Working in hospice care is certainly a gratifying career, but it’s not a job role that everyone can handle. To work in hospice care, there are vital skills you need to be able to support patients and their loved ones with the prospect of death. Below are five vital skills required to work in hospice care.
Compassion
We all have a sense of compassion to some degree, but people working in hospice care need a higher level since those who are in extreme pain or are dying may be demanding or difficult at times.
People can act all sorts of ways when confronted with death, so you need the ability to remain compassionate to their situation no matter what. Compassion can create a calming effect and may help individuals who are suffering to feel safe.
Observation
Being observant when working in hospice care is also essential, as there may be small but important changes in a patient’s health that could be a sign of an underlying issue. Some patients may not have the ability to speak or explain how they feel, so you must be observant of their actions and behaviors so you can advocate for them.
Communication
Communication is a very vital skill to hone if you want to work in hospice care. You will be dealing with difficult situations on a daily basis, and what you say and how you say it can have a huge impact on patients and their families. You may also need to learn complicated medical jargon, so being able to relay this to others in an easy-to-understand way is important too.
A thanatology degree can help provide you with the education and skills you need to work in hospice and support individuals confronted with death.
Emotional Strength
Working with terminally ill patients is not for everybody. It takes an emotionally strong person to care for a dying patient and still have a smile on their face. You are likely to make bonds with the people you take care of, which can be difficult when you know they will be leaving this earth soon. For your own peace of mind, you need to be emotionally strong to deal with this.
Patience
Caring for the dying requires a lot of patience, as their needs and requests can be time-consuming. When it comes to end-of-life care, it’s important to remember that everybody reacts differently to dying.
For some, it may take a lot to coax them into opening up, while others may become frustrated and angry with their situation. By developing patience, you can give the care each patient needs, while keeping your own frustrations low.
Compassion, observation, communication, emotional strength, and patience are all vital skills for working in a hospice environment. Despite the challenges you may face, hospice work is an incredibly rewarding career where you can make a difference in a person’s final few days or weeks. You can also be there to support families going through grief, which means a great deal.