A Day in the Life of a Hospice Nurse

You start your day by visiting a patient you’ve been caring for the past few months. Their spouse greets you at the door, relieved to see a trusted caregiver who understands their journey. You proactively assess the patient’s symptoms, make any necessary adjustments to their care plan and ensure their environment is safe and comfortable. Including using the tools of our North Star Dementia Program to proactively manage this patient’s Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. You also offer reassurance to their spouse, providing support and guidance every step of the way.

Next, you arrive at a skilled nursing facility where you visit multiple hospice patients. The staff appreciates your visits, your collaboration and the high level of care you provide to your patients. Your consistent work inside their building allows you to develop long-term relationships and educate staff on the unique needs of those on hospice care.

At your next stop, you meet with a patient’s adult children, who are struggling with the hospice journey. You answer their questions, listen to their concerns and discuss how to navigate the anticipatory grief they are experiencing. During this visit, you plan to connect with a social worker on your team to introduce this family to our Lighthouse End-of-Life Planning Program, which helps families prepare for what’s ahead. Hospice nursing isn’t just about caring for patients, it’s about being a compassionate presence for their loved ones as well.

You visit a patient experiencing increased discomfort. After an assessment, you adjust their medications and guide their caregiver on ways to increase their comfort. You also determine that this patient is showing signs of nearing the end of their hospice journey and discuss the benefits of our Voyage Vigil Program with the family as an extra layer of care during this time. Small changes have made a big impact, and you leave knowing the patient will rest easier.

Hospice care is a team effort. You now connect with your interdisciplinary team of social workers, chaplains and aides to discuss the needs of the patients you saw earlier in the day – coordinating additional support services and addressing patient and family concerns.

One of your long-term patients living with heart failure is having a good day and their family is visibly relieved. Through our specialized program certified by the American Heart Association, you’ve been able to manage their symptoms and provide education and support their family needs. During your visit, you check in on their comfort, make small adjustments to the care plan and share a conversation. This visit reminds you why you love supporting a patient’s hospice journey from beginning to end.

At the end of your day, you complete your documentation and reflect on your patient visits. Each visit today has reinforced why hospice nursing is so special. The ability to provide comfort, dignity and to be there when it matters most. The ability to develop long-term relationships with facility staff, patients and their families. And the ability to spend the right amount of time to ensure each patient gets the care they need. Tomorrow, you’ll continue to make a difference, one patient and one family at a time.