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“Everything I've experienced (in my career) has groomed me for my current position. When I look back now, the pieces all fit together.”
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Judith Henning, RN, has worked in a variety of clinical settings throughout her nursing career. After graduating from nursing school, she worked in a hospital on an acute medicine floor. There she spent time studying cardiology and increasing her assessment skills with the thought of moving into the coronary care unit. Upon deciding the CCU would not be her next career move, Judy accepted a position as the unit dose/medication delivery nurse for a Spokane hospital. Working closely with the pharmacy, she learned a great deal about medications: indications, dosing, and side effects. Raising children occupied the next few years ("they were my pediatrics affiliation"), after which Judy moved to Seattle and began a 20-year relationship with Wesley Homes in Des Moines, WA. It was at Wesley that she honed her interest and skills in working with nursing home residents and end-of-life care. Judy held many supervisory positions at Wesley that culminated in her role as the Assistant Director of Nursing. On a personal level, the deaths of several people close to her also reinforced Judy's interest in caring for the dying.
In April of 2003, the opportunity arose for Judy to move into her current position as a case manager for Hospice of Seattle. She was a PERT participant and soon to complete PERT training when she made the transition to her new role. As a hospice nurse, Judy's primary caseload consists of residents in 17 nursing homes. She brings to this role a deep understanding of the strengths of the nursing home environment as well as a newfound passion for hospice care.
We asked Judy to describe her perspective on the interface of hospice and long-term care:
Nursing homes have a good ‘heart.’ However, in nursing homes there are more people to take care of, and not everyone is equipped to talk about it (dying). By definition, the hospice role allows a resident to ask more specific questions, and perhaps address things they wouldn't bring to facility staff. I think my current bonds with residents are deeper more quickly because of my role.
It used to be my experience that nursing home staff tended to ‘hand over’ care of the resident to the hospice team. Now I see staff ready to be more collaborative. PERT helped to emphasize that. Nursing homes are more familiar with hospice and what the hospice team has to offer. (Nursing home) staff members are also quicker at symptom management, and knowing when to seek additional guidance.
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Assessment skills, medication management, a passion for and commitment to caring for the dying; these are some of the attributes Judy brings to end-of-life care. We are pleased that Judy found inspiration in the PERT program. We wish her well as she uses her knowledge, skills and confidence to enhance end-of-life care in nursing homes.
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