Visiting Nurse / Hospice Atlanta Blogs

The Daily Routine of a Hospice Atlanta Center RN

By Heidi Callaway, RN Charge Nurse, Hospice Atlanta Center

Providing Around-The-Clock Hospice Care

How does a Hospice Atlanta Center RN even begin to describe a day of care? For starters, patients receive 24 hour around-the-clock care. Each 24 hour period is divided into two shifts of twelve hours; I work 7pm-7am regularly. Every hour for me is the same in terms of serving and caring, but different in terms of symptom management and medical needs. I work on a team with another nurse, usually a RN, and two Hospice Aides. I assess my patients and monitor each one for any symptoms of pain, anxiety, shortness of breath, or any other sign of discomfort. I also administer scheduled medication and provide wound care. For the patients’ family, I am available to discuss care of their loved one and help them fully understand the dying process.
At every shift change, a reporting meeting occurs. These meetings are debriefings on each patient’s last twelve hours of care. We carefully note every detail that the incoming nursing staff will need to know to continue their care. A lot of information is exchanged such as: food consumption, medication doses, temperament, activities, and even the timing of the last bowel movement.
Once the reporting meeting is complete, the outgoing shift leaves and the incoming shift divides the patients and their duties begin. Since our patients need us around-the-clock it is necessary to make sure we are prepared for anything they need, whenever they need it.

The Difference between Residential Patients and Acute Patients

At the Hospice Atlanta Center we have both residential and acute care patients. The acute care patient has a particular symptom that needs to be managed, usually pain or trouble breathing. Once the acute care patient has their symptoms controlled, they most often return home and continue receiving care from our wonderful team of nurses who manage the patient’s care through our medical records system Homecare Homebase.
The residential patient is typically a long-term resident of the Hospice Atlanta Center and live in the inpatient. The staff gets to know each of the patients well and they are cared for like family.
In every case, we work as a team—Doctor, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse, Hospice Aide, Chaplain and Social Worker to ensure comfort for the patient and their family.

RNs Work Hard to Make Hospice Feel Like Home

Whether the patient is acute or residential, we encourage everyone to bring a bit of home with them. We love to see family photos and get a glimpse into the lives of our patients. Our patients are valued for who they are as individuals and NOT defined by their diagnosis.
Hospice Atlanta serves a variety of patients, including pediatric. No matter the patient’s age or status I try to spend as much time as I can with each of them. I might be administering medications, listening to stories of their life, telling them a joke, holding their hand or just being in the room with them. In all situations, their comfort is our concern, but their needs are all different. At the end of my 12 hour shift, I organize my notes on all the care given and prepare for the reporting meeting.
When my shift is over I head home to spend time with my own family, but my mind frequently returns to my “family of patients” at Hospice Atlanta Center hoping for peace for each of them.
After 15 years of working in the hospice environment, I still cry when someone moves on, but I am comforted and happy in the role that I played in their care. I can’t imagine this feeling EVER changing. I love each patient and family. I LOVE HOSPICE!

Connect with Us on Instagram
Supporting our community as they grieve is important this month, National Grief Awareness Month, and every month here at Hospice Atlanta. 

Another way we support those who have suffered a loss is with Camp STARS- our weekend family bereavement camp. For 31 years, we've provided a safe environment for adults and children to share their feelings, meet others in similar situations, and have fun while learning how to grieve in an emotionally healthy way. 
Hear from our campers how important Camp is to their journey. 

📱Text CampSTARS to 71777 to support healing.
#hospiceatlanta#visitingnursehealthsystem#CampStars #healing

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August is National Grief Awareness Month. 
Grief isn’t something we ‘get over’ — it’s something we learn to live with. This August, please join along in honoring all who grieve, and let's raise awareness around grief, together.
#CampStars#griefsupport#nationalgriefawarenessday#hospiceatlanta#visitingnursehealthsystem

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💙 Compassion in Action. Care at Home. 💚
At Visiting Nurse Health System | Hospice Atlanta, we are your solution to healthcare and aging in the home. 
For over 75 years, we’ve served metro Atlanta with trusted healthcare in the home rooted in dignity, respect, and clinical excellence. We bring expert, compassionate care directly to the homes for every stage of your healthcare journey. From home health after an injury, surgery or life event, to safe & compassionate end of life care with Hospice Atlanta, we’re honored to be part of your care journey.

📍 Proudly non-profit. Proudly local.

Learn more or refer a loved one: www.vnhs.org
#HospiceAtlanta #HomeHealthCare #HospiceCare #AtlantaNonprofit #CompassionateCare #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #carethatcomestoyou

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Come and learn with us! 
Hospice Atlanta is a proud vendor at the upcoming Made Whole Senior Resource Fair and we'd love to see you there!
This even has Free Admission AND Free Parking! 
Come and learn from the best in Georgia's aging industry experts! #aginggracefully #seniorliving #hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem

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It's been a great month celebrating our July Employee of the Month! 

Thank you Chintan! 
#gratitude #celebrate #service #MissionDrivenCare #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta

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Hospice Atlanta is expanding our team! 
We’re looking for compassionate, community-minded professionals to join us as Hospice Atlanta Community Specialists. This is a meaningful opportunity to connect patients, families, and healthcare partners with the supportive care they deserve.
Are you passionate about helping others navigate serious illness with dignity and empathy? 

Apply today! 
Send your resume to HR@vnhs.org.

Join us in improving the lives of those we serve — one family at a time.
#HospiceAtlanta #NowHiring #HospiceCare #HealthcareJobs #AtlantaJobs #MissionDrivenCare

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As we celebrate July 4th, we honor the spirit of independence that defines our nation—and also the dignity and freedom we strive to preserve every day for the people we serve. For 76 years, Visiting Nurse Health System has stood alongside Georgia families, helping patients remain in the place they cherish most: home.
Our work in home health and hospice care is rooted in compassion, choice, and respect for every individual’s journey. On this Independence Day, we recognize not only our country’s freedom, but also the personal freedoms we protect—by delivering care that helps people live and die with dignity, surrounded by those they love.
From our family to yours, Happy Fourth of July.
#choice #freedom #healthcarematters #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta

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We've enjoyed celebrating our Certified Nursing Assistants for CNA this month and during last week's CNA week!! Thank you to these amazing clinicians - your clinical skill, compassionate care, and strength you bring to every patient and family you serve makes a lasting impact. This month and every month, we’re grateful for the heart you put into your work. #CNA #hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem #passion #Mission

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Today we pause to honor Juneteenth - a powerful reminder of resilience, freedom, and the continued pursuit of equity. At Visiting Nurse Health System, we recognize this day as more than a historic milestone, more so a call to action to listen, learn, and continue building a community where dignity and compassion are extended to all. Having provided care into the homes of Georgians for 76 years, our mission is rooted in the belief that each individual deserves equal access to quality health care. On this Juneteenth, we reaffirm that belief. Thank you to our community members, supporters and healthcare partners who help us serve with heart and humanity each day. #Juneteenth #EquityInCare #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #CommunityCare #hospiceatlanta

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Happy Father’s Day from Visiting Nurse Health System! 💙
Today we honor fathers, father figures, grandfathers and the fathers who are caregivers -leading lead with love, strength, and quiet dedication at home and in our communities. Thank you for all you do! 
#FathersDay #VisitingNurse #HonoringDads #visitingnursehealthsystem

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📢 We’re proud to share that Visiting Nurse Health System made front page news this week in Home Health Care News!

📰 Check out the featured article where our President & CEO, Dorothy Davis, talks about the growing financial pressures nonprofit home-based care providers face—especially in a market increasingly shaped by Medicare Advantage.
Dorothy shares insights on how competition for tier 1 patients and reimbursement challenges are shaping the future of care—not just for our patients, but for all of us who may one day need these vital services.

💬 We’re grateful to be part of this important conversation about the sustainability of nonprofit home health—and the critical business drivers that will define its future.

📖 Read the article here 👉https://vnhs.org/news/

#HomeHealthCare #NonprofitLeadership #MedicareAdvantage #ValueBasedCare #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HealthCareNews #FutureOfCare

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VNHS Spotlight!
We're pleased to share our award winning Chief Innovation Officer, Jaqueline Ralph-Blair, was honored today with Modern Healthcare’s Leading Woman of 2025 award! 
This prestigious award honors 30 leading women and 10 rising stars who are making lasting positive changes to the business of healthcare. 
Celebrated today in Chicago at Modern Healthcare’s 15th Annual Leading Women Conference & Awards Luncheon, Jacqueline and her 2025 class of Modern Healthcare's Leading Women, received a vanguard award honoring their achievements in and contributions to healthcare, to include directing strategic partnerships, designing cutting-edge technologies, and spearheading revenue-boosting initiatives. 
Congratulations Jacqueline and THANK YOU for all you do!!

#leadership #CSuite #givingback #healthcare #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta

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