RN Case Manager Debbye Lindberg says a team approach is critical in hospice.

For Hospice Nurse, It’s All About Teamwork

After 39 years in nursing, from critical care to traveling nursing to an anticoagulation clinic, I've found my way back to hospice care at Care Dimensions. While I briefly worked in hospice about 15 years ago, returning to this field has reminded me why this work is so meaningful, and why the team approach is essential to providing the best possible care at the end of life.

The Heart of Hospice: A Team Approach

What many people don't realize about hospice is that we take a holistic approach to care. We're not just addressing physical symptoms; we're caring for the whole person and their family. This requires a diverse team with different skills and perspectives working together seamlessly: from nurses like myself to aides; from social workers and spiritual counselors to doctors.

I couldn't do this job without my team members. Specifically, the social workers I work with are incredible, and the support they provide to both patients and families is invaluable. While I focus on physical comfort, they help navigate the emotional journey. It truly takes all of us working together to provide comprehensive care.

Supporting Families Through the Journey

I was surprised when I first started in hospice by how much time we spend with families. Even when I'm with the patient, I'm constantly incorporating the family into the care because we want to ensure that the patient's wishes are respected, even when they're no longer able to express them.

The families are the primary caregivers, but we want them to be able to be family members too. I tell them, "We want you to have your memories, to spend quality time with your loved one, so you can look back on this time and say, 'I was there for that person.'"

There's a lot of education involved, often repetitive, because people don't always hear it the first time (or the second). Depending on the situation, you're meeting with people experiencing a wide range of emotions. Being able to communicate effectively and compassionately is crucial.

Dispelling Misconceptions About Hospice

One of the first things I address during initial nursing visits is the misconceptions about hospice care. I explain that we're here to provide comfort and quality of life. People receive hospice care for anywhere from one day to three years or more.

We don't do anything that helps a person die early. The medications we provide are all "as needed" and focused on symptom management. What often brings people to the hospital or cuts life short is a symptom that gets out of control, so we try to manage those symptoms effectively.

Most importantly, it's the patient and family who make the decisions. We can make recommendations, but if the family or patient has concerns about following a particular course of action, we support the decisions they make.

What Makes a Good Hospice Team Member

To work effectively in hospice, you need to be open about death and dying and not see it as something scary or horrible. We're all going to die someday, and accepting that reality helps us better support our patients and families.

Hospice nurses need to be independent and trust their instincts and knowledge. When you're assessing a situation in someone's home, you’re often by yourself. Unlike some other settings I’ve worked in, you’re not turning to a person next to you or going to the next room to ask a colleague.

At the same time, it's crucial to remember that you're not alone, even when you’re physically by yourself. A second opinion from the Care Dimensions team of experts is always a phone call away.

What Makes Care Dimensions Special

What I love most about working at Care Dimensions is the support system. The communication is very open, and I can access resources whenever I need them. After working as a nurse for nearly four decades, I've learned that having a good support system as an employee makes all the difference. The environment here makes even the most challenging days manageable.

Hospice care is often misunderstood, but it's some of the most rewarding work I've done in my long nursing career. Being part of people's journeys at the end of life - supporting them and their families through a process that isn't talked about enough in our society - there's something profoundly meaningful about that work. And doing it with an exceptional team makes all the difference.

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