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VITAS HEALTHCARE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY VITAS HEALTHCARE IN DADE COUNTY
Eunide Chery, RN Anamarys Armenteros Careaga, RN

Eunide Chery, R.N., became a nurse 10 years ago and has Anamarys Armenteros Careaga, R.N., knows that clinical
served in hospice care for VITAS® Healthcare for six years. care for patients in hospice provides a valuable service.
“In hospice care, when you meet a patient, you are a “Hearing a family member say, ‘We couldn’t have done this
stranger,” she says. “[But] after spending time with them, without you,’ makes all the hard work worth it,” she says.
holding and caring for them, you are family.” “When I leave “Hospice is not an easy profession yet guiding people
at the end of the day, I can be happy that my patient is com- through what is often the most challenging time of their life
fortable and well cared for,” she adds. is incredibly fulfilling.”
Chery appreciates taking the time to enhance her patient’s With four years of experience as a nurse, Careaga believes
quality of life. “A 103-year-old man came into hospice. He was in and out of hospice every day as a hospice nurse is a unique experience filled with teachable moments.
over the next two years,” she tells us. “He asked for me every time. He had no chil- “I remember taking care of a patient in his last moments of life,” she tells us. “His
dren and his wife had passed. ‘Promise you are not going to leave me,’ he said. He daughter was inconsolable. I sat next to her as she told me about her childhood mem-
wanted me to choose his outfit for when he died. He had blue pants but not a white ories with her father. She said goodbye to him little by little. I listened to her as he
shirt. After work, I bought him a white shirt. I set everything up for him. He said: passed away. She thanked me and said this would not have been the same without my
‘Now I can go.’ The next day he passed.” support.”
Careaga often reflects on her experience in providing compassionate care: “Helping
Omayra Caro Roman, RN patients transition with dignity, on their own terms, is very rewarding for hospice
nurses,” she says.
Omayra Caro Roman, R.N., has been a nurse for 28 years.
She began her career in home care and later transitioned to Heydi Arauz, RN
hospice care, where she feels she was born to serve as a hos-
pice caregiver. “I love to build trusting relationships with Heydi Arauz’s pathway to nursing began when she worked
patients and families,” she says. as a medical assistant, then earned her LPN, and later
Caro Roman speaks Spanish and works with the Spanish- became an RN. She feels hospice offers a special type of care.
speaking population within hospice. “Through some of life’s “While working in hospice, you develop empathy,” she says.
hardest times, I am with the patient in his or her final jour- “This is an incredibly hard time in the individual and family’s
ney,” she says. “I find this job extremely rewarding.” life, and I support them as we make the adjustments to carry
Her bond with patient families does not end when the patient dies, though. “I on.” Arauz recognizes the unique role she has and finds ful-
maintain a friendship with a couple of the families I served,” she says. “We keep in fillment in it. “I am the last person to provide the most
touch, and they invite me to their homes for dinner or special occasions.” This con- peaceful, professional, comfortable, and respectful support to the family and patient
tinuing connection extends Roman’s passion for hospice nursing. in the last moments of life,” she says.
She recalls a patient who remains memorable to her: “As I made my visits, I noticed
® he was a dance instructor. Due to his condition, he was unable to dance anymore. I
VITAS HEALTHCARE IN BROWARD COUNTY played his favorite melodies and pretended I was his student as I moved around. I
asked him if I was doing it right and he would smile so vividly. For that moment, he
Meredith Glassman, RN, BSN forgot about his illness. My goal was to make him laugh every time. That became our
routine until he passed.”
As a nurse for 15 years, Meredith Glassman, R.N., B.S.N.,
found her calling when she moved into the hospice niche
eight years ago. “Every patient leaves an imprint on my
heart,” says Glassman. “A short time ago, I met with a Subscribe to...
Holocaust survivor and reminded her that the Jewish holiday
of Passover was upon us. She lit up with hope and excite- SOUTH FLORIDA HOSPITAL NEWS
ment in remembering the holiday of the redemption of the & HEALTHCARE REPORT today!
slaves out of Egypt. Bringing her the special matzah (unleav-
ened bread) was pivotal for her in her journey to love optimally!”
Glassman then stepped away from the acute care bedside when she took on the role Subscribe online at
of a shift supervisor for inpatient hospice. “This was defining in discovering my pas- www.southfloridahospitalnews.com
sion for hospice and palliative care,” she says. or call 561-368-6950
Now with VITAS® Healthcare for five years, Glassman says teamwork is a delight.
“I love having the support of the entire team, including the chaplain, social worker,
doctor, manager, aides, and all ancillary resources, to collaboratively plan coordinated
care for each patient. I also call upon my Rabbi for perspective and support,” says
Glassman.
NURSING PROGRAMS FOR
Helen Walton, RN EVERY STAGE IN YOU R CAREER

Hospice nurse Helen Walton, R.N., finds it meaningful to
make a difference in the lives of those she cares for. She says,
“I was working at a patient’s bedside as his family rallied A PLACE TO
around him. He was near death. His wife asked me: ‘What
shall I do? I love him so much.’ I encouraged her and asked BELONG
if she had spoken to him one-on-one and given him permis-
BELIEVE
sion to go. She hadn’t. After arranging for them to be alone, BELIEVE
the door opens after about thirty minutes, and she is tearful AND
yet appears happy. She hugged me and said thank you. In
turn, I thanked her for allowing me to share this moment. The family returned to the BECOME
bedside. Within 30 minutes, the man passed away peacefully.”
It is significant moments like these that make Walton’s seven-year nursing career so
satisfying. As a VITAS employee for 22 years, she was drawn to hospice care through
a patient’s daughter. SOUTHUNIVERSITY.EDU | 855-209 -0347
“I look forward to coming to work because I love being a team player,” says Walton.
“I am always willing to learn new things, no matter how challenging they may be.”
Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by school and are subject to change. Not all l programs are available to residents of all U.S. states.
South University, West Palm Beach, University Centre, 9801 Belvedere Rd., Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411. © 2022 S South University. All rights reserved.

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