As I try to diversify my experiences, I'm trying to decide whether to pursue both hospice and CNA work, or replace hospice with a different clinical opportunity. To my understanding, they are both similar in that they provide care to patients who struggle with day-to-day activities, but being a hospice volunteer is geared more towards terminal illnesses and <6-8 months of life. Wondering how much ACOMS would view it in the long run
Hi. I am not AdComm but I'm sure they would see this as a different aspect of what medicine is about. Not all of health care is about diminishing disease and saving lives; there are some conditions that medical care cannot treat adequately and not all patients get better even with "treatable" conditions. Furthermore, death is an inevitable part of life; no living organism lives forever, and as humans we must all face death.
As far as volunteering in hospice versus working as a CNA, I would suggest working: you can experience more and do more. Many hospices and hospitals have restrictions on what unlicensed volunteers can do. But you can also do both: you can get your CNA license and then work in hospice. That's what I did. Here's what I am currently doing: Most of my home patients are hospice patients, and many are military veterans. The work is long (typically 8-12 hour shifts, sometimes as much as 36 hours continuously), dirty (catheter bags, poop clean up, bathing), and sometime monotonous and repetitive, but I've also assisted with procedures, medication management, oxygen, physical therapy, etc. (Previously, I worked as an MA/phlebotomist, pharmacy tech, and I have OR recovery experience, which also helps).
Although hospice is supposed to be for less than six months typically, I've worked with some patients for as long as 2 years, and some of these patients were already on hospice for several years before I was assigned to them. Working with the same patients continually gives me a continuity that allows a glimpse into their lives, their families, how they cope with worsening conditions and impending death. Almost all of the patients with whom I have worked have or had various cancers or neurodegenerative conditions, some quite rare, so you can see some unusual pathologies. And, of course, there is the process of death itself. It's a very humbling, reflective experience. Being present at the moment of death, espeically with family and friends around. Many medical students may only witness the passing of a patient in a setting such as the ER, or, perhaps, during unsuccessful surgery. Furthermore, working alongside hospice nurses, infusion nurses, PTs and OTs, provides a glimpse into the responsibilities and tasks of these health care workers.
