The Importance of Documenting Hospice Visits at the Bedside
Our primary focus for our patients is comfort at the end of life as hospice nurses. We work tirelessly to ensure that our patients receive the best possible care during their end-of-life journey. An aspect of that care that is often overlooked, but incredibly important is timely documentation.
Documenting hospice visits at the bedside is crucial for several reasons. Not only does it help ensure that our patients are receiving the best possible care, but it also helps the hospice team as a whole and reduces issues when the caregiver must be involved in triage services. Here are just a few reasons why documenting hospice visits at the bedside is so important:
An example recertification template for hospice eligibility
Hospice recertification is a crucial step in which the registered nurse case manager can help make the case for continued hospice eligibility. May I encourage my fellow hospice nurses to start using a template to ensure your recertification visits are consistent and that you are leading early in the documentation portion regarding what declines have occurred since admission and last recertification?
General Inpatient (GIP) Level of Care for Hospice Explained
GIP, or General Inpatient Hospice, is an often misunderstood aspect of hospice care. Both hospital staff and families sometimes have misconceptions about GIP. Families may assume it's readily available upon request, while hospital professionals may believe it allows patients to remain in the hospital indefinitely, even when death is weeks away. This article will clarify the basics of GIP for hospice, including eligibility requirements, doctor's orders, care plans, documentation, and education. We'll conclude with two real-life cases to illustrate these points.
Time Management Tips for New Visiting Nurses
One of the main challenges of new nurses is time management. In a hospital or nursing home setting, you often have coworkers to rescue you in a pinch in case you are overwhelmed; on top of having nearby coworkers, most orientation programs, as well as nursing schools, focus on time management skills in a facility setting. Yet what about time management as a visiting nurse — in home health or home hospice or both?
Let me share with you my wisdom and experience in time management in the field of a visiting nurses to hopefully help you have more time for life compared to work — a better work-life balance.
Tips for new hospice nurses doing an admission
If you are a new nurse to hospice, one of the tasks you probably dread is doing an admission especially if you have scheduled visits the same day as the admission.
I would like to share with you some tips that when applied may help lower your stress level, and help you remain on time even in cases where you have three to four visits including recertification to do the same day.