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HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Cover Story: A Better Way to Live and Die -

A Hospice Nurse’s Journey to Put Patients and Families First

Continued from page 1
team, the job itself is another kind of jour- siblings and me. This was my first forma- that the impact of my care could extend Chil dren, Community Health Accredi -
ney. What starts with a spark of passion tive experience with death and grief, but it beyond individual patients and their fami- tation Partner, and the Florida Hospice
leads to the pursuit of education, then wasn’t the one that illuminated my calling lies, however. and Palliative Care Association.
practice, then eventually integrating the for nursing. That notion blossomed after In a few years, I was a member of VITAS No matter what I’m doing or to whom
end-of-life journeys of countless others caring for my dying mother as a young clinical leadership, a role that enabled me I’m speaking, my leadership is values-
into one’s own, larger mission of care. adult. Leaving behind the business and to provide impactful care to disadvantaged based. “Always make the ethical decision,
For 35 years, my journey has been ded- banking career that I had pursued after communities on a broader scale, as well as and business will follow,” I told a new
icated to the goal of changing the way the high school, I attended Broward influence the direction of the organization. VITAS GM nearly 30 years ago. In 1993, I
world lives and dies. While I initially car- Community College, where I attained an I helped create Vx, VITAS’ proprietary incorporated my personal creed—
ried out this personal mission as a nurse at associate degree in nursing and first electronic medical records program. I “patients and families come first”—into
a mom-and-pop hospice in South Florida, learned about hospice. encouraged the membership of the VITAS’ guiding values.
today I’m the executive vice president of In 1983, I joined the still-young VITAS National Black Nurses Association to par- I’m blessed to be on a journey alongside
the same hospice: VITAS Healthcare, now as a nurse. On my first day on the job, I ticipate in the End-of-Life Nursing a team that believes in the cause of hos-
celebrating its 40th anniversary and solid- was faced with the reality that all hospice Education Consortium while challenging pice—and VITAS specifically—as thor-
ly staked as the nation’s leading hospice workers eventually confront: the death of them to explore their career potential oughly as I do. After walking this path for
provider, with 12,000 employees caring my patient. I found myself staying late to beyond the bedside. I also spearheaded an 35 years, I’m no less excited to find new
for nearly 18,000 patients in 47 hospice comfort three generations of a grieving effort to address the unique concerns and and more effective ways to provide com-
programs spread across 14 states and the family, calling in a chaplain to offer what- health challenges that veterans face at the passionate care for patients and families at
District of Columbia. ever comfort was possible for the end of life, an initiative that continues to the end of life than I was on the morning
My nursing journey with VITAS was bereaved. flourish today. of my very first day of work.
spurred by end-of-life experiences that Since that first day, I’ve been enamored Being present is central to my personal
shaped my understanding of death and the with and honored to be part of a system philosophy, which means staying involved Peggy Pettit, Executive Vice President at
impact that compassion can have on those that guides patients and families through with my community at work and beyond. VITAS® Healthcare, can be reached at
nearing it. some of their most vulnerable, turbulent Today, I continue to remain active on a Peggy.Pettit@vitas.com or (305) 350-6060.
My father died when I was seven years moments to better achieve a sense of peace variety of boards and committees, includ- For more information, visit www.vitas.com.
old, leaving behind my mother, my eight and comfort at the end of life. I soon found ing the National Alliance for Grieving

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A Program That W orrks.

A Benefit ht T t a M M t a ert t s s.

VITAS is herA 24 7/ 7 / /365.
VIT
AS i h re 24
/365
When patients faccing serious progressive illness
decide that comfoort—not cure—is the bestt outcome,,
they want to be att home among their loveed ones.
This November , we salute the more than 5,000
VIT AS professionals who make this wish a reality
A
o e t a 9,000
for more than 9,000 Florida patients and their
o da pat e ts a d te
o
families every day. .
Choose VIT A
AS ffor benefits that mattter:
round-the-clock support and seamless transitions of ccare,
from curative to palliaative, from hospital to home.

Download our referral app, visit VIT AS.com or call

888.VIT AS.80 for alwayys-available hospice care.

24 November 2018 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News