly facility, and the strategy I used to gain favor with the staff.

I discuss the importance of communication, and I also discuss some of my own struggles to adjust from leadership to full-time case management.

I review how to be a leader from a case manager position, and I discuss some psychosocial strategies I utilize when case managing.

At the end of the episode I discuss some major changes coming to Hospice Nurse Training including a name change and tiered pricing for members.

As always, don’t forget to call, text or email to leave feedback! I would love to hear from you! If you leave a voicemail I will play it on the air!

816-834-9191
James@confessionsofahospicenurse.net