What is it Like to be a Hospice Nurse? Find Out!
“Hospice nursing is not depressing, it is a joy to help someone live with the best quality of life they can have for as long as they have.” - Susan De Lisle
Being a hospice nurse is so much more than knowing how to administer medication or speak with patients. A hospice nurse navigates the final moments of someone’s life with care and respect, ensuring that they are getting everything they need. At Hospice of the Fisher Home, our nurses ensure the dignity and comfort of each individual! We foster a homelike environment for those in and out of our residence with nurses that take great pride in what they do.
One example of this pride is Susan De Lisle. Living in Western Massachusetts for 27 years, Susan has been a part of the community and the Fisher Home for quite a while. Graduating with her Associates Degree in Nursing and becoming an RN, her commitment to her patients has been outstanding! Her impact at our facility has been huge, so we decided to ask her a few questions about being a hospice nurse and her journey.
In your words, what does the Fisher Home do?
Susan: “The Fisher Home Cares for the terminally ill and their families skillfully and with compassion.”
As Susan states, a hospice nurse does not just care for the terminally ill, they care for their families as well. Being a hospice nurse requires a caring approach to both patients and their loved ones. This can be done in a variety of ways, like checking in with family members' needs, helping them navigate the complexities that come with end of life, or just allowing them to take a break when they feel overwhelmed.
What made you want to become a nurse? Why did you decide on hospice as a specialization?
Susan: “I had a recurring dream in which I was a hospice nurse!”
While this isn’t the most common reason for becoming a hospice nurse, Susan’s calling toward nursing, specifically in hospice, has impacted our patients immensely! Many nurses find their way to hospice for a variety of reasons like the loss of a loved one, the meaningful work, or the culture surrounding death and dying.
When did you start working at the Fisher Home?
Susan: “I started at the Fisher Home in 2010 as a volunteer and felt I was home. Not long after beginning as a volunteer I became a CNA while attending nursing school. Then, I became an RN. I worked here throughout these life changes!”
What makes the Fisher Home so special?
Susan: “The people! Hospice draws very unique people. We all have a deep desire to help people and that extends beyond our patients and their families. We care for one another as well and because of this we work together like a well-oiled machine.”
Those who work in hospice – not just nurses – are unique. They have a certain love for what they do that you can’t find everywhere. As Susan points out, the care that volunteers, administrators, nurses, CNAs, and everyone else at the Fisher Home has for the patients they also have for each other.
How would you describe the care patients receive at the Fisher Home?
Susan: “One word: Excellent.”
What is your favorite Fisher Home memory?
Susan: “I remember approaching the back garden to see our 104 year old female patient sharing a glass of wine with our volunteer, Evan. She was an elegant woman with beautiful legs at 104! She sat with her feet on a bench and her dress draping over her thighs, showing quite a lot of leg! A perfect snapshot of a summer day at the Fisher Home!”
The role of a hospice nurse is deeply rewarding, marked by compassion, dedication, and a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for both patients and their families. Susan De Lisle's journey exemplifies the unique and heartfelt nature of hospice care. Her experience at the Fisher Home highlights the vital role hospice nurses play in providing not just medical support, but emotional and spiritual comfort.
If you are in the Western Massachusetts area and have a loved one that requires hospice care, Hospice of the Fisher Home provides both in-residence or at-home (or wherever you reside) care through our community program. Contact us to find out more.
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