Admissions Nurse - Hospice Job Description

The Role of Hospice Nurses in the Care Team

Hospice nurses can be seen throughout the entire process of admissions, through the final stages of a patient's life journey. Understanding the role of nurses in the care team helps form a more complete picture of how Hospice provides care for patients, caregivers, and family members. An admissions nurse will work with the patient's physician to understand the patient's needs and determine whether or not they are eligible for Hospice care.

If that patient is eligible to receive hospice care, the admissions nurse will provide compassionate education about the philosophy of the care they can expect to receive in regards to their specific terminal illness. The admissions nurses work closely with the care team to come up with a care plan for the patient. The insight that the admission nurse has given to the patient is priceless.

When an emergency call comes in, the nurses begin assessing the situation, gaining an understanding of the patient's specific care needs, and begin advising care. The high stress of emergency care calls and their remote work setting demands that the nurses who work in the triage section be critical thinker who can take control of a situation, understand prioritize care needs, and execute a plan quickly. Hospital liaisons work closely with patients and their families to help guide them through the process of getting into Hospice care and to ensure the end-of-life patient's wishes are communicated to all relevant parties.

The work of a hospice nurse is much more than just providing physical care for a patient. Their calm and attentive presence, expert administration of care, and steadfast spirit of compassion creates a bond between patient and nurse that invites comfort and peace throughout the end-of-life journey. Patients see their nurse as a trusted friend as they bond with their nurse.

Sharing cherished memories or even deep-seeded fears can be a way for patients to let their nurse know things that they may not want to tell their family. If a patient shares their fears about death and what might await in the afterlife, the nurse can work closely with the patient's assigned Hospice chaplain to help them find peace. As nurses help carry out a patient's plan of care, they document any changes in the patient's status and log specific recommendations to improve their level of comfort.

Triage Nurses in Hospice Organization

A nurse. Admission nurses are the first point of contact for patients. They educate a patient and their family on the assessment and admission process.

They work closely with physicians to understand a patient's needs and to create a care plan for them. Admission nurses answer questions, help patients understand what care equipment they might need, and learn about their medication. The case manager.

Case managers are in charge of the Hospice setting. They are in charge of the care of a patient. They learn about the role family plays in caring for others, line up needs that aren't being met, and coordinate with physicians and medical professionals to help meet those needs.

The case manager is one of the most hands-on nursing roles in a hospice organization. A nurse. The nurses are on call to help patients or caregivers with emergencies.

The nurses advise care. They work with visiting nurses and case managers to determine if an immediate visit is required. It is important that triage nurses are able to help prioritize care needs, explain to patients and caregivers what to do, and be ready to move quickly when it comes to hospice care.

Multidisciplinary Team of Hospice Nurses

Hospice nurses want to ensure that the patients die peacefully and with integrity, since they are diagnosed with terminal diseases. Excellent communication skills are required by Hospice nurses to collaborate with caregivers, patients, and the physician. Hospice nurses can also provide symptom management, assessment, and health education over the phone, so clear communication is important.

The admission nurse is responsible for the assessment and education of patients before they are admitted to a facility. The triage nurse provides support to caregivers and symptom management over the phone, and also notifies the Hospice physician or case manager when a patient needs to be seen. Hospice nurses meet with the multidisciplinary team at least every 15 days to discuss how to make patient care more effective but also to provide emotional support to each other, because of the difficult nature of the work.

Hospice Nurses

Hospice nurses care for people nearing the end of their lives in a variety of facilities. A hospice nurse performs a number of duties, including administering medication and massage. Hospice nurses work with many people.

Simply Hired says that the average salary of a hospice nurse was $50,000 in July of 2010. Many patients in Hospices are elderly and may be suffering from mental diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson. Hospice nurses should be able to communicate with patients with mental illness.

A nurse should provide care that is tailored to the needs of each patient. Hospice nurses must make sure they provide care that is culturally sensitive to different needs because care requirements and attitudes to illness differ. Excellent communication skills and compassion are required by Hospice nurses.

They are required to respond to every aspect of patient care and update patients and their families on their condition and the means that have been taken to ensure the patient remains comfortable and free of pain. A hospice nurse should be able to help patients and their families understand the purpose of treatment and how it can help them. A hospice nurse should be able to alert physicians and other nursing staff of any changes in a patient's health.

Hospice nurses should be strong. Depression and emotional fragility may be caused by the daily experience of death and serious illness. It is important for patients who rely on hospice nurses as sources of emotional strength and consistency during difficult times to remain stable.

Become A Registered Nurse

If you're considering a career as a Hospice Nurse, you need to understand the job beyond standard nursing duties. Hospice nurses are usually employed to care for people who are dying. The job calls for a focus on making patients feel comfortable and relaxed, instead of focusing on the future.

Hospice nurses need the right nursing background. If you want to become a Hospice nurse, you have to begin as a registered nurse, then attend nursing school and complete a bachelor of science program at a college or university. Proper nutrition, human anatomy and biology are some of the topics that are covered in the educational process for being a registered nurse.

Once you're a registered nurse, you can get certified as a Hospice employee. To get state certification in hospice nursing, you need to be a registered nurse for at least two years. Hospice nurses work with analyzing situations.

Hospice nurses need to watch patients for signs of problems. They need to be attentive to any changes in their patients experience. If a patient suddenly feels head pain, the hospice nurse has to figure out what is wrong and how to deal with it.

Success in hospice nursing depends on problem-solving skills. If you're a hospice nurse, you have to be in control even in panic-inducing situations. It's your job to handle a medical emergency without losing your cool.