When Hospice Nursing Gets Lonely

I had no idea that one of our new hospice nurses had left our team. It saddened me.

“It got lonely for her,” said another nurse.

Those words made think about the flow of our days.

Being a hospice nurse out in the field is very different from working alongside colleagues in a hospital or another healthcare facility. You need to be comfortable spending much of your day on your own. You may or may not see another hospice team member. Some days, your only face-to-face interactions may be with your patients and their families.

Nobody really tells you this when you begin your hospice nursing journey.

There is a lot of independence in hospice nursing, and that can be one of the things we love about the work. But independence can also become isolation if we aren't careful.

So, even if working alone is part of your daily reality, resist the temptation to withdraw.

Reach out to a nursing colleague you trust. Talk with your team's social workers—they understand the emotional weight of this work. Chaplains and bereavement counselors can also be wonderful sounding boards when you need someone to listen.

And sometimes you don't need advice or a solution. You simply need to talk with someone who understands what it's like to do this work. Their perspective may

Hospice nursing may take you out into the field alone, but you were never meant to carry the work alone.

Stay connected to your team. Reach out. Let someone know when the work feels heavy.

Working independently doesn't mean you have to practice hospice nursing in isolation.

An Affirmation For You:
I can be independent in my work without carrying everything alone. I am part of a team, and it is okay to reach out for support.

Self-Care Tip:
Before the end of your workday, make one small connection with a teammate. Send a quick message, make a phone call, or check in with someone at the office. You don't have to wait until you're struggling to stay connected. Connection is part of caring for yourself, too.