The Hospice Nurse

The Hospice nurse is an R.N. who usually has considerable previous nursing experience in other areas. Nurses come from pediatrics, geriatrics, OBGyn or in any number of specialties. Each one evolves to a point where caring for the dying patient is what they want to do. These are very special people.

The primary focus of the Hospice nurse is to maintain the well being of the patient primarily by managing PAIN. Once that aspect of the patient's life is under control,it frees the patient to do some of the things they want to do. Sometimes, even the anticipation of pain is enough to debilitate a patient mentally and physically.

A Hospice nurse is on 24 hour call.Every nurse on the Hospice staff is updated usually weekly on EVERY patient on service. In this way, the nurse on call has knowledge of the patient and can render the neccesary care. The nurse tells the family and patient as well, that they may call the service at any time. If they are troubled at 2a.m., they may call Hospice and the nurse will contact them. The nurse will come out right away if neccesary without hesitation.

Patients and their families come to rely on their nurses and the nurses never dissapoint. The Hospice nurse is always learning, upgrading her skills and sharing new information. They are astute judges of pain managment, patient care, and family concerns. Because they are so intimately involved with their patients, they play a pivotal role in the pain free transition of the patient.

The Hospice nurse does not hasten death when managing pain. They make the remaining life of the patient bearable. The Hospice nurses must have wings, because they are indeed angels.

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