Jobs available to people interested in working in hospice include bereavement coordinator and palliative care nurse. Read below to find out about these and other common jobs in hospice.
Role of Hospice Care Providers
Hospice care providers work to lessen the pain associated with a number of terminal diseases. They are responsible for improving quality of life and providing comfort for the terminally ill. They might work in a hospice care center, hospital or a patient's home. Because hospice workers routinely deal with death and dying, they must be emotionally prepared for such a career. A few of the common jobs in hospice are discussed below.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutHospiceCareers">Important Facts About Hospice Careers</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td>Median Salary (2021)</td><td> $37.31/hourly or $77,600/salary (<i>for registered nurses</i>)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Entry-Level Education</td><td> Bachelor's degree for most careers</td></tr>
<tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td> 6% (<i>for registered nurses</i>)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Work Setting</td><td> Hospitals, physician's offices, home health care companies, and nursing facilities</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---PalliativeCareNurse">Palliative Care Nurse</h3><p>Palliative care is medical care that focuses on lessening the suffering of terminally ill patients. Rather than attempting to stop or cure a disease, palliative care nurses are responsible for preventing and relieving pain. They might administer pain medication and provide support to family members. These hospice nurses are specially trained in counseling and compassionate listening. Palliative care nurses typically work in non-home settings, such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes. They must be certified to practice.
</p><h3 id="section---CaseManager">Case Manager</h3><p>Case managers serve as the primary contact for families while a patient is receiving hospice care. They are responsible for assessing a patient's signs and symptoms and designing a treatment plan that best suits the patient's needs. Case managers work with other hospice team members and might reassess a plan of care, if necessary. They must continuously monitor the status of a patient because the health of a terminally ill patient can change quickly and drastically.
</p><h3 id="section---BereavementCoordinator">Bereavement Coordinator</h3><p>A bereavement coordinator is responsible for managing a group of hospice bereavement volunteers. People in these positions provide emotional support for family members for a period of time following the death of a patient. This support includes grief response education and active listening. Bereavement coordinators also might provide information regarding available community resources.</p>
