Hospice nurses are in high demand. We could leave one company today, and have a job at a new company tomorrow. It is really that easy.
I am very public about what I do for a living. If you’re reading this article, then you are well aware of how public I am. Because of how outspoken I am, I get a lot of hospice questions from friends, family and complete strangers.
One of the most frequent questions I get is, “Which hospice should I choose?” Now, if you live in the area of the hospice I work for, I’ll suggest my hospice. Many times I get this question from someone who does not live in my area. I have a simple response to this question.
“It doesn’t matter as much which hospice you choose. It is more about the team that you get.”
This is a very truthful statement. For the patient and family, the nurse and the team you get could easily be the difference between a good hospice experience, and a less than ideal hospice experience.
I always recommend that someone find a really good hospice nurse in their area, and then choose the company that nurse works for. It is a much better way to find the hospice of your choice. The nurse doesn’t work alone, and the chaplain, social worker, and home health aide are absolutely essential.
The nurse is still the central case manager for all hospice cases. You need a really good one for your best hospice experience.
Don’t try to pick the best company. Try to pick the best team. It will take some work, but you’ll love the results.
So much truth to this. We had a great team but there are always weak links. Maybe some ideas on how to tell if your nurse is a “good one” or just punching in. Not an easy task for those who are not familiar with hospice. Perhaps some ideas on expectations realistic and unrealistic could help people judge whether they are with the right team or not. And also help us as nurses reflect on whether “we” are the right team or not
That’s a great idea! I’ll write “5 things to expect from your hospice team/nurse next!
I’m glad Michael Barrett posted what he did. Those would be my questions as a lay person and not really familiar with the process. My last encounter with hospice was with my Mom in 2014 and we didn’t have a choice. She was already in a care facility so they provided what was already a part of the system.
His comment (and yours) has prompted me to write a series titled “What to expect from your hospice nurse.”
Stay tuned!
I live in an area where we are the only hospice… I always tell my staff that the choice in our area is to have hospice or not, which could be more detrimental to patients when it comes to EOL care. So we need to strive to provide the best care always and maintain a great reputation!
That’s great leadership from you!