When I was at WWU I took a class on “Death and Dying,” that
was extremely interesting. We looked at death from a cultural standpoint around
the world, and then from a scientific standpoint. What stuck with me the most
was when we had a Hospice nurse come in and talk to our class. We were allowed
to ask her questions and she told us why she did what she did. At first I could
not understand how someone could face death every day and then go on about
their lives, being happy. Her name escapes me but her words don’t.
She said that she fully and whole heartedly believed in Hospices’
goal to allow people to die with dignity. Many people aren’t able to do things
for themselves that we consider private (such as bathing and using the
bathroom), and the nurses help with that. But they are also somewhat of an
emotional resource because they are there every day taking care of the patient.
The nurse said there is nothing more rewarding then being able to carry out
someone’s dying wish because it’s sometimes too hard for the family or friends.
When you help someone die with dignity, you are helping them come to terms with
what is going on, but you are also taking some of the burden off of the family.
You are able to send them off in peace.
I can’t personally image being in her shoes or being one of
her patients but I can say that if I were dying I would want someone who cares
as much as she does by my side.
I agree it would be so hard to be a hospice nurse. My good friend is not a hospice nurse but she deals with getting close and caring for people in nursing home and she is excellent at what she does. I hear her talk about how much she cares and gets to know her patients, then when they die I can tell it takes a toll on her, she might even shed some tears and makes me wonder how the heck she does it so good. She is such a caring person and she knows she is there to make their last days the best she can, sometimes family isn't even there when they pass and she is. I have so much respect for her and her job.
ReplyDelete