Skip to main content

How to Provide the Best Quality of Life as a Hospice Nurse



As a nurse working in a hospice, you are going to be working with a lot of very sick people. Your main job is going to be making sure your patients are as comfortable as possible. Working with the family and dealing with anything that may come up, is also a responsibility for the hospice nurse. 

At a hospice, a patient generally has been given a certain amount of time. Patients often choose hospice care when they want a safe and comfortable journey to the end of life. Their families can be involved in their care as well.

Hospice Nursing
Working as a hospice nurse, there is a lot of heavy emotions you deal with. Treating people who are in their last few moments of life takes a certain amount of dedication. There is more to it than you might think, and these tasks need to be done with a great amount of care. 


Nursing is not for the faint of heart, and it is even less so when it comes to end of life care. Not only are you dealing with patients that are dying, you are dealing with their already grieving families. 

The illnesses that patients in hospices have are life limiting. Because of this, it is important for their care to help them do the things they want to do. Living life does not have to stop at diagnosis, and you will be helping people make the most out of the time they have left.

Quality Care
Providing the best care possible is crucial when working in a hospice. Since patients are counting on you to help them live their lives, you need to make sure they receive the best possible care. There are certain ways that you can do this. 

Controlling pain is one of the major priorities of a nurse that works in a hospice. Since patients are terminally ill, it is important to keep the pain that they feel to a minimum. Whether it be physical or emotional, this pain can make the journey a lot more difficult.


Pain can be managed by talking about it, or by taking medication and utilizing therapy. Alternative therapy may be attractive to someone who is looking for something different in their last days. 

Managing and preventing complications that arise daily is a big responsibility. Anything can happen in the medical field, and being prepared for what comes next is a skill to develop and cultivate. 

Going over last wishes with the patient and their family is something that will help to improve the care of the patient. Having their wishes fulfilled will bring closure and peace. Whether it be taking a ride in a corvette or something like flying a plane for the last time. 

Maintaining quality of life is what working in a hospice is all about. It includes managing pain, dealing with complications, and looking over plans with patients and their loved ones. Guiding people through the end of their journey can be fulfilling if not heartbreaking.  This is why you need to be strong and do your best to take care of them for as long as possible. 


Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest  and Twitter

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

As a Nursing Student, what Extracurricular Activities are Beneficial?

We already had our time to treat the immense demanding curricula a nursing school provides. Nursing students are often familiarized with it at the very beginning of their journey. Information usually being provided is strictly covering what the school curricula involve. It does not provide hints on possible courses or extracurricular activities a nurse-to-be has to follow in order to get the most of his/her studying years. A nursing student might consider going for a nurse related extracurricular activity that will be efficient in terms of time management. What might count as a productive extracurricular activity for a nursing student? o      Initiating one or more community service projects o      Job shadowing o      Volunteer   Why should one consider these extracurricular activities once he or she is studying to become a nurse? Well, first of all, nursing requires a lot of good will and dedication. It is that kind of profession you need to put all your physic

Where do Registered Nurses Work?

Registered nurses are needed far and wide, and there dispersal amongst various facilities is illuminating.   Commonly, you associate nurses with hospitals, but their expertise is needed in a plethora of environments.   An overwhelming amount of nurses, (60% to be exact) operate in hospitals.   Comparing this percentage to the mere 5% working in nursing homes, RN’s have disseminated into non-governmental and EDU positions, as well as employment facilities and doctor’s offices.    Related : 2016 INTERNATIONAL NURSES ASSOCIATION (INA) SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Visit www.nurseadvisormagazine.com for more information on nursing. R elated : Top Nurse with the International Nurses Association, Steven Eric Southerland, RN, BSN, AAS, EMT-P to Publish in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook , Linkedin , Pinterest , Twitter

Insomnia in Nurses

The nursing profession has more workers suffering from insomnia than any profession overall.   It's really not surprising: rotating shifts, long hours, emotionally draining days or nights, and of course the pressure of not making a mistake. It all can take its toll, and that toll may be in the form of insomnia.   Insomnia Facts Do you ever look at s sleeping baby, and think about how you wish you could sleep like that?   Babies have no daily worries. Someone always cares for their needs, so their minds are not preoccupied with “what ifs”, or consumed with thoughts of everything that must be accomplished the following day.   No wonder we can't sleep!   One of the main reasons so many nurses suffer from insomnia is that it's difficult to essentially shut the mind down.   You can physically put your body to bed, however you cannot reach in the brain, flip a switch, and turn of the mind.   Think of it like this; you get a comfortable blanket and pillow however ins