Hospice >??

Question

Does everyone know what this is? Just curious. I have been a Hospice RN for 5+ years and wonder what the spin is on this?

Just wondering what everyday non health care related people think hospice is? I still get quesitons like where is the hospice that you work at ? LOL They dont' have many "hospice homes" these days.. most as you know live in their homes or facilities.

I was just asking what people thought hospice is. There is no need to be rude or try to degrade me. I am a nurse who is just curious what "lay" people think it is.. so please don't try to challenge me.

Answer 1

My mom died of lung cancer 3 years ago. Her last month was spent at home, and I was her primary caretaker during the day.

Hospice is a group of very caring individuals who focus on making every problem go away and every discomfort bearable. They gave us direction, counsel, medications, equipment all in a quick, efficient manner. I can't tell you how many people, whether it was their job or not, sat with my mom on the back patio and chatted for long periods of time. I could never do their job--I'd get attached to my patients--but they did their job and helped me do mine. They were our personal angels.

Thank you for your work all these years. Anyone who brings up hospice in my presence gets a speech on how well they treated my mom during her last days. I would recommend hospice to anyone with a terminal illness.

Debbie Villareal

Answer 2

Hello:

My mother passed away nine years ago,and hospice was there to help her the last six months of her life. Hospice offers round the clock care for it's patients with everything from speech therapy,physical therapy,home health aides,nurses,etc.. Basically it is professional people that come into a terminal patient's house to help them live their life to the fullest,no matter what little time that they have left to live.

The home health aides would bathe,groom,and help feed or give my mother drinks and help her to the bathroom. As she became more seriously ill,they would change her catheter bag,and document her vitals,and if she was eating or drinking anything. Hospice also provides social workers and spiritual assistance if necessary to help the family cope with the terminal patient,and they help to prepare the family for what stages of terminal illness that their loved one will go through and what to expect.

Hospice is a wonderful organization and usually the primary care physician or a specialist is the one who orders hospice for a patient when a patient is only given six months or less to live.Also,hospice patients are allowed to have the most powerful pain medications allowed by a doctor since their pain is just unbearable.

My mother's doctor had her on a few different pain medications because she was in so much pain before she died,she would sob and there was nothing that we could do to help her pain.

Answer 3

I work in a Pulmonary office and deal with a lot of end-stage COPD and cancer patients whom, sadly are at the end of life. We refer a fair amount of our terminal patients to Hospice and all the feedback from the family members is positive. I personally think Hospice is wonderful and I commend you for working as an RN with Hospice- it takes a special kind of person to do that for a living.

In short, I think Hospice is a wonderful organization and they truly make "the end" more dignified and comfortable- not only for the patient, but the family as well...which is just as important for them to know their loved one isn't suffering as they pass away.

God bless and have a blessed evening :-)

Answer 4

So you work for hospice and want to know what other people think about it?

I'm a nurse too, I work in long term care... so yes, I know what hospice is and really appreciate you for doing it.

Answer 5

I was a hospice social worker for 2 years.

Answer 6

A hospice is caring for people when they have 6 months or less to live.

Answer 7

My husband had a terminal disease that many of his nurses had never heard of before. He was not given any time frame as to when he might pass and I was told they would continue to take care of him as long as they were needed. The nurse came in 1 to 3 days a week to check on him and the CNA came in 3 days a week to shave, wash his hair, bathe him and change his linen. He had a chaplain and a social worker that came in once a month or more often if needed. The CNA also took his vitals and recorded them so that his nurse and doctor knew exactly what was going on with him. The nurse ordered all supplies that he needed such as diapers, shampoo, skin lotions, bed pads, all his medications pertaining to his illness, bedside table, etc. We were not charged a dime for any of their services or supplies. When he started running a fever or had any problems, the nurse would call the doctor right away and find out exactly what needed to be done. We did not have to take him out for a doctor s visit. They were always just a phone call away, day or night. He could not communicate his needs but they always tried to make him as comfortable as possible and made sure that I was okay as well.
When he passed a few days ago, a nurse and the chaplain came in and took care of everything and myself and my children did not have to do anything but grieve. The chaplain called the funeral home and also officiated at the service. He asked and followed our wishes. We will never be able to thank them enough for what they did.
If the need ever arises I hesitated at first about called hospice in but now I am glad I did. I don t think I would have been able to keep him at home if I had not called them in. They are a great group of people and really care about their patients. His nurse and CNA attended his funeral.

Answer 8

Hospice is end of life care, either at home or in a facility.
But then, I am an RN too. Still I have many friends that are perfectly aware of what hospice is.

Answer 9

Your question isn't clear. If you are a Hospice nurse then you know what Hospice is. Are you asking about the symbol: Hospice>?? --- That symbol could be a question posed by a medical professional asking if the patient should be considered for Hospice.

My family learned about it when my wife went through home Hospice, so I feel there are many who are aware of what it is and what it means.

Answer 10

Hospice is an organization that is there to help the Patient pass away in peace in their home,when they only have a short time to live (0-6 mon ) There are social workers that go to the Pt.s home to make sure the Pt is comfortable by giving the Pt. pain killer med. They also consuel the family to help them get throgh the difficult time they are going through in their ilves losing a loved one. I work at an oncolpgy clinic so i'm always getting forms to dr. to sign off oking them to give pt. pain killers.