In the hospice, care revolves around comfort, calm and attention for the guest and their relatives. A freelance (zzp) nurse can temporarily support the team, provided she knows this way of working from the inside.
Palliative care asks for something different from many other care settings. The goal is not recovery, but the best possible quality of life in the last phase. In the hospice this happens in a small-scale, homely setting in which the team, volunteers and relatives work closely together. Anyone stepping in temporarily must fit that atmosphere.
The nurse constantly watches the guest's comfort: pain, breathlessness, restlessness, skin care and nutrition. Symptoms can change quickly, so careful observation and timely consultation with the doctor are essential. There is also a lot of attention for relatives, who are often present day and night and have questions or seek support. Hospice and palliative care is one of my areas of experience.
Care with attention and heart is not a slogan to me, but the core of how I work. In the hospice that means:
I strive for safe, respectful, high-quality care, tailored to the individual needs of clients and their relatives. In a hospice that weighs extra heavily, because there is no second chance.
Hospice teams are often small. If someone drops out, it is immediately noticeable. I can then temporarily fill the nursing role within an agreed assignment, with attention for the agreements and the atmosphere the team has built up. A good handover is indispensable here, see also SBAR handover in practice. You can read more about this setting under hospice and palliative care and in the article palliative care and the role of the nurse.
I help with this through nursing cover and consistent working agreements. Want to know what that means for your organisation? Schedule an introduction.
At the start, also tell a temporary nurse something about the guests' habits and wishes, not just about their care needs. That makes the care more personal.
Yes. In many hospices volunteers are an important part of the team. I coordinate with them on the care, each from our own role.
With calm, honesty and attention. I listen, explain what I see and refer to the doctor or others involved where needed.
Yes, community and home care are also part of my experience. Whether an assignment at home fits, we discuss during the introductory meeting.
I am happy to drop by for a coffee to discuss your question.
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