Jessi Ruegemer, RN worked as a personal care attendant, medical assistant, and administrative assistant for medical directors, never feeling satisfied or believing she was in the right position. She was pulled towards social work but felt hindered by the number of years it would take to earn the degree, so she decided to get a two-year RN degree. Jessi often wondered if earning this degree was the right thing to do, but she stuck it out, and in the end, it was a hospice video that led her to Our Lady of Peace (OLP).
In her job as an Admissions RN in the OLP Hospice Residence, Jessi uses her nursing degree and some elements of social work. She receives patient records from the hospital and extracts all pertinent data, including the illness that brought them to OLP, and associated symptoms. Then, she brings loved ones together to spend a concentrated amount of time discussing those symptoms, medication, and medication management. She alleviates fear through education. “I know I’m skilled at my job, and I’ve helped people and their families with their transition,” Jessi says humbly. “This is where I’m supposed to be. I now can’t see doing any other type of nursing.”
Jessi likes to provide guidance amid the stress of transitioning to hospice. “At this point, everything is unknown. Patients and families have been told there is no cure, and they’ve come to OLP for hospice care,” she explains. “I like that I can help them through this stressful and often scary time. I can handle difficult situations and family dynamics, and I like providing support. People often come from the hospital with agitation and fear, and I bring them peace. Family members have told me, ‘I’ve never seen them this calm before,’ which makes me feel good.”
Another aspect of hospice care for Jessi is helping other nurses care for patients when she’s not admitting them. She also works as a scribe, writing documentation and charting for physicians during patient rounds, saving them time so they can focus on patient care.
“I like the variety in my job,” she says.
Whatever Jessi is doing at OLP, she is grateful for being allowed into a family’s personal and vulnerable space at the end of life. “I thank families for trusting us and letting us be a part of their sacred journey.”