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What happens when being the hospice nurse everyone can count on starts costing you more than you realize?

For a long time, I was proud to be the nurse my patients and families depended on—the one who was always available, always willing to help, and always trying to make things easier for everyone around me.

And if I’m being truthful, being needed felt good.

But over time, I began to realize that the way I was practicing hospice nursing wasn’t sustainable. And some of the things I thought made me a great hospice nurse were actually contributing to my own burnout.

In this episode of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, I’m sharing more of my own hospice story, including:

•  Why being the “rock star” nurse became part of my identity 
•  The hidden validation that can come from being needed 
•  How good intentions can unintentionally create dependence 
•  Why being indispensable isn’t the same as being effective 
•  The difference between caring deeply and being available for everything 
•  How experience—and a little self-preservation—changed the way I practiced hospice nursing 

And we’ll explore an important question:

What do you believe being a “good hospice nurse” requires of you—and what is that belief costing you?

Sustainable hospice nursing doesn’t mean caring less. It means learning to care differently.

💕 Remember...

You don't have to choose between loving hospice and protecting your own well-being.

 I truly believe it's possible to do both. 

💕 Enjoying The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN? Follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with another hospice nurse who could use a little encouragement. 

 💕 Download your FREE Hospice Nurse's Guide to Less Stress: www.JennyLytle.com/guide

Jenny Lytle, BSN, RN is the founder of The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™ and host of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN. After more than 30 years as a nurse—including over two decades in hospice—she helps hospice nurses reduce stress, prevent burnout, and love hospice again—without sacrificing their own well-being. 💕 

🌿 Learn more about The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™
https://jennylytle.com

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

How did you end up in hospice?

It's one of my favorite questions to ask hospice nurses because everyone has a story. Some were inspired by a loved one. Some had a mentor who believed in them. Others stumbled into hospice almost by accident...and then realized they had found where they belonged.

In this episode, I share my own hospice journey, how I unexpectedly found this work, how burnout caused me to lose sight of myself, and why I still believe it's possible to love hospice again—without sacrificing your own well-being. 

If you've ever wondered whether you've lost your passion for hospice—or if it's simply been buried beneath years of caring for everyone else—I hope this conversation reminds you that your purpose isn't gone. It may simply be waiting to be uncovered. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why so many hospice nurses never planned to work in hospice

• The common thread I've discovered through The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™

• My own journey into hospice nursing—and the burnout that almost caused me to leave

• Why I believe most hospice nurses don't lose their purpose...it simply gets buried

• Two powerful questions that can help you reconnect with the nurse you've always been

This Week's Reflection

Take a few quiet minutes to reflect on these two questions:

❤️ How did hospice find me?

❤️ After everything I've seen...why have I stayed?

Somewhere inside those answers may be the beginning of remembering the nurse you've always been. 

💕 Remember...

You don't have to choose between loving hospice and protecting your own well-being.

 I truly believe it's possible to do both. 

💕 Enjoying The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN? Follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with another hospice nurse who could use a little encouragement. 

 💕 Download your FREE Hospice Nurse's Guide to Less Stress: www.JennyLytle.com/guide

Jenny Lytle, BSN, RN is the founder of The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™ and host of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN. After more than 30 years as a nurse—including over two decades in hospice—she helps hospice nurses reduce stress, prevent burnout, and love hospice again—without sacrificing their own well-being. 💕 

🌿 Learn more about The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™
https://jennylytle.com

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

What If Tomorrow Felt Different? A Hospice Nurse Reset

What if tomorrow wasn't easier...

…but you felt different walking into it?

In this episode, I invite you to imagine what a real Hospice Nurse Reset might look like.

Not a new job.
 Not fewer patients.
 Not a perfect schedule.

Just an ordinary Tuesday where you feel more grounded, more present, and more connected to yourself while continuing to do the work you love.

We'll talk about simple, intentional practices that can help you reduce stress, reconnect with your purpose, and begin caring for yourself before you have nothing left to give.

Because a reset doesn't happen all at once.

It happens one small decision at a time.

In this episode, we'll explore:

•  What a Hospice Nurse Reset really is 
•  Why changing yourself is often more powerful than waiting for your circumstances to change 
•  Simple ways to create moments of calm between visits 
•  End-of-day rituals that help separate work from home 
•  How small choices can help you love hospice again without sacrificing your own well-being 

💕 Remember...

You don't have to choose between loving hospice and protecting your own well-being.

 I truly believe it's possible to do both. 

💕 Enjoying The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN? Follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with another hospice nurse who could use a little encouragement. 

 💕 Download your FREE Hospice Nurse's Guide to Less Stress: www.JennyLytle.com/guide

Jenny Lytle, BSN, RN is the founder of The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™ and host of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN. After more than 30 years as a nurse—including over two decades in hospice—she helps hospice nurses reduce stress, prevent burnout, and love hospice again—without sacrificing their own well-being. 💕 

🌿 Learn more about The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™
https://jennylytle.com

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

If you're experiencing hospice nurse burnout and you know something has to change, this episode is for you.

After interviewing hospice nurses across the country for the Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project, one message has become incredibly clear:

Most hospice nurses don't want to leave hospice.

They want to love hospice again.

In this episode, I share a simple lesson from my morning walk that reminded me how often we convince ourselves that one small step won't make a difference. But what if those few intentional minutes aren't just another self-care task? What if they're the first step toward reconnecting with the nurse—and the person—you've always been?

We'll talk about why hope doesn't always come before action, how small daily choices can help you reconnect with yourself, and why caring for yourself isn't about adding one more thing to your to-do list. It's about creating enough space to remember why you chose this work in the first place.

If you've been feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, emotionally drained, or disconnected from the work you love, I hope this conversation reminds you that you're not alone—and that meaningful change often begins with one small step.

In this episode, you'll discover:
• Why hospice nurse burnout isn't the end of your story
• How small, intentional habits can create meaningful change
• A different way to think about self-care
• One simple question to ask before your day starts taking from you

Next week: If you could truly hit reset, what would actually be different? We'll explore what life could look like when you begin finding your way back to yourself.

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another hospice nurse who could use a little hope today.

💕 Remember...

You don't have to choose between loving hospice and protecting your own well-being.

 I truly believe it's possible to do both. 

💕 Enjoying The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN? Follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with another hospice nurse who could use a little encouragement. 

 💕 Download your FREE Hospice Nurse's Guide to Less Stress: www.JennyLytle.com/guide

Jenny Lytle, BSN, RN is the founder of The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™ and host of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN. After more than 30 years as a nurse—including over two decades in hospice—she helps hospice nurses reduce stress, prevent burnout, and love hospice again—without sacrificing their own well-being. 💕 

🌿 Learn more about The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™
https://jennylytle.com

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

Do you ever wonder if the only way to feel better is to leave hospice?

In this episode, I'm sharing a personal update about a big transition in my own nursing career and why I'm choosing to focus even more on supporting hospice nurses.

Hospice work is deeply meaningful, but it can also be incredibly demanding. Many of us entered this field because we felt called to it. We love our patients and families. We believe in the work.

But somewhere along the way, many hospice nurses begin to lose themselves.

The long days, the charting, the emotional weight, the constant giving, and the feeling that there's never enough time can leave us wondering how much longer we can keep going.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why loving hospice and feeling exhausted can exist at the same time
• The hidden cost of always putting everyone else first
• Why waiting for a "less busy season" rarely works
• How small, personalized acts of self-care can help you stay in the work you love
• Why you don't have to choose between caring for others and caring for yourself

I also share some of my own journey, including the lessons I've learned about boundaries, burnout, and the importance of putting ourselves on our own priority list.

I'd Love to Hear From You

As part of my Hospice Well-Being Project, I'm having conversations with hospice nurses to better understand the real challenges you're facing and to help create meaningful solutions.

If you're a hospice nurse and would be willing to share your experiences, I'd love to connect with you.

Schedule a conversation here:
https://www.calendly.com/jennylytlern/hospice

Free Resources

You can also find free stress relief and self-care resources at:
https:///www.jennylytle.com

And remember...

You don't have to leave hospice to feel better.

Self-care isn't selfish. It's the only way we can continue to care for others and live our best lives.

💕 Remember...

You don't have to choose between loving hospice and protecting your own well-being.

 I truly believe it's possible to do both. 

💕 Enjoying The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN? Follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with another hospice nurse who could use a little encouragement. 

 💕 Download your FREE Hospice Nurse's Guide to Less Stress: www.JennyLytle.com/guide

Jenny Lytle, BSN, RN is the founder of The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™ and host of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN. After more than 30 years as a nurse—including over two decades in hospice—she helps hospice nurses reduce stress, prevent burnout, and love hospice again—without sacrificing their own well-being. 💕 

🌿 Learn more about The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™
https://jennylytle.com

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

During Nurses Week, there’s often a mix of emotions.

Sometimes it feels validating and appreciated. Other times, it can feel like pizza parties and tote bags are being used to cover up very real struggles nurses face every day.

In this episode of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, Jenny talks about one of the most common things she’s hearing from nurses right now:

“I’m always behind and trying to catch up.”

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Jenny shares:

•  Why so many nurses feel like they can never catch up 
•  How burnout happens slowly over time 
•  Why “it’ll get better soon” often doesn’t work 
•  What reclaiming your evenings could actually look like 
•  How burnout can feel even heavier when you truly love hospice work 
•  Why intentional, personalized stress relief matters 

Jenny also opens up about her own hospice burnout journey and how slowly the work she once loved began to feel overwhelming.

If you’ve been charting late, struggling to disconnect from work, feeling exhausted, or wondering why nursing feels so much harder than it used to — this episode is for you.

Reflection Question

If you finished work on time, had your charting done, and could fully enjoy your evening… what would that change for you?

Mentioned in This Episode

•  The Hospice Nurses Wellbeing Project 
•  Possible upcoming workshop: Reclaiming Your Evenings & Loving Your Work Again

Connect with Jenny

DM the word ENJOY to Instagram for more information about upcoming support and resources.

Reminder

Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s essential if we want to continue caring for others and living our best lives.

💕 Remember...

You don't have to choose between loving hospice and protecting your own well-being.

 I truly believe it's possible to do both. 

💕 Enjoying The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN? Follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with another hospice nurse who could use a little encouragement. 

 💕 Download your FREE Hospice Nurse's Guide to Less Stress: www.JennyLytle.com/guide

Jenny Lytle, BSN, RN is the founder of The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™ and host of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN. After more than 30 years as a nurse—including over two decades in hospice—she helps hospice nurses reduce stress, prevent burnout, and love hospice again—without sacrificing their own well-being. 💕 

🌿 Learn more about The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™
https://jennylytle.com

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

Are you a hospice nurse feeling more exhausted than your workload alone can explain?

In this episode of The Nurses’ Breakroom, Jenny Lytle, RN, explores emotional exhaustion in hospice nursing—and why it’s not just about caseload, charting, or long shifts.

You’ll learn:

•  Why hospice nurses carry more than they realize 
•  How emotional experiences build up throughout the day 
•  A simple 30-second awareness practice to help release stress 

If you’re experiencing burnout, compassion fatigue, or emotional overload, this episode offers validation and a practical starting point for self-care.

🔗 Get the companion reset practice: https://jennylytle.com/newsletter

💕 Remember...

You don't have to choose between loving hospice and protecting your own well-being.

 I truly believe it's possible to do both. 

💕 Enjoying The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN? Follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with another hospice nurse who could use a little encouragement. 

 💕 Download your FREE Hospice Nurse's Guide to Less Stress: www.JennyLytle.com/guide

Jenny Lytle, BSN, RN is the founder of The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™ and host of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN. After more than 30 years as a nurse—including over two decades in hospice—she helps hospice nurses reduce stress, prevent burnout, and love hospice again—without sacrificing their own well-being. 💕 

🌿 Learn more about The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™
https://jennylytle.com

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

After an unexpected injury and a couple of months away from the podcast, I’m finally back — and this pause brought more clarity than I ever expected.

In this episode, I’m sharing what happened, what this season taught me, and why The Nurses’ Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN is shifting to focus more intentionally on the emotional realities of hospice nursing.

After 20 years in hospice case management, on-call, and leadership roles, one thing has become increasingly clear:

Hospice nurses carry a lot.

Emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

This new season will center more on supporting hospice nurses through practical self-care tools, emotional resilience, and honest conversations about what this work really feels like.

I’m also introducing The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project and inviting hospice nurses to participate in Hospice Nurse Conversations — relaxed, confidential 20–30 minute conversations about the realities of this work.

💛 If you’re a hospice nurse and would like to share your story, you can sign up here:
https://calendly.com/jennylytlern/hospice

Next episode:
Why hospice nurses carry so much — and why it’s not just about the workload

Until next time, remember:

Self-care isn’t selfish.
It’s essential if we want to continue to care for others and live our best lives.

💕 Remember...

You don't have to choose between loving hospice and protecting your own well-being.

 I truly believe it's possible to do both. 

💕 Enjoying The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN? Follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with another hospice nurse who could use a little encouragement. 

 💕 Download your FREE Hospice Nurse's Guide to Less Stress: www.JennyLytle.com/guide

Jenny Lytle, BSN, RN is the founder of The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™ and host of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN. After more than 30 years as a nurse—including over two decades in hospice—she helps hospice nurses reduce stress, prevent burnout, and love hospice again—without sacrificing their own well-being. 💕 

🌿 Learn more about The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™
https://jennylytle.com

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

If the work feels heavier than it used to, you’re not failing — you’ve been carrying a lot.

This episode explores the cumulative emotional weight of caregiving and why it adds up over time.

You’re not weak for feeling it. You’re human.

Over time, caregiving work leaves a mark.

Not from one shift, one patient, or one hard conversation — but from everything that accumulates along the way.

In this episode of The Nurses’ Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, hospice nurse and stress-relief coach Jenny Lytle talks about the cumulative emotional weight of caregiving work and how it quietly builds over the years.

You’ll hear why feeling more tired, tender, numb, or emotionally full doesn’t mean you’re failing — it means you’ve been impacted by meaningful work that asks a lot of you.

This episode offers validation, compassion, and permission to acknowledge what you’ve been carrying without needing to fix or unpack it all at once.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How emotional weight accumulates over time in caregiving roles

Why this weight doesn’t always show up as burnout

What numbness, irritability, or disconnection can really mean

Why needing support doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for this work

A gentler question to ask instead of “What’s wrong with me?”

This episode is especially meaningful for nurses, hospice professionals, and caregivers who feel like the work has changed them — and want reassurance that they’re not alone in that experience.

🔑 Key Takeaways / Action Steps

Feeling heavier over time doesn’t mean you’re failing

Cumulative emotional weight is a normal response to meaningful work

You don’t have to process everything to acknowledge it

Support is not a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of impact

You deserve spaces where the weight is understood

💕 Remember...

You don't have to choose between loving hospice and protecting your own well-being.

 I truly believe it's possible to do both. 

💕 Enjoying The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN? Follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with another hospice nurse who could use a little encouragement. 

 💕 Download your FREE Hospice Nurse's Guide to Less Stress: www.JennyLytle.com/guide

Jenny Lytle, BSN, RN is the founder of The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™ and host of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN. After more than 30 years as a nurse—including over two decades in hospice—she helps hospice nurses reduce stress, prevent burnout, and love hospice again—without sacrificing their own well-being. 💕 

🌿 Learn more about The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™
https://jennylytle.com

Send me a text - make sure to include your full phone number so I can reply (software blocks it) 💕

Rest doesn’t just happen — it often needs a transition.

In this episode of The Nurses’ Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, hospice nurse and stress-relief coach Jenny Lytle explains why going straight from a shift into the rest of your life can leave you feeling wired, tense, and unable to relax — and what actually helps.

Instead of trying to “flip a switch,” this episode offers gentle, practical ways to help your nervous system shift out of nurse mode and into a softer, safer place.

You’ll learn how small, intentional transitions make rest possible — without guilt, perfection, or rigid boundaries.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why caregivers often stay in work mode long after a shift ends
• How skipping transitions keeps your nervous system on high alert
• Simple pause points that help your body shift gears
• Why physical cues matter more than willpower
• How releasing responsibility makes rest more accessible

This episode is especially helpful for nurses, hospice professionals, and caregivers who move from role to role without a break and want a kinder, more realistic way to unwind.

Next episode preview: The cumulative emotional weight of caregiving work — and how it builds over time.

🔑 Key Takeaways / Action Steps

• You don’t need rigid boundaries — you need transitions
• Your body needs help shifting out of work mode
• Small, repeatable cues are more effective than willpower
• Releasing responsibility doesn’t mean abandoning others
• Transitions are a practice — not something to perfect

💕 Remember...

You don't have to choose between loving hospice and protecting your own well-being.

 I truly believe it's possible to do both. 

💕 Enjoying The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN? Follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with another hospice nurse who could use a little encouragement. 

 💕 Download your FREE Hospice Nurse's Guide to Less Stress: www.JennyLytle.com/guide

Jenny Lytle, BSN, RN is the founder of The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™ and host of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN. After more than 30 years as a nurse—including over two decades in hospice—she helps hospice nurses reduce stress, prevent burnout, and love hospice again—without sacrificing their own well-being. 💕 

🌿 Learn more about The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project™
https://jennylytle.com