Hospice Nursing: The Patient Advocate

While many nurses have contemplated a career in Hospice, fear often holds them back. Many times I have been asked "how do you do this" or "isn't this a sad place to work". While it may seem that one would think so, the reality is that Hospice nursing can be quite the opposite. Imagine working in a place where making a patient comfortable is not only acceptable but expected.

Quality of life is something that the Hospice philosophy stands on. Most people do not realize that when Hospice takes over a patient's care they live longer, have greater quality of life, and are better empowered to make the best choices for their situation. Hospice care means allowing the patient to choose how best to live the remainder of their lives. While no longer seeking agressive treatment is a component of eligiblity for Hospice that does not mean that a patient gives up or no longer receives treatment of any kind. For example, a patient may continue to receive radiation treatments for a tumor or blood transfusions if this provides comfort and quality of life to the patient and is something the patient desires.

Many times, in hospital settings, doctors are unwilling to aggressively address pain control. Often it is a quick fix given for pain at the time that inadequately manages it and does nothing to address the ongoing pain issue once the patient is discharged from the hospital. Nurses care for patients who are literally drowing in fluids and left with no recourse but to continue pumping fluids into them. Patients, families and even nurses do not realize that they have choices. They often follow doctors orders assuming it is in their best interest. In reality if given all their options they might choose a very different path. When a patient is under Hospice care, their Hospice nurse follows their care while in the hospital to ensure their wishes are being carried out and that they are continuing to receive comfort care in all aspects. The Hospice nurse is their spokesperson who is there to make sure their determined needs are met rather than the desires of the physician.

If you are a proactive patient advocate with a passion for making a patient comfortable, believe that people have the right to choose how to live and how to die, and feel that patients should be empowered to make their own choices in the delivery of their care you could be a Hospice nurse.