About Hospice Nurses
Since the early 1980s, hospice care has grown in popularity and acceptance. As people reach the end of their lives, many issues confront dying patients and their families, including pain management, grief and treatment options. Hospice nurses are trained specifically to treat the entire realm of end-of-life problems and questions to make the transition as comfortable as possible for everyone involved.
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History
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In 1983, the federal government passed the Medicare Benefit Act, which allowed dying patients to spend their final days at home with the assistance of hospice-trained professionals. The Act covers those expenses. A specialization that has arisen from hospice, known as palliative care, became covered under Medicare in 1999 as spelled out in the Last Acts Task Force. Palliative care begins when a patient is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Care may last for years, versus imminent death covered by hospice. Many hospice nurses have moved into palliative specialties.
Function
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While the role of hospice nurses is to monitor and administer pain medication to keep the terminally ill patient comfortable, they also provide counseling, grief support and practical guidance to the patient and family. Hospice nurses work closely with the entire medical team, including physicians, social workers, volunteers and religious advisers. Hospice nurses are on call 24 hours.
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Types
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Most hospice care is provided in the home of the patient, often the most comfortable setting for someone to spend his last days. Many hospitals have hospice units that are set up to have more of a homey feel, with low lighting and sofas and chairs for visiting. Stand-alone hospice centers also are an option for hospice care. Palliative care nurses primarily work in therapeutic settings, such as nursing homes and rehabilitation centers.
Considerations
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Hospice and palliative care nurses tend to remain generalists. Many, however, choose to specialize in areas, such as pediatrics, oncology and geriatrics. They seek additional training in these sub-specialties as they progress in their careers. Nurses can receive a registered nursing degree, with a specialty in hospice and palliative care at the Associate, Bachelor or Master's level. A Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) certification indicates the competency of the nurse to handle the special needs involved in hospice care.
Warning
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Hospice nurses must become well versed in a variety of arenas in addition to medical procedures. They become advocates for the patient in carrying out the wishes of the patient. They need to have access to community and legal resources they can direct the family to for further assistance. Hospice care professionals must retain a level of cultural sensitivity while they deal with a family. And they need to develop resources for their own emotional support, as they will lose every patient.
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