Humanitarian Work of the Hospice Nurse
Patients and their families rely on a hospice nurse to provide the most intensive form of palliative care. In addition to having the same training and certifications as other nurses, a hospice nurse will also work closely with doctors and the patient to administer the most sensitive and personalized care possible.
The job of s considered one of the most difficult in the healthcare industry. You know from the start that your patient will not survive, no matter what you do. Hence, their focus is on observing and treating the illness while administering appropriate pain relief medication, not to heal. The primary job is to alleviate pain and prevent suffering, letting the patient live out their final days as comfortably as possible.
It takes a gifted, sensitive and smart person to succeed at this job. You need patience and resolve in order to treat patients you know you can’t help. The majority of hospice patients have cancer, but AIDS, Lou Gehrig’s disease and heart and lung disease also affect many.
The nurse is in charge of mediating between the patient’s family and the physician. Hospice care also involves the administration of prescriptions and patient management. A case manager is responsible for making sure their nurses have everything hospice near orange county they need to perform their duties and is trained to step in to administer essential medical treatment to the patient. Their job is to create a personalized plan for care, and is skilled in administering certain medical procedures.
Hospices are required to provide services, both emotional and spiritual, that allow terminally ill patients to spend their last days at home with family. Many hospice nurses work at the patient’s home, spending time with the patient for hours a day. When a medical emergency arises, such as heart failure or the or the patient enters an active phase of dying, the duty of the hospice nurse is to remain with the patient through death or temporary recovery via medicinal treatment.
These provide around the clock nursing care, supporting your loved ones twenty-four hours a day. As a result, many nurses have to work through the night in order to maintain quality care.
One of the most difficult parts of hospice care is explaining to the family what to expect. He or she will educate the family members on what to expect during the final stages of life for the patient. The nurse also provides emotional support for the family in this difficult time. They also offer additional assistance to the immediate family once the patient passes on. Frequently, the nurse will visit in the weeks after the patient’s passing to assist in the grieving process.