The Amity Group

The Amity Group The Amity Group is working to make a difference in hospice care in the U.S.

The Amity Group is a professional staffing firm that provides hospice agencies with flexible staffing solutions and versatility for hospice nurses.

01/16/2026

Skilled support without crossing boundaries.

Amity Nurses are highly trained in Hospice documentation and visit structure, but they never override your agency’s policies.

They support your team, reinforce your direction, and ensure families get consistent guidance only as you’ve outlined.

Local. Reliable. Aligned with your standards. That’s the Amity way.

Learn more at amitystaffing.com today.
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01/16/2026

Tip for Hospice Nurses: low dose steroids can be a very effective appteite stimulant, and frequently they have the added benefit of increasing energy and making your pt feel better. Some things to consider:
1. Give in the morning before 1100 to reduce the risk of insomnia.
2. Protect the stomach with food or meds.
3. Monitor for effectiveness and DC as indicated.

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

01/15/2026

No AI. No filler. No wasted time.

Focused on exactly what hospice nurses need for quick, practical understanding of documentation.

These guides were written by me, a hospice nurse, to give you clear principles, practical phrasing, and confidence in your documentation.

Made with intention. Used with purpose. Because hospice nurses deserve better resources.

Tap in if you want documentation that finally makes sense: www.AmityStaffing.com/products

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

01/14/2026

When you’re alone in the home, access and safety matter. That’s why Shelley Henry, RN created the TagBag!

Every pocket, pouch, and strap was designed with functionality, comfort, and efficiency in mind.

This isn’t just a bag. It’s a system built for the realities of Hospice. Watch the full walkthrough to see how every feature was intentionally designed.

Get your TagBag at amitystaffing.com today!
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01/14/2026

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 💕

01/13/2026

Tip for Hospice Nurses:

It is not uncommon in hosoice to have a patient with an ostomy in an area that is difficult to get a good seal around. The pt may have had recent abdominal surgeries, with fresh surgical wounds close to the ostomy, further complicating things.

I recently had this issue with a pt and I ended up calling the manufacturer of the ostomy supplies to see if they had any suggestions. They had a nurse whose whole job was to help in these situations!

I described the area and he sent a box full of ostomy supplies made just for these challenges. I was able to get a good seal around the stoma so contents drained into the bag with no leakage.

Be safe out there
I Love You Guys
Xoxo ~ Shelley 💕

01/12/2026

Tip for Hospice Nurses: most of us will document a normal respiratory assessment something like: “BBS clear, SaO2 98% on room air, no acute distress noted”. This does not support eligibility and could cause issues during an audit.

Here is an example of this same assessment documented in a way that supports eligibility:

“due to progressively worsening weakness and debility, inspiratory effort weak and bilateral breath sounds diminished to bases. Supplemental oxygen available and utilized at 2L per NC as needed for periods of increased dyspnea”.

This says the same as the first note, but it highlights the areas that support eligibility.

Points to consider 🤔:

1️⃣ Do not restate the SaO2 of 98%. You’ve already documented this in the vital signs section.

2️⃣ Most hospice pts will have poor inspiratory efforts with diminished lung sounds - but we become accustomed to this, so periodically assess a healthy person’s lung sounds to compare to your patient’s sounds.

3️⃣ If we place oxygen in the home, even if the pt doesn’t need it all the time, we believe this person is sick enough that it needs to be available at all times, so highlight that in your note.

4️⃣ Always compare your pt to a healthy person’s respiratory assessment.

For lots of examples on hospice documentation get my Hospice Documentation Master Bundle: www.AmityStaffing.com/products

AND, to document amazing notes faster:

Check out DAHN, the Documentation App for Hospice Nurses. Find it on the App Stores, or at www.DAHN.ai

Be safe out there! I love Ya’ll … xoxo ~ Shelley 💕

01/11/2026

Tip for Hospice Nurses: When ✍️on your patient with a diagnosis of heart failure in addition to the cardiac 🫀 assessment, you can highlight eligibility when documenting all system assessments.

For example:
1. Mobility: minimal tolerance for activity r/t worsening weakness from progression of end-stage heart failure.
2. Skin: poor arterial flow resulting in skin that is pale, cyanotic, thin, fragile (etc)
3. Edema, arterial ulcers, venous stasis ulcers (etc)
4. Elimination: incontinence r/t inability to get to bathroom in time due to progression of end-stage heart failure and worsening weakness and debility.

For more examples of practical tips for hospice documentation you can find my books on the Products page of my website: www.AmityStaffing.com/products

Or

Check out DAHN, the Documentation App for Hospice Nurses that I designed to help you write a beautiful note in minutes! www.dahn.ai

Be Safe Out There …
I love you guys!
Xoxo ~ Shelley 💕

01/10/2026

Documentation Tip for Hospice Leaders: One of the most common misconceptions in hospice documentation is the belief that clinicians must show decline at every visit. While documenting decline over time, like every Recert, is crucial for hospice eligibility, expecting clinicians to find evidence of decline at every visit is both unrealistic and counterproductive. This approach not only places unnecessary stress on clinicians but can also lead to inconsistent and inaccurate documentation.

Instead, teach your team to focus on documentation that supports continued eligibility. Provide Your Clinicians with the Best Tools to learn how to document to support eligibility every visit.

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.DAHN.ai
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 💕

01/09/2026

Tip for Hospice Nurses: We have to be so diligent to support hospice eligibility for patients with Alzheimer's or dementia, because the records are highly scrutinized.

One area that we want to pay attention to is orientation. Commonly I will see “pt oriented x1”.

First of all, remember to flip that to the negative by stating “pt disoriented x3”.

Also, most of the dementia pts on hospice are not really oriented to self - to determine this the pt must be able to independently tell you their name, the name of their caregiver or someone close to them. Just responding when someone speaks their name does not mean they are oriented to self.

Here are some other key points to keep in mind when documenting on a pt with dementia:

1️⃣ Use PAINAD or FLACC score to measure pain. Patients with primary dementia diagnosis cannot provide a numeric pain score.

2️⃣ Patients should always require maximum, if not total, assistance with feeding.

3️⃣ Patients should not be able to effectively express thoughts or feelings.

You can find more documentation tips in the Hospice Documentation Guides on my website: www.amitystaffing.com, or for even more support get DAHN, the Documentation App for Hospice Nurses on your App Store, or at www.DAHN.ai

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



01/08/2026

Tip for Hospice Nurses:
Dyspnea has a diagnosis code… but can you use it as your primary hospice diagnosis? Unfortunately, No, you cannot use symptoms as your Primary Hospice Diagnosis.

Symptoms don’t stand alone, they must be traced back to the underlying disease process. Here’s how:

1️⃣ Dyspnea → often tied to end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, or another lung condition.
2️⃣ Edema → may be from end-stage congestive heart failure, end-stage renal failure, or end-stage liver failure.
3️⃣ Stroke (CVA) → while this may be acceptable, it is stronger to state it as end-stage cerebrovascular disease with the complication of a CVA.

The physician has the final say in determining the admitting diagnosis; however, these days making that determination is not as cut and dry as it used to be and may require involvement from the whole IDT.

📲 Need help phrasing documentation?
Check out my Documentation App for Hospice Nurses (DAHN) - it’s available on the app stores, or at www.DAHN.ai
or
if books are more your thing, go to www.AmityStaffing.com/products to learn more about my Hospice Documentation Master Bundle.

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

01/07/2026

Tips for Hospice Nurses: it is becoming much more common for hospice agencies, and hospice nurses, to be named in medical malpractice lawsuits.

Regardless of your level of involvement with the pt, or the events that surrounded the lawsuit, it is very stressful.

Here are some quick tips to keep in mind when documenting to protect yourself in the event of a lawsuit:

1. When there is a change in the pt’s condition and/or orders - always document that the physician was notified and either new orders noted, or no new orders noted.
2. Always ensure there is a valid consent on file before you touch a patient.
3. Avoid documenting when you’ve had a really bad day/week and you’re emotionally drained.
4. Never throw anyone under the bus in your documentation … regardless of the circumstances, just don’t do it.

Remember that not only are the leaders and everyone on the executive team going to read your note, but you will be required to read it out loud as part of your deposition and trial testimony. The more neutral and unbiased your note is, the easier it will be on you.

Learn more about being an Amity Nurse at www.AmityStaffing.com

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

Address

210 Magnate Drive, Suite 201
Lafayette, LA
70508

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Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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+13378069013

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