Expert: Violet Argo RN - 8/8/2004

Question
Dear Ms. Argo - I am gathering information for my husband who has been a nurse for 19 yrs in medical, surgical and orthopedics.  He is a very compassionate, gentle man and has been told that he and hospice would be a perfect fit.  However, there are usually down sides to everything.  Would you be willing to share the cons as well as the pros of hospice nursing?  For instance, my husband is aware that there are copious amounts of paperwork.  He has done home health nsg and that was his experience.  I appreciate your candidness and look forward to your response.  

Answer
A nurse with 19 years of experience and a kind compassionate heart would be an asset to any hospice, I whis he was near our organization.  Yes there is paperwork, but not the same volume as home health.  Hospice nurses also are not time restricted like home health.  Since you are caring for dying patients you cannot say, "ok put you pain on hold, I have to go see the next patient."  Hospice also has a interdiciplinary team aproach, meaning all pain is adressed, not only physical pain. Emotional, financial and spiritual pain is also adressed. There is a team member that handles each area. Most hospice medical directors make home visits at times, this makes it nice for patients who cannot go to the doctor's office. Medicare pays for medications related to terminal illness, this is great since many patients have lots of drugs. Hospice nurses are a different breed of nurses. Their assessment skills must be great, their personality must be great, and they MUST have a caring heart. The reason is you are caring with people with many different diagnosisis, not just broken bones. They go in knowing the patient may die, and may do so soon. Our job is to accept the privilidge that patient gives us to share in the last season of their life and try to make it as good as possible for the patient and loved ones. We MUST be non-judgemental also. The ages of hospice patients range from zero to whatever.  The deseases are anything that is shortening a person's life.  I hope this helps.


Violet Argo RN
Hospice nurse in my eleventh year.