The Checkup with Doctor Mike Everything You Need To Know About Dying | Hospice Nurse Julie
Jul 16, 2025
Julie McFadden, known as Hospice Nurse Julie, shares her insights as a hospice nurse and author of the bestselling book, Nothing to Fear. She discusses the emotional challenges of conversations about mortality, emphasizing the importance of honesty and open communication with patients and their families. Julie reflects on her transition from ICU to hospice care, revealing the beauty found in end-of-life moments. The conversation also tackles common myths about the dying process, dispelling fears and discussing the value of planning for death.
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ICU Nursing vs Hospice Insights
- Julie McFadden found ICU nursing impersonal and task-oriented, lacking meaningful conversation with patients and families.
- Moving to hospice care allowed her to witness natural death and embrace death as part of life.
Use Clear Prognosis Language
- Use plain, straightforward language when discussing prognosis with families.
- Avoid medical jargon and euphemisms to better inform patient decisions.
Hospice is Living Fully
- Hospice is about living fully when dying, helping patients achieve meaningful moments near end of life.
- Contemplating mortality daily can free one to live more freely and with gratitude.