Personal Narrative: An Interview With A Hospice Nurse

I interviewed a hospice nurse, her name is Jessica Marquez and she is a Registered Nurse, She works with Prime care Hospice located at 4225 w Glendale, phoenix 85019.az. Ms. Marquez received her associate degree at Gate Way Community College in 2010. Three years down the road, she decided that she wanted to continue her education to obtain her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Ms. Marquez applied for admission at the Arizona State University and got accepted in the program. Twelve months later, she received her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

I asked Ms. Marquez why she choose nursing as her profession and why she opted for the position of a Hospice nurse. Ms. Marquez responded by saying that she has always wanted a career in which she will make

Marquez to summarize her daily routine, she started by saying that her typical day as a hospice nurse is very busy. She said on a typical day, she calls for report from home because she does not have enough time to get to the office due to her busy schedule. During the report, they will give her an update on her patients that needs medication refill, change of condition, death. E.t.c. while driving to meet her patients, she might receive another call that one of her patient has died. Ms. Marquez said that she will call the Pt family to informed them of the death and tell the family that she is on her way. After speaking with the family, she will hang up and then called her PCC to tell her that one of her patient had died and she is going there. Ms. Marquez said that she might arrived there in forty five minute, which depend on the driving distance. She said that when she arrive at the venue that she could still hear loud cry, some people screaming and yelling. Ms. Marquez said that she will locate the body and will do a complete assessment on the Patient and will make the pronouncement. She said at the point of her pronouncement that there is usually a member of the family that did not think that the blue color that granny was, meant that he was dead. So he will faint and the girl friend catches him. Ms. Marquez said that she will bath the body without any help from the family and will dress the body in a four piece suit, notify the funeral home to get there. Some

Marquez what was the most challenging aspect of her job related to death. Ms. Marquez responded by saying that the most challenging aspect of her job is the issue of attachment and loss. She said because as a hospice nurse her primary responsibility is to provide comfort care to the patient, in the process of providing comfort care, there will definitely be an attachment and it challenging seeing them go.

I asked Ms. Marquez what she wanted people to know about her job, she giggled and smiled. She said that she wanted people to know that working with dying people is not as bad as it sounds or looks but that it is more rewarding knowing that you are touching and make a different in people lives as well as connecting with the family.

I asked Ms. Marquez how people typically react to the death of their love ones. She said that people react differently. At first, most people are in the denial phase. For example, people will think that their love ones is not actually death but sleeping. Some people might faint, cry, yelling. E.t.c. No matter their reaction, it is okay because it is still part of the grieving