Dialysis social worker vs hospice social worker

The differences between dialysis social workers and hospice social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a dialysis social worker and a hospice social worker. Additionally, a hospice social worker has an average salary of $52,859, which is higher than the $52,616 average annual salary of a dialysis social worker.

The top three skills for a dialysis social worker include social work, patients and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a hospice social worker are social work, patients, and home health.

Dialysis social worker vs hospice social worker overview

	Dialysis Social Worker	Hospice Social Worker
Yearly salary	$52,616	$52,859
Hourly rate	$25.30	$25.41
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	100,651	110,787
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	Master's Degree, 59%	Master's Degree, 50%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	2	2

What does a dialysis social worker do?

A dialysis social worker supports patients undergoing dialysis, educating and helping them cope with the changes brought by their disease and treatment. They conduct initial interviews and assessments to identify the patients' needs and develop plans to meet them, help patients understand and navigate through the healthcare system, coordinate services for the patients, and work together with healthcare providers to ensure the patients get to receive optimal care. They may also communicate with insurance providers and coordinate with families to help them adjust to having a loved one in dialysis.

What does a hospice social worker do?

A hospice social worker is primarily in charge of providing emotional support and guidance to terminally-ill patients and their families, aiming to give them comfort and assistance in various procedures. Their responsibilities include identifying the needs of patients and their families through visitations or appointments, coordinating with nurses and physicians, and serving as a patient advocate by providing them with spiritual and emotional comfort. Furthermore, as a hospice social worker, it is essential to assist families with the bereavement processes, referring them to other programs as necessary.

Dialysis social worker vs hospice social worker salary

Dialysis social workers and hospice social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Dialysis Social Worker	Hospice Social Worker
Average salary	$52,616	$52,859
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $69,000	Between $41,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between dialysis social worker and hospice social worker education

There are a few differences between a dialysis social worker and a hospice social worker in terms of educational background:

	Dialysis Social Worker	Hospice Social Worker
Most common degree	Master's Degree, 59%	Master's Degree, 50%
Most common major	Social Work	Social Work
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Dialysis social worker vs hospice social worker demographics

Here are the differences between dialysis social workers' and hospice social workers' demographics:

	Dialysis Social Worker	Hospice Social Worker
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 18.5% Female, 81.5%	Male, 13.8% Female, 86.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	13%	13%

Differences between dialysis social worker and hospice social worker duties and responsibilities

Dialysis social worker example responsibilities.

Teach and supervise MSW and BSW students in educational practicums.
Position involve interdisciplinary collaboration and working with the patients and their families by providing assistance with emotional adjustment to illness.
Facilitate assistance to both permanent and guest patients in the arrangement of dialysis treatment when traveling and ensure completion of arrangements.
Work with a complex interdisciplinary team facilitating treatment for patients on medical floors including oncology, dialysis, cardiac and maternity.
Analyze psychological / psycho-social evaluations, IEP's, and medical histories within a referral packet to determine eligibility.

Hospice social worker example responsibilities.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary team to provide necessary referrals and counseling to achieve establish patient goals.
Provide support, education and compassion to patients and family members.
Assist patients and families with obtaining necessary insurances such as Medicaid, etc.
Provide advocacy and support services to terminally ill patients, families and/or significant others to maximize benefits and limit out-of-pocket expenses.
Work as lead MSW on all pediatric hospice cases.
Work with other members of the IDT to track and document changes to the patient's status, coping, etc.

Dialysis social worker vs hospice social worker skills

Common dialysis social worker skills

Social Work, 46%
Patients, 29%
Rehabilitation, 3%
Hemodialysis, 3%
ESRD, 3%
Social Services, 2%

Common hospice social worker skills

Social Work, 29%
Patients, 19%
Home Health, 11%
MSW, 5%
Patient Care, 4%
Crisis Intervention, 4%

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Community and Social Services Industry
Dialysis Social Worker
Dialysis Social Worker vs Hospice Social Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

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