Providing hospice care in the Chicago area is a valuable service, and without it, many patients’ lives would be infinitely more difficult. But in order for patients to benefit from hospice services, they need the right plan of care, and that’s why the hospice nurse’s job is so critical.
The Process of Becoming a Hospice Nurse
The Process of Becoming a Hospice NurseTo become a Hospice Nurse, a registered nurse license is required, experience in an acute care setting or long-term care setting is preferred but not required. Hospice Rn’s may obtain their certification as a hospice and palliative care nurse.
One of the main parts of being a hospice nurse is helping patients and their families feel more comfortable about death and providing them with the emotional support they need. Hospice care helps patients who are terminally ill to die with dignity and respect in any setting they may choose; home, assisted living, long term care facility. Hospice nurses work with an interdisciplinary team to provide communication, clinical support, and emotional support for the patients, families and anyone else who is involved in the patients care.
What Hospice Nurses Do
When you or a loved one enters hospice care with Suncrest in Chicago, meeting with the hospice nurse is one of the first steps you take. The hospice nurse reviews the patient’s medical records, then they talk with you about the patient’s care and wishes.
The nurse will go over the patient’s plan of care and fill you in on what to expect, whether you are discussing hospice care at home or in a facility.
Most patients and their families form a close relationship with their hospice nurse. Families rely on the hospice nurse to evaluate the patient’s condition and make changes to the plan of care when necessary. If your family member is receiving hospice home care, the hospice nurse will visit your home frequently to check on the patient’s condition. It might be as often as several times a week or as little as twice a month, depending on the patient’s condition.
At this time, they take vital signs, do a physical examination and ask questions about how they are feeling, including pain management, how well they sleep and eat, and their toileting habits. During this visit, the hospice nurse determines whether changes need to be made to medication or other aspects of hospice care.
However, if the patient needs to see the nurse on a day no visit is scheduled, you may call and request a visit. This sometimes happens if the patient develops a fever, suffers a fall or increased pain, or another issue arises.
Suncrest Hospice Nurses
Suncrest hospice nurses are fully dedicated to their patients. They work hard to improve patients’ quality of life and make them as happy and comfortable as possible. To learn more about hospice care or to meet with a hospice nurse in the Chicago area, call Suncrest Home Health and Hospice today.
