Hospice Care Teams: Their Special Gifts

I had a wonderful opportunity to attend a seminar on hospice care presented by the Hospice and Palliative Care Centers of the health care system where I work. It was wonderful to hear compassionate nurses share some of the special experiences they have had caring for their patients. Being able to offer and provide comfort to the dying while supporting the family takes a lot of dedication. A compassionate heart, an empathetic ear, and a soft hand to hold are precious gifts nurses can share with the patients who are entrusted in their care.

Having been a nurse myself for over 20 years, I had the opportunity to assist with the birth of a newborn baby and then hold the hand of a dying elderly patient--all within a 24 hour period. That was an experience I will never forget as the true life spectrum passed before my eyes.

One of the things that I found hard to hear was the fact so many people continue to suffer needlessly at the end of life. It just reinforced the fact that there is so much left unknown and misunderstood when it comes to the issues of pain and its management. Drugs continue to be prescribed in sub-therapeutic dosages and side effects add other discomforting symptoms on top of that. Myths and misunderstandings around the issues of addiction, physiological dependence and tolerance continue to form biased opinions and attitudes that prove to be barriers to effective treatment. It just reinforced my belief that healthcare providers across the multidisciplines could benefit greatly from more formal education in the areas of pain and its management.

I was so glad to meet a Pain Specialist RN who shared her expertise and insights with all of us. It is my hope that some of the healthcare professionals there would seriously consider becoming credentialled in Pain Management. It would enrich their practice immensely in whatever setting they choose to work.

Related Topics:

• WebMD Video: Hospice Volunteering
• Care at the End of Life

Technorati Tags: pain management, hospice care

Spring! New Beginnings!

Photo Credit: Richard Miske

As the saying goes, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." And when I begin to see signs of spring, I begin to feel a sense of renewal. New growth, new beginnings. Sometimes it feels good to step outside in my back yard and take a deep breath of fresh air.

As silly as it may sound, I love the smell of dirt. Planting flowers and growing vegetables used to be one of my favorite things to do. Now it is hard to do so, but I am considering trying to grow a small pot garden. At least it will be easier to maintain because I won't have to stoop way down on the ground to weed. Window sill gardens can be nice. Being creative is key.

I think that if I can get myself a bag of potting soil and some seeds, I could begin some seedlings. It won't be strenuous and I will get to watch the new growth. I can feel myself getting excited already at this idea! It will be worth it to carve out a little bit of time to accomplish this. It is all about feeling good and finding enjoyment in spite of discomforts and limitations. And the blooms and fresh veggies will be wonderful rewards for my efforts!

Related Topics:

• WebMD Video: Gardening Therapy
• WebMD Video: Avoiding Gardening Injuries

Technorati Tags: gardening, health and wellness

Faith and Healing

It is no secret that much of what we think can and does affect how we feel. Attitude, beliefs, faith, spirituality, opinions, emotions all affect us in some way. Many folks rely on their faith during times of distress. Christians have a hopeful and confident faith that is beneficial during these times. Others seek out their source of comfort and often cling to that when they are distressed.

I have often heard it said that God doesn't prescribe medications. God doesn't order tests. God doesn't diagnose or treat and all of these things are true. However, God does oversee what is going on. He has the ability to enable the people who developed the meds that are used for pain syndromes. He has the ability to enable the physicians and surgeons to learn about and experience success in their careers in treating patients. And therefore it is always appropriate to thank God for the accomplishments we achieve and the peace and comfort we feel.

It is reasonable that some folks can not understand what they can not sense. They often have difficulty understanding and recognizing the power of prayer. Faith is what it is and does not require tactile sense to understand, trust and believe.

It is not the same as religion. A person can be religious and lack faith. People can practice rituals and support a doctrine and lack a peaceful, comfortable and trustable faith. They may struggle during times of distress because they lack a lifeline to hold onto.

If you lack faith and feel distressed, if you feel pain and feel all alone, I encourage you to explore your faith. Define it and name the promises and guarantees that bring you peace. And if you can't do so, find someone to help you. Doing so may offer you a sense of comfort and peace as you struggle with your pain and discomfort. Seek out those folks with like faith who can raise you up during those times when you feel down and distressed. Hopefully you will begin to see an improvement in your quality of life!

Related Topics:

• WebMD Video: Nursing and Prayer Program
• WebMD Video: Prayer and Healing

Technorati Tags: health and wellness, faith, healing