Question IF I Make The Leap Into Nursing?

I am a hospice home health aide. I enjoy providing the best patient care I can. Frankly, this is a job I LOVE. However, we should always, always, challenge ourselves.

IF I decide to, go on, and go to nursing school, as a nurse will I still provide patient care? I know there is way more paper work, responsibility, documentation, liability with nursing, BUT do nurses provide patient care?
Quote from Poppyfields00I am a hospice home health aide. I enjoy providing the best patient care I can. Frankly, this is a job I LOVE. However, we should always, always, challenge ourselves.IF I decide to, go on, and go to nursing school, as a nurse will I still provide patient care? I know there is way more paper work, responsibility, documentation, liability with nursing, BUT do nurses provide patient care?

I'm a home health aid too, and yesterday I visited someone on hospice. Her hospice nurse arrived shortly after I did, sat down next to my client and gave her the longest hug. After she made a few assessments, took vitals, and gave meds, she just talked with her. Her visit could have only taken 15-20 minutes, but she stayed for an hour. She was wonderful. You will absolutely be involved in patient care as a nurse.

I am so fortunate, one of the nurses I work with has been at it 41 years. She is a wealth of knowledge. She had to assess my competency, and YES, I was intimidated, and she tried to trip me up, (I, actually, appreciate it---it means she has faith in me...I CAN do it.) I was so focused on my patient, I did not realize she was doing that, and answered her questions. You don't know how good it feels to, actually, find my calling and do it well.

Slightly off topic. I am a nursing student very interested in hospice care. Is it possible to be employed as a hospice health aide while in school?

That's a good question, I don't know. I don't see why you can't but I don't know.

I am overjoyed whenever I come across anyone who wants to become a nurse because she wants to care for patients!!!! HOORAY FOR OP!My 2 cents... The amount of care that is(must) be provided by RNs is pretty much dictated by how 'unstable' the patient is. If the patient is very stable, the RN can delegate a lot of the care. Since organizations are always trying to cut costs, the patient care staff & model of care delivery will never be more than what is required. So, in non-acute settings, there will be more non-licensed staff. In LTC, it's not unusual to see only 1 RN on site, and s/he may be devoting a lot of time to paperwork. But in acute care (hospitals) RNs will be doing the majority of patient care.

You have found a job you LOVE! Since your time isn't billable you probably have a lot of freedom to spend the amount of time each of your patients need. Become an RN will completely change that dynamic. I think your work as a hospice home health aide really matters and you would be sorely missed. That is a tough one. As a nurse you would have more financial security and we would be lucky to have you. Only you can decide. Good luck.

Quote from OceanpacificYou have found a job you LOVE! Since your time isn't billable you probably have a lot of freedom to spend the amount of time each of your patients need. Become an RN will completely change that dynamic. I think your work as a hospice home health aide really matters and you would be sorely missed. That is a tough one. As a nurse you would have more financial security and we would be lucky to have you. Only you can decide. Good luck.

Your patients are very fortunate.