The Amity Group

10/20/2026

An agency recently called me in a panic after an AI documentation tool labeled almost everything in its records “critically wrong.”

It called standard patient-identifying information “cloning.” It flagged notes for missing NYHA and FAST scores, even though the patients did not have cardiac disease or dementia. Much of what it reported was simply wrong.

I am not anti-technology. AI can help flag records for review, but it should never be allowed to declare a record noncompliant without an experienced hospice professional validating its findings.

Remember, these companies are selling a product. Do not let a frightening demo convince you that your documentation is failing before a qualified human reviews it. Experienced hospice auditors understand the clinical context, know where actual denials are occurring, and stay current as the regulatory landscape changes.

The Amity Group can provide ongoing human chart reviews and proven successful audit support.

Learn more at amitystaffing.com.

10/19/2026

If you still love hospice but don’t love what the job has become, Amity may be the place for you.

Amity was built by a hospice nurse who understands the long days, the late-night documentation, the missed family time, and the feeling that you never really get to clock out.

As an Amity nurse, you choose the days you want to work, care for patients in your own community, and enjoy the flexibility to build a schedule that fits your life. There are no long-term contracts, you’re paid for every minute you work, including your drive time and documentation, and you’re backed by a team that truly understands hospice.

You don’t have to leave hospice to get your life back.

If you’re an experienced hospice nurse and you’d like to learn more, visit www.amitystaffing.com, complete the application, and we’ll set up a time to talk.

10/18/2026

Tips for Hospice Nurses: when I was a new hospice nurse I struggled with not having immediate access to advanced diagnostic tests and equipment, like when I worked in an acute care hospital.

When my pt displayed signs of having experienced a medical event such as an MI, CVA or TIA, I really struggled with wanting to immediately send them to the hospital for tests.

I was fortunate to have an amazing preceptor and medical director who taught me that we treat the pt and not the test or machine, and that our job is to first relieve their symptoms, then educate them on their options and allow the patient to make an informed decision about what steps, if any, to take next.

I always assure my pt that no matter what they decide, we will be there to help and support them, and if they do decide to revoke hospice we will not be upset with them.

Ya’ll be safe out there! I love you guys … xoxo ~ Shelley 💕

Shelley Henry | RN | President
The Amity Group
www.AmityStaffing.com

10/17/2026

www.hospicenursesurvey.com

• Completely anonymous.
• We do not collect your information.
• Takes 10 minutes.
• Open to all hospice nurses.

Take the survey today. Your voice can help shape the future of hospice nursing.

10/15/2026

Tips for Hospice Nurses: below are a few tips to keep your pts with catheters comfortable. The 4th one is a bonus tip not discussed in the video.

1. Use the smallest diameter possible. 12-14 French are the most common.
2. Use the smallest balloon (5cc) possible to reduce the risk of bladder spasms.
3. Use a Foley stay - place it so that there is plenty of slack so the catheter is not putting pressure on the urethra.
4. Changing the catheter when there is not an issue is not always best practice and can actually cause an issue - assess the pt carefully and communicate with the doctor well before replacing a functioning catheter.

When appropriate, catheters can provide a lot of comfort to your hospice patient and their caregiver.

Ya’ll be safe out there!
I love you … xoxo ~
Shelley

Shelley Henry | RN | President
The Amity Group
www.AmityStaffing.com

10/14/2026

Tips for Hospice Nurses & Leaders: many times we are told to “Document to the decline”, but is this realistic? We really need to question anyone that is telling our nurses this because, hospice patients do not decline every single visit. If they did, they would only be on service for days or a couple of weeks.

Anyone who truly understands hospice today knows that once symptoms are well managed and comfort is stabilized, you may not see obvious decline for weeks at a time. That is normal.

What we can do every visit is document to support eligibility.

Instead of chasing visible decline every single note, focus on showing why the patient remains eligible for hospice, and what hospice is doing for them. That is sustainable. That is accurate. And that protects you.

Make sure anyone educating your hospice team, especially an outside educator, has recent clinical experience and understands what hospice looks like today. Patients do not decline from visit to visit, and teaching nurses to “document to the decline” oversimplifies the reality of hospice documentation. Amity provides practical resources built for real clinicians working in the field right now.

Some good resources to help your clinician document to support eligibility include:

1. The Documentation App for Hospice Nurses (DAHN). Find it on the App stores, or at www.getDAHN.com
2. Documentation Training Class. Schedule today: www.amitystaffing.com/contact
3. The Hospice Documentation Master Bundle (includes both my documentation guides): www.amitystaffing.com/products

For more information on these resources, visit www.AmityStaffing.com.

Ya’ll be safe out there! I love you guys … xoxo ~ Shelley 💕

Shelley Henry | RN | President
The Amity Group
www.AmityStaffing.com

10/13/2026

💡 Tips for Hospice Nurses

End-of-life agitation can be incredibly distressing for patients and families. When your patient is agitated and the medications aren’t helping, consider a common and often overlooked cause: urinary retention.

✔️ Palpate the lower abdomen to assess for firmness or distention.

Before moving to a catheter, try a few simple interventions:

✔️ Reposition the patient. Sometimes simply turning the patient, especially onto the left side, is enough to get the urine flowing.

✔️ Apply a warm compress to the lower abdomen.

✔️ Provide privacy and a calm environment.

✔️ Check for constipation or f***l impaction, which can contribute to urinary retention.

If these non-invasive measures aren’t effective, contact the physician for further orders.

✔️ A catheter may be appropriate.

While some clinicians may choose an in-and-out catheter, I prefer an indwelling catheter when a patient is at end of life and urinary retention has become an ongoing problem. We already know comfort is the goal, and an indwelling catheter can help prevent repeated discomfort and agitation.

Most importantly, it helps keep the patient comfortable and peaceful so the time they have remaining can be spent with family, not struggling with symptoms that we can often relieve.

Sometimes the cause of agitation isn’t what we think.

Sometimes it’s a full bladder.

Shelley Henry | RN | President
The Amity Group
www.AmityStaffing.com

10/12/2026

Tip for Hospice Leaders: in a prior video I talked about how over the last few years we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of live discharges, from 1-2 a year, to 1-2 a month in many places. CMS is paying close attention to live discharges, which could leave an agency vulnerable to increased audits.

Below are a few things you can do to decrease the number of revocations, or patient initiated live discharges:

1. Manageable Caseloads: this allows your team to spend the time needed with the patient and caregiver to build trust, and to pick up on subtle cues that the patient may revoke.
2. Schedule visits on high risk patients so someone from the hospice is seeing the patient every day (or at least 4x a week).
3. Only readmit a patient one time. If they revoke again, don’t readmit before sitting down with the patient and family to ensure they are emotionally ready for hospice.

Amity Hospice Staffing can help you manage caseloads as you grow, giving you time to find the perfect new hire.

To learn more about our hospice support services, visit my website at: www.AmityStaffing.com

Shelley Henry | RN | President
The Amity Group, Inc

10/09/2026

Being a hospice RN case manager is about so much more than counting patient visits.

Case management cannot be measured solely by visits per week. Behind every visit are phone calls, care coordination, medication management, family support, physician communication, symptom management, crisis prevention, documentation, discharge prevention, and countless clinical decisions that directly impact patient outcomes.

These are the things that make hospice the specialty it is today. They are also the things that improve patient satisfaction, support quality scores, reduce live discharges, help control cost per patient day, and create a more efficient and financially healthy hospice program.

At the center of all of it is one critical factor: manageable caseloads.

For nearly 10 years, The Amity Group has helped hospice agencies protect manageable caseloads by providing experienced hospice nurses who can step in seamlessly when additional support is needed and step out when it’s not. Because when case managers have the time and resources to truly case manage, everyone benefits.

Shelley Henry, RN, President
The Amity Group
AmityStaffing.com

10/09/2026