registered nurse case manager

nursing assistant

registered nurse

hospice aide

music therapist

St. Croix Hospice

was new to the world of hospice , so I’m possibly naive in thinking these issues are only limited to this company, but I was saddened by my experience. I will admit , the company was very accommodating when my mental health ultimately crashed due to the poor organization and lack of training I’d experienced with the demanding work. But this job was the reason I began struggling in the first place .
I have been an RN in very rigorous settings - including COVID units , emergency, rapid response teams, day/night shift and did not struggle with the job as I did here.
Poor management and lack of training was the root of it . I was trained with a group of new nurses, some of whom started before I did, but was consistently told that I was the only one who had enough training to complete admissions for the first months of my career . I had to balance learning my own caseload while also taking on everyone’s admits . I was asked to take an on-call day by my manger as a very new hospice RN. I had declined twice because I had not yet completed a death visit and felt that would be unfair to the loved ones experiencing a loss to have me struggle through it . My boss PROMISED they’d be there to help me if a death occurred that day. I took the on-call day, a death happened at 8 am. My boss and the bosses at surrounding branches saw my message begging for help and nobody showed to help me . I was promised 2 weeks of PTO in orientation. I’m unsure as to when those were supposed to hit our banks , but in the 6 months I was there , I don’t think I accrued more than 4 days. My time off for my mental health leave had to be unpaid until I resubmitted for short term disability that the company originally denied me.
On-call days and holidays included as many as 12 visits for me- never less than 9. Because you are responsible for seeing your own patients logged for the week as well as dailies and PRNS that pop up for that day . Complaints fall on deaf ears . Management is drowning just as much as you are and unfortunately can’t do much for you - regardless of how much they want to.
You’re recognized for how many new patients (paydays) you bring on far more than you are for your compassion . It made me very sad . As a nurse for many years , I always wondered when I’d see the cold , dark “business” and money hungry side of healthcare everyone talked about . I saw it here . Hospice is it . If you’re an experienced hospice RN and none of this sounds scary, then give it a try. You’ll meet wonderful patients and inevitably form relationships and make a difference in their/ their family’s lives . But, for me personally, this was the most isolated and lonely and unimportant I’d ever felt in my nursing career . Be mindful in your choice to take on this kid of role for sure

I had the opportunity to work as an IT Support professional at St Croix Hospice, a company dedicated to hospice work. My experience at the company has been extremely positive, and I would like to share my thoughts on the aspects that stood out the most.
Work Culture: The work culture at St Croix Hospice is truly exceptional. There is a strong emphasis on teamwork, collaboration, and support. The company fosters an environment where everyone is encouraged to contribute their ideas, and there is a genuine sense of camaraderie among the team members. This positive atmosphere creates a space where individuals feel valued and motivated to give their best.
Teamwork: Teamwork is not just a buzzword at St Croix Hospice – it's a way of life. Colleagues are always ready to lend a helping hand, share their expertise, and collaborate on projects. The IT support team, in particular, functions seamlessly, ensuring that technical challenges are addressed promptly and efficiently. The collective effort of the team contributes significantly to the success of our IT initiatives.
Job Role – IT Support: As an IT Support professional, I've had the opportunity to work on a variety of challenging and rewarding projects. The company's commitment to hospice work adds a unique dimension to our IT responsibilities. Knowing that our technical support directly contributes to the well-being of individuals receiving hospice care adds a meaningful and purposeful aspect to our daily tasks.
Company Mission: What sets St Croix Hospice apart is its unwavering dedication to hospice work. The company's mission to provide compassionate care is evident in every aspect of its operations. This mission not only motivates employees but also creates a sense of pride in being part of an organization that makes a positive impact on the lives of others.
In conclusion, my time at St Croix Hospice has been enriching both professionally and personally. The combination of a supportive work culture, effective teamwork, and the fulfillment of contributing to hospice care makes it a truly exceptional place to work. I would highly recommend St Croix Hospice to anyone seeking a workplace where their skills are valued, and their work contributes to a greater purpose.



A typical day of work is driving.

I have learned a lot more about hospice and end of life.  I have learned more about myself and have grown in my role and as a person.  I have seen the meaning of teamwork in action.

I have learned that management in this company is continually changing. I have also learned that as much as this company cares about patients, they also care a lot about the end profit rather than investing in more staff to provide coverage.  Our on-call NURSE this week was up the entire night.  There should be back- up on-call nurses available who can help out.  Our massage therapist had to cut her patienr load and even work on the weekend to get PTS in.  Can't the company just hire more massage therapists for the sake of the patients and the current massage therapists?  If the company promises support in a certain area, they should have enough people available in that discipline to cover the need.  Our social worker has also been pulled out of her  territory MULTIPLE times to cover other areas for days at a time.  It seems back up plans or PRNS should be in place better.  STAFF out in the fields have families and health needs, e.g. SLEEP that must be considered.

The hardest part of the job is dealing with driving in the winter and driving so  much!, having to take personal time in the evening to finish notes or on weekends to prep for IDG mtgs, and also dealing with technology issues.

Workplace culture is very fluid.  There is not one single nurse at my site that is the same from when I started.  Also, although we have a team that we work with, it's difficult to know one another very well as we are always on the go.

The best part of the job . . .  is when I can make a positive difference in the lives of others and sharing Gods love with others through word and action.  To help patients focus on what continues to add meaning to their life and to add a listening ear of support if needed.  To have a HIM who is very supportive, flexible, and hard working, and having a DPS who cares about the needs of the staff as well as the pts, one who gets out in the trenches herself. Kiddos to them both.   It's been very special to get to know the patients and the families.  They, and my role with SCH, have made a positive difference in my life that will impact my ministry going forward

Currently RN case manager, and looking for another job. I LOVE my patients and coworkers (even with high turnover sadly). To say Management and HR is horrible, is an understatement— no support, dishonest, gossip /spread rumors about other employees, will write you up or have a “coaching” talk and you are not even aware of it until you see it in their system.  HR is not there to “help” they make excuses for poor management and use your concerns against you to turn it around to make it look like you’re the problem. Expectations are different for everyone and constantly changing. If you are friends with management you can skate by. Others Work 10-12 hr days and then charting on top of that. No work like balance at all. Oncall is horrendous , you run all over with visits and triage on top of it, when you ask for help they make you feel and look like a bad nurse that can’t “manage your time.” Being are dying- they are humans not just another number for higher census .  I have been dumb enough to stay hoping that things will get better, they do for a short while until turnover happens again and again. Finally had a manager that supported me and I could trust- then company got rid of them for trying to improve team morale and make things better.  But wait… the other terrible manager got promoted - the past 2 -3 years have scarred me as a nurse and made me question my career. If it wasn’t for the patients and other supportive nurses I would have left along time ago. I guess I’m just dedicated and love being beat down. Not anymore… I’m leaving soon. Be VERY CAUTIOUS- and don’t trust management or HR - they will throw you under the bus first chance and make you feel and look bad. Wish I would have never taken this job.

This company prefers to hire new grads as they can dangle them like puppets as they do not know a lot. They do not train thoroughly on end of life so the staff are going into the field blindsided and have to BS there way to get families to trust them. The field staff are great and work together well, but that is because they communicate with each other. The biggest thing this company is lacking is communication. If you keep quiet and don't complain and try to understand the whys as you are trying to keep your license safe. You are golden. They hire management or better yet promote staff to management when they don't even understand the company in general. Again they like the newbies cause they stay quiet and upper management can treat them like puppets. They base their visit frequency on personal gain. Visits are not based on pt needs it is based on census and if the nurses want to be home by noon and be paid for a full days work. The Patient Service director/Clinical supervisors makes rules that meet her needs and so from day to day so you do not know if what you are doing is correct as it changes and they refuse to write policy's on anything. It is the most unorganized, un professional company I have ever worked for and it is very unfortunate as the mission that the company holds I believe in but I don't think the company follows it anymore. 
RN's are constantly turning over there as the company does not know how to treat their employees.

I worked for SCH for three and a half years, in the field visiting patients. Hospice is a tough gig. It’s emotionally draining and has unusual hours. Not everyone has a personality that melds well with hospice work; it requires a lot of autonomy and time management skills. I loved working with patients at end of life. Every patient and family member and facility I met with was a honor to serve. SCH as a company has sometimes made some quick changes and is constantly in flux with management and policies and has ALOT of staff turnover, but they have always had a solid passion and respect for hospice care. However, within the last month, something has drastically changed within the company. Complimentary therapies and other disciplines (including Chaplain services) are being asked to cut visit frequencies without regards to patient medical needs, but in an effort to save money. Many staff members are having their full-time status reduced to part-time or PRN, or having their part-time/PRN hours cut drastically, despite no recent changes in census. For 98% of the time, I enjoyed working at SCH and was proud of the team I served on and the care patients received. My heart was uneasy staying with this company due to the changes; if it hadn’t been for the recent changes, I would not have left. I don’t know why the changes are happening right now, but I strongly caution anyone about their involvement with this company, due to their recent practices and the new changes to patient care.

My employment with St. Croix Hospice has been a POSITIVE experience from day one; teamwork is built on trust and transparency; communication and expectations are clear. I enjoy the independence and freedom from time clocks, and shift reports, and set schedules. With that said, if you're a person that likes a clear-cut routine (up @6/work@ 8/lunch @12/home @5/supper @6) then this would NOT be a good fit. Every day is different, many miles are traveled, and the workday ends when all of the work is done. So if you don't mind a varied work schedule, getting paid extra for on-call, driving a company vehicle, excellent benefits, working hard, and being part of an awesome team, then this job just MAY be right for you.

My employment went well for a couple of years. Management was understanding and accommodating. There was management turnover during the last quarter of 2023, and that's when things started going south.

I had been struggling with keeping 40 hours a week due to a lack of patients. I started spending more time with each patient, reading, socializing, doing their nails, going for walks, to fill my hours. I was even picking up patients in other territories after their therapists left.
Upper management decided to post a position for half of my home territory. After discussing the post with the RDCO, I was directed to decrease my time with my patients to 30-45 minutes and to fill my hours with Non Visit Activities. Once they saw that patient time was low, we would discuss options. Over the next several months, upper management continue to restrict opportunities to fill my 40 hours by not allowing massage and music therapists during Interdisciplinary Team Meetings, no longer allowed independent skills training (which was approved by earlier management), and I was no longer allowed to offer massages to other employees. 
After several requests for suggestions on how to fill my 40 hours, they "terminated" my employment due to a decline in performance. A couple of days later, they had another post for my position and took down the post that would have cut my territory in half.

I do not recommend working at SCH. Poor work culture. Mission is to be “THE BEST” but they do. It fulfill that or even try. They want to be the biggest with the largest profits. Admissions are pushed on branches and nurses regardless of caseloads, therefore time spent with patients and families is very limited. SCH doesn’t value the psychosocial/emotional and non pharmaceutical interventions and therefore the music/massage are not valued or utilized as they could or should be. Case loads for RN, SW and Chaplains are too high to spend meaningful time to do hospice well and be “the best”. It’s a great idea but not when owned by investors and the profits are the priority. Senior Leadership and executive team are very out of touch with what is actually happening at the branch levels and unable to answer simple questions when it comes to questions around strategy and growth plans. If you are looking to work for an employer who allows you to care for your patients well and do your best work, a employer who values you as an employee and as a person outside of work, an employer who values your input, if you value an employer who has it together and has. Strategic plan and clear procedures and practices, an employer that puts patients and  employees first not profits, this is not it. I do not recommend employment at SCH. 

Overall
Generally loved caring for the patients and their families. Expectations vary greatly between CEO and home office, and the local branch. Truly believed in what St. Croix stood for as a company with their beliefs and core values, but local manager had own mindset and set of rules. Manager often provided contradicting instructions, and would belittle staff in front of other team members. Would appear to be understanding and caring, but then turn around and use those situations against staff. Manager's way or the highway, resulting in high turnover of staff. Some of the best staff were either let go or pushed to their limits and quit. Different rules and allowances for individual staff, regardless of title. 

Some days resulted in spending majority of time traveling between patients versus actual time with patients, and reduced number of patients seen per day. This was especially true when patients were declining. Expectation was to "provide support and be there for the patient and family," but then questioned about documentation not occurring at bedside or why the visit was longer.

The job itself can be emotional as you're dealing with end of life, but when your manager has you on edge all the time, it really stresses a person out. Upper management is clueless as to what is really going on in the local branch.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Registered nurse case manager 242 salaries reported	$88,074 per year
Nursing assistant 76 salaries reported	$23.93 per hour
Registered nurse 69 salaries reported	$87,072 per year
Hospice aide 50 salaries reported	$23.71 per hour
Music therapist 53 salaries reported	$25.17 per hour

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