How do nurses find the strength to work in palliative care wards?

( this one is a straight Q - I cannot imagine how they manage to do this day after day )

I asked my MacMillan nurse who said that she likes helping people come to terms with their illness and prepare and support families. They try not to get too emotional but they are human after all.
Its a blessing that there are people who are always there and an ear to listen to problems.
God Bless them all.

Pure compassion....

Plus, they feel even more needed than other nurses in general.

These people are angels of mercy and I often wonder this too.


Opps sorry for being unwittingly sexist.. I do know there are male nurses and good ones! apologies.

I imagine most nurses are tough enough anyway!

because it is needed, the universe has a weird way of balancing out what is.

Because you feel especially needed when someone is so dependant upon you for care...and sometimes they are more appreciative of you than other patients who don't need you as much.

Well with the proper education they can do lt.

if you feel you're making a difference to someone suffering less then it makes it worthwhile and satisfying that you really can do something good, and you draw strength from this.

Only such a nurse can answer this. But I see such love involved that I have to believe God is at work in this kind of service. He uses many ways and people to care for His creation. The nurse may not acknowledge this, but it has to be true.

first of all, New Born Kitten, we are not all women. Second, it is because we know we are helping people and their families in one of the worst times a person can go through. It's nice to know people care.

it takes a certain kind of person to do that job i admire all of them.keep up the good work guys.

I have done this, what I went through was never as much as the families and friends and patients themselves were going through. Doing something that counted so much to people makes a difference. It removes you from your smaller personal needs.

I am a registered Oncology nurse and have worked extensively with hospice patients and pallitive care for the last 12 yrs.
We are all going to die some day. There is no way around it. Its going to happen sooner or later.
I like to think I am there to make people who are dying comfortable and symptom free. I make their last hours and days with their family peaceful and with dignity. I support them spiritually, emotionally and know when they leave the world, they are with God.
I love my job. I know a lot about pain crisis and symptom control.
I can comfort families. pray with them.
I have ran into hospice patients families from 10 yrs ago in places such as the grocery store, a ball game, at the mall. They may not remember anyone else during an entire hospitalization, but they remember me and it still brings out emotions because I was the one with their father, mother, sister or brother when they died. They will always remember me. They know I care and want to help. They come back to the hospice to see where there loved one died and sometimes they just stop in to let us know they are doing well after their family member died. Its very fulfilling. Its a true labor of love and I hope whoever takes care of me when I am dying is as compassionate as the nurses I work with in hospice and pallitive care on a daily basis.

We do it because we want to.
Some people are built to do it and some people aren't.

I know for me, its the job satisfaction in relieving a suffering person's symptoms and leading them on pain free, nausea free, settled and comfortable.

it is not strength it is a gift.The greatest gift a nurse can give to a patient is comfort in their last days. Knowing they have done all they can to provide a smooth transition to wherever they are going for the patient and their relatives is a job well done.