Hospice Nursing - Caring for the Terminally Ill
Hospice nursing involves specialize in the care for terminally ill patients. This type of care usually
takes place in either hospice centers or in the residence of the patient. The main difference between the care
administered by hospice nurses and other types of nursing care is that hospice nursing involves palliative medical
care. This means that the treatment is designed to reduce the pain and symptoms rather than attempting to cure the
illness or disease.
Hospice Nurse Responsibilities
Hospice nurses spend several hours a day with their patients, assessing their conditions and providing direct
care often through an advising physician. The responsibilities of a hospice nurse involve:
- pain management
- monitoring and administering treatment and medication
- helping patients live as comfortably and independently as possible
- monitoring the stages of illness and determining when the illness progresses from one stage to the
next
There are some other responsibilities hospice nurses have to take on that most other types of nurses typically
don't have to deal with. These include educating the patient's family about the terminal disease and dying process,
and providing emotional support to the patient and the family in trying times. Patience, compassion and fortitude
are all vital qualities for a hospice nurse.
Emotionally Demanding
It goes without saying that hospice nursing care is probably the most difficult on a mental level in the
nursing profession, and it is certainly not for everyone. Knowing that their patients will die at some point is
emotionally difficult for hospice nurses to deal with, but it is they who have to provide support and stability to
their patients and their families. They must adequately prepare them on how to deal with death as the end nears,
and allow their patients to live the end of their lives in dignity and peace.
How to Become a Hospice Nurse
First, some nursing career paths are only open to these with nursing degrees, and hospice care is one of them.
Therefore you must having either a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program. You
must also be a registered nurse (RN) and certified as a hospice worker by your state health department. Next you
will need two years experience as a full-time RN in a hospice environment, and finally you need to pass a hospice
exam which is given by the National Board for the Certification of Hospice Nurses.
Hospice Nursing Career Outlook and Earning Potential
The average salary for RNs working in home health care facilities was just under $62,000 per year, which is
slightly above that for nurses working in nursing care facilities. The U.S. Department of Labor expects the field
of hospice care to increase in demand more so than the average profession as care for the terminally ill and
elderly is expected to occur more in private residences than in hospitals and nursing homes. Those who have what it
takes to work in a hospice nursing environment do find this field rewarding, and it looks to be a
financially stable field especially in these current economic times.
Other Career Paths to Consider:
LPN Home Care Nurse
LPN Travel Nurse
LPN Crusie Nurse
LPN Hospital Nurse
LPN Military Nurse
Elderly Care Nursing
Hospice Nursing
Once you have determined your career direction:
LPN Schools by State
LPN Pay by State
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