Sarah Neeley

As the clinical nurse educator for Alive Hospice, one of my favorite days of the month is the day for annual skills lab for nurses. We need this day to review skills, assess competency, and learn new skills and issues related to hospice care.

I love this day because nurses from Alive Hospice’s inpatient units, after-hours nurses, and home care nurses that may have never met are brought together. Many know each other’s voices and are thrilled to see “the face.” As the day progresses, conversations begin about the personal challenges we all face when providing end-of-life care. This discussion always occurs and it never ceases to amaze me how these nurses support each other to maintain their passion for end-of-life care.

The inpatient unit nurses develop a greater understanding for the home care nurses, just as the after-hours nurses do the same for all. A deep respect and compassion begins for each nurse and their role. We all begin to appreciate that it takes all of our dedication for our patients to have the excellent end-of-life care Alive Hospice provides.

This process unfolds slowly as the morning begins and momentum gains as the day goes. Stories are told, tears are shed, laughter is present and questions asked: “Has anyone…”;“Does anyone else sometimes feel…”; and “Sometimes I just want to be a _____ nurse because the caring and love and loss are too hard.”

I am told that nurses learn during this special day. I am told they enjoy the day and are grateful for the commitment Alive has made for this day.

I always want to write Thank You notes to the attendees. I would say thank you for your loving care and thank you for willingly sharing the challenges and heartbreaks in providing such loving care.

I adore the nurses Alive Hospice has. Please, take a moment every day and thank a nurse. Their hearts are heavy with grief and are comforted by a death that was peaceful. Their minds are full of wisdom that they are so willing to share. Their souls are those of angels. Each hospice nurse goes with patients and families to places even angels fear to tread.

Annual Performance Skills Lab day is a wonderful day for me. I thank all of our unbelievable nurses!

Sarah Neeley is Alive Hospice’s clinical nurse educator.