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Salute to Nursing... Sponsored by the

Hospice Nurses: Resilient, Remarkable, and Appreciated

Challenges over the past two years during the COVID- Like many of them, I was drawn to work with the terminally ill more than 16 years
19 pandemic have revealed the grit and resilience of our ago and would not change my career path to any other niche. Now as a general man-
valued nurses, especially those who provide hospice serv- ager, I feel both a duty and an honor to provide leadership and support to our field
ices. As end-of-life caregivers, hospice already commands staff.
an extra level of sensitivity. Add in changing patient In the field, I see you as you withstand the rigors of our tumultuous times. I praise
access, visitor restrictions, and mask guidance, and we you for serving as educators, mentors, patient advocates and, when needed, hand-
saw just how much day-to-day nuances shifted our care holders. I encourage you as we enter a newly open phase to find ways to recover and
delivery. revitalize.
Throughout it all, our nurses remained resolved. As To our nurses, YOU are the heartbeat of VITAS. As you bond with your patients,
committed, compassionate clinicians with a can-do atti- your presence is a significant gift. From all of us at VITAS, we thank you and salute
tude, they have navigated these changes with grace. you for all you do each day, every day.
Always keeping the patients and their families first, they To all of those considering the nursing profession, we need you. When you look in
BY KATHLEEN served in ways most never anticipated. the eyes of a loved one as he or she thanks you for showing empathy to their mother,
CORONADO Our nurses stood in for families who could not be by father, sibling, spouse or other loved one, you experience the value of your role
their loved one’s side as their condition worsened. They beyond measure.
facilitated video visits to maintain a connection that would soon become a vital mem- Hospice is a calling. In a culture that seldom speaks of death, you will have the priv-
ory. They used technology as a substitute for in-person contact, which would never ilege of sharing your expert guidance with grieving families. You will also listen,
be their chosen option but was the only one they had. Nurses learned to be strategic patiently and quietly, as the days go by and patients review their life, leaning on your
and innovative, using VITAS devices to link loved ones, whether they were working compassion and care.
with COVID-19 patients or not. So many avenues will open to you as you draw on your clinical skills and pursue
Bravery is a term used to describe firefighters, police officers, and soldiers; our resourceful ways to use them. As a hospice nurse, you can offer in-person or virtual
nurses have earned this distinction, too. Aware of the possibility of acquiring the virus contact, or move to an administrative role. You can lead other nurses and be an exam-
themselves or passing it on to their family members at home, they entered patient ple to those who ask how you cope and manage during uncertainty. Because as we
rooms courageously to provide the hospice care needed as patients neared the end of have seen, our skilled and talented nurses have coped and managed.
their life. As best as they could, our nurses upheld the VITAS mission of enhancing Your expertise will always hold value. Your ability to connect with patients and
the quality of life for those in the end stages of their diseases. bond with families will always resonate as a memory of thoughtfulness and dignity.
As a nurse myself, with 23 years of experience, I see 2020-2022 as a watershed Never forget the unmistakable influence this calling gives you.
phase in the healthcare industry. I witnessed our caregivers serve with their whole
hearts while also experiencing the drain that comes with special restrictions and Kathleen Coronado is VITAS® Healthcare General Manager, Broward.
increased volume. They knew nothing was more meaningful than serving patients as For more information about VITAS, go to VITAS.com.
they entered the end-of-life phase. To learn about nursing opportunities, visit careers.VITAS.com

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