The Hospice Concept

Hospice is a concept of caring derived from medieval times, symbolizing a place where travelers, pilgrims and the sick, wounded or dying could find rest and comfort. The contemporary hospice offers a comprehensive program of care to patients and families facing a life threatening illness. Hospice is primarily a concept of care, not a specific place of care.

Hospice emphasizes palliative rather than curative treatment; quality rather than quantity of life. The dying are comforted. Professional medical care is given, and sophisticated symptom relief provided. The patient and family are both included in the care plan and emotional, spiritual and practical support is given based on the patient’s wishes and family’s needs. Trained volunteers can offer respite care for family members as well as meaningful support to the patient.

Hospice affirms life and regards dying as a normal process. Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death. Hospice provides personalized services and a caring community so that patients and families can attain the necessary preparation for a death that is satisfactory to them.

Those involved in the process of dying have a variety of physical, spiritual, emotional and social needs. The nature of dying is so unique that the goal of the hospice team is to be sensitive and responsive to the special requirements of each individual and family.

Hospice care is provided to patients who have a limited life expectancy. Although most hospice patients are cancer patients, hospices accept anyone regardless of age or type of illness. These patients have also made a decision to spend their last months at home or in a homelike setting.

do you think think job Is for you ??  what are your experiences in Hospice ??

I work in a prison with a Hospice Unit.  I am a night charge nurse over the Hospice Unit.  It is still rewarding and heartbreaking at the same time, no matter what reason they are in prison for.  We have about 21 beds and usually have between 14-18 inmates at any one time.  Some of these men have no visitors or family members and the only compassion and care they get is from the nurse on duty.  We also have porters (inmates trained to help with ADLs) to give care.  The men's ages range from 20-80's.  It has been a rewarding experience and I am glad I have been able to be a part of this. 

I have been employed by a national hospice company since March 9th. I absolutely love my job. In September 2008 I asked God what He wanted me to do because the career that I was going into, I woke up one day and knew I would never be happy. I opened the college catalog and it fell to nursing. God has guided and directed my steps each step of the way. I graduated December 2009, passed my boards February 2010 and was blessed with this job officially in March. It is a hard job, in the sense that it is sad and you do get attached. But I not only have the opportunity to care for my patients who are transitioning into the next phase of their life cycle, I also get to be there for the people that love them. I find my job very rewarding and am so thankful for the opportunity to work in this field, especially as a brand new LPN out of school. I am currently going for my RN, but I want to continue to minister to my patients and their loved ones as God leads me to do.