What It's Like To Be... A Hospice Nurse
May 20, 2025
Heather Meyerend, a retired hospice nurse and contributing author to the book Resilient Faith: Dare To Believe, shares her profound experiences in end-of-life care. She discusses how to navigate the emotional complexities faced by patients and families, emphasizing the importance of honest communication and balancing autonomy with expectations. Through heartfelt stories, Heather explores finding joy and dignity in death, the moments of grace shared with patients, and the essential role of compassion in hospice care.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Respect Patient Food Choices
- Respect the patient's right to choose what and when to eat near end-of-life.
- Allow patients to enjoy food even if it disregards dietary restrictions like diabetes.
Address Patient Emotional Needs
- Prioritize emotional connection to assess patient wellbeing before physical checks.
- Encourage open conversations about fears to provide peace and pastoral support.
Healing Through Forgiveness Story
- A patient estranged from her daughter reconciled after a conversation about forgiveness.
- Heather encouraged her to reach out, which brought peace before her passing.
