Overwhelmed as a New Hospice Nurse? Here are 3 Tips to Help You
Are you on information overload after having started orientation? If you are a new hospice RN case manager there’s lots of things to learn and you might be tempted to think, “How am I going to remember all this stuff?” It’s easy to be discouraged but believe me, no one is going to expect you to know everything right now.
Here are 3 tips to remember when going through orientation:
1. Ask questions to clarify. It’s ok not to be sure about some things. In hospice, you will be forever learning. Ask questions to clarify what you’re not sure about now because one day you’ll be out in the field on your own. You owe it to yourself to get a solid understanding about important topics. You may forget later on but you can always call a fellow nurse colleague or your clinical supervisor for help.
2. Get to know your team. That means your clinical supervisor, social worker, hospice MD, bereavement counselor and chaplain. When I first started hospice I had a very supportive clinical supervisor I would call often. She was an RN case manager before so she knew my struggles. My social workers were some of my best friends. We would sometimes make visits together, especially if there were complex family issues. We would go out to lunch and get to really know each other when time permitted. When you have a good working relationship with your hospice medical director, it really can promote a sense of teamwork. It takes time to understand and work well with your HMD, but it is well worth it. I often talked with our bereavement counselor when I had a complicated case I didn’t understand. She always gave me insights or angles I never thought of. All of these individuals can play play important roles in your hospice experience, if you make an effort to reach out to them. They will also show you that you are never truly alone out there.
3. Give yourself grace. With so many things coming at you, it might make you feel inadequate and not good enough. Allow yourself to learn at your own pace. Really and truly, you can only absorb only so much. You don’t need to be super nurse. It will all come together…. in time.
No one starts out as an expert in hospice—it’s process of constant learning, leaning on your team, and giving yourself permission to grow at your own pace. My hope is that by remembering these simple tips, you’ll find strength and encouragement for the road ahead. After all, the world of hospice needs you—and your presence matters more than you know.
#Hospicenurse #Hospicecare #Endoflifecare #Compassionincare #SunsetAngels #Selfcarefornurses
