Hospice Nurse

How did you feel with the passing of your first patient? Were you braced for it, or was it devastating?

Asked by BelleKow almost 12 years ago

The particular employer I took my very first hospice job with, prepared me best they could. Hospice is truly a calling and is not for everyone. It was a very surreal experience, however, mixed with emotions. I was excited to fulfil my calling, be a rock for those left behind, yet I was full of empathy and sympathy and sadness. The reward of the love and respect I gained from being that important role brought an overwhelming calmness and gratitude and peace over me.

if you're the only one present when a patient passes away, how do you go about telling the family?

Asked by Bradbury451 almost 12 years ago

I was usually not the only person present unless it was someone who had no family whatsoever or family that was not active in their lives. Unfortunately that happens more than one may think. Part of the job of a good hospice nurse is using your talent and training to recognize signs and symptoms of death and from these estimating the time frame that the patient may pass. Therefore, the nurse calls the family to be with the patient to be with them in their final minutes. It can happen and in this case I would call family and congregate with them and explain that their loved one passed and that they did so peacefully. At this point your primary focus is comfort for the family left behind.

Have you noticed a significant difference in the health of hospice patients when they have frequent family visits compared to when the family barely comes at all?

Asked by SHC55 almost 12 years ago

Yes I do! However there are times when someone is ready to pass and they have this close family that for our own selfish reasons we do not want them to leave us, have tendencies to say, "please don't leave me" and these people don't pass as peacefully as I would like. It's my job to educate families on allowing the patient to start their next journey they are tired from this fight. Tell the patient it's okay and you will see them again!! So patients with big families or supportive ones have a higher increased good spirit which keeps them peaceful and calm and reasons to hold on longer!

Do most of the patients in hospice know they are going to die soon? For those that do, what percent are scared, and what percent are at peace with it?

Asked by paula.t.lyons almost 12 years ago

Yes they do. This is usually discussed between physician and patient prior to the referral to hospice being made. It is still a challenge for the hospice nurse to help the patient cope with this fact at admission and for a short period after. Noone wants to die and most people are scared not to die but of the unknown. That's a hospice nurses job to explain and ensure the patient that all things will be discussed with them until they are unable to make their own decisions. Also to answer any questions honestly. It's important to explain death and dying to the caregivers and patient and ensure the patient of your competence and experience and that they will NOT die in pain. Most people are afraid and yet become very accepting and at peace with this fact closer to death. I personally have had a few patients that were never afraid and these families often were the once that had celebrations of life versus copious amounts of tears upon the passing of the patient.

Seen any instances where families act selfishly or just generally crappy toward their terminally ill relative?

Asked by Tulsa Gary almost 12 years ago

More times than one would want to think. One that stands out was a gentleman and his common law wife of nearly twenty years was having seizures and as I ran towards his bed to relieve his symptoms with a hope of peaceful passing his son stopped me and the children two against two began to quarrel about calling an ambulance! The SO was holding his living will up and said that their father didnt want this.....one called 911 and one was fighting trying to get the phone and everyone yelling!! I yelled at this point and everyone got quiet and I said "I took an oath to be a patient advocate, hang up the phone and you sir move so I can take care if your father!!" I did what my patient needed and thank goodness I wa able to stop paramedics before initiating CPR due to him being a DNR. The family was thankful later but still unfortunate ! And I have seen families fighting over material things before the patient passes! Breaks my heart when nurses fail to educate the family so well that death is not a surprise and they beg the patient not to leave them!! The dying patient needs to be given permission to go.

What obligations do hospitals and insurance companies have when it comes to prolonging the life of a very old person? If a senile 95-year old's health is deteriorating, can her family demand that a hospital operate to try and keep her alive?

Asked by Seb_Krauss almost 12 years ago

Well any hospital or health facility is obligated to keep a patient alive. Families can over ride living wills in some instances, which is unfortunate. However, hospice patients are usually at home or in an inpatient hospice facility and have opted for hospice benefits and also have desire to no longer have life prolonged and resist the inevitable death. Normally hospice patients and the family is very educated about the hospice philosophy and what's to come that they choose to die at home and remain a DNR. Do Not Resucitate.

Does working in such an emotionally draining environment affect how you interact with your loved ones when you get home (for better or worse)?

Asked by Jenny Shakes almost 12 years ago

Yes after three years of on call 7 on and 7 off, which on call is rarely good news or a minor issue, I found it having effects on me emotionally. Dealing with death daily and nightly and caring so deeply definitely had its effects on me. For good it really makes me thankful and appreciative my family are safe and healthy at this time. It also enables me to see things that we take for granted. However, it also effects my home life in a negative way in such a manner that I may be at a ball game etc and that call comes in that patient or tht family may need me and that pulls me from my family! They understand and admire what I do but need me just the same. On call is hard being a single mom also!! I find it very helpful to maybe every three years or so take a break from hospice until that point you miss it so bad that you can refrain from getting back to it.

Can a patient refuse hospice care, even if his family ordered it?

Asked by Gregg almost 12 years ago

Patient can refuse it absolutely!! Usually that's because if not accepting the shape they are in and/or fear of dying. I have went and admitting a patient later that has refused when they finally accept the inevitable or when the patient is non responsive at the request of family members.

Has anyone you were providing hospice care for ever miraculously recovered? Does that ever happen?

Asked by slowburn almost 12 years ago

Not usually. Not from a terminal illness unfortunately! However there are those that give up of the disease is way more than they can fight.....and there are those that have a very strong will to survive and fight. It's amazing to see what people "hold on" for, like usually mothers not wanting to leave children or men not wanting to leave his wife behind to care for herself. I have had to discharge patients from hospice and refer to home health for what is called a failure to decline. Which means the disease did not run its natural course and cause death within what guidelines are placed on the retention of a patient!! But in a sense that's a good feeling and doesn't happen very often.

Do most of your patients pass away in their sleep when no one's around?

Asked by Cassieluv almost 12 years ago

No not usually, it happens, but most of my patients are general somewhat comatose at the point they start to pass and usually this is predicted and a time frame predicted using the training a hospice nurse receives! Therefore they family is aware and normally at the bedside as they take their last breath. I have had patients pass in their sleep and the family find them. But if its a natural death nothing acute NORMALLY the family is educated by the RN of the sign and symptoms of impending death and know its occurring. Most families also tend to take shifts at the bedside which I personally tell them isn't necessary because often I have seen patients especially mothers not want to pass with their children looking on. Better for family to keep routines as close as possible for the patient sake.

Which terminal diseases are the most painful to watch people go through?

Asked by Marty DX almost 12 years ago

Honestly usually we are successful in managing all the symptoms necessary that there is not alot of suffering. However, people with bone cancer or colon cancer can be hard to manage pain. COPD patients are difficult or me personally because I always felt as though I was suffocating. I think the worst deaths to witness so far have been cirrhosis when the patient develops esophageal varicese and bleed copious amounts. Although the RN prepares for possibly bleeding out by placing darker sheets on the bed and darker clothing to camouflage amounts of blood in case it happens. The family is educated prior to the potential so they are not shocked.

Have you ever heard any crazy deathbed confessions or family secrets revealed? What would you do if they confessed to a murder or something? Would you have to report that?

Asked by Janis almost 12 years ago

That depends because there are hallucinations which come with impending death! I have had a couple of patients confess to being in love with a spouse that passed prior to them yet they have a new spouse they love dearly. One man confessed to not always being true to his wife but other than that nothing but regrets or wishing they were closer to certain family. Alchoholics wishing they had lived life different and hadnt ran family off. In the case of confessing a murder that would be an obligation on my part to call in social worker and us team together to assess this further. But I'm sure it would have to be reported and investigated.

Do you ever see family members making last-minute requests to the dying for inheritance money and such?

Asked by brokenarrow almost 12 years ago

I have had families report this to me and ask that I speak with them and educate on the fact of whether or not the patient is competent enough to be doing such, however, I have seen families fighting over things before the patient ever passes. Very sad.

what profound pieces of advice have patients given you while on their deathbed? any stick out in particular?

Asked by gracie j almost 12 years ago

One old man asked me why I remarried twice being such a sweet lady with amazing calling in life.......I told him I was afraid to die alone! In his final few hours he told me while holding my hand that noone dies alone!! Amazing! I had a military vet in a nursing home and I never met any family, as I approached his bedside for a visit he looked at me so lovingly that I asked him what is it? He said I thought you were my wife, she came to see me last night, looked just like the day I bought her wedding dress, she was wearing it, hair black as coke like yours. I said oh my how wonderful did she come to get you? His reply with a sad look on his face was "she says its not time," I have so many!! I learned true love can exist and even on the other side.

What training and certifications are required to become a hospice nurse? How do the qualifications differ from those of a regular nurse?

Asked by Jenna almost 12 years ago

Any RN can be a hospice nurse actually. It's just that it really is a calling. I have gotten other friends involved and they didnt last because of the constant dealing with death and dying. LPNs are limited in the field but can do it as long as an RN sees the patient and meets the Medicare guidelines. Even a new graduate RN can do hospice but it truly is a calling. Palliative care certifications are a plus and can be gotten through your company.

Are hospices nurses paid more, less, or about the same as regular hospital nurses?

Asked by Kapitano almost 12 years ago

Well nurses that have been in hospice for years make more due to many companies paying based on experience. In Alabama I am unsure what our pay is compared to other states, but I made $48,000 annual I think per year. That's salary with some in call also. Another job I made $42,000 as a newer hospice RN and that was on call only 7 on and 7 off. I worked PRN in the office for extra money if they needed me and they just broke my annual down into an hourly rate!

What are your thoughts on euthanasia? Do you think it should be legal?

Asked by quinn delong almost 12 years ago

My thoughts are that euthanasia is not a natural way to pass and could be considered murder, however, I do sympathize with a terminally ill person that is in constant agony and is tired of fighting a battle. I am a hospice nurse and with easing of symptoms we allow the patient to have a natural death in its own due time. We do not hasten nor prolong the dying process. But again, I do not have an opinion on whether or not it should be legal because I also believe people are in charge of their own personal bodies and I have not suffered a long battle with cancer etc.

What's the youngest patient you've had in hospice?

Asked by PT almost 12 years ago

Me personally, 15 year old leukemia patient. He planned his funeral and was very accepting of his illness.

What do you do when a patient gets really agitated or panicked? If you're alone with them when that happens, do you get scared?

Asked by blast almost 12 years ago

I personally don't get scared and I haven't had colleagues that do. It really is a calling and also we are specially trained to assess and implement care related to death and dying. Agitation and anxiety are only a few, I would comfort the patient in a calm quiet manner and if not resolved assess if meds were necessary and give those at that time. Usually utilizing Xanax, Ativan, or haldol as needed. These meds are normally on board ahead of time because we would anticipate this type behavior and order it before symptom arises usually.

What do you think of hospice as an institution, compared to how they treat old age in some Latin American countries where the elderly move back in with their children in their final years and are surrounded by family?

Asked by Flaherty almost 12 years ago

In my experience in hospice most of my patients were at home surrounded by loved ones in their last days. There are elderly people in nursing homes that I have cared for also. We do not have in patient hospices here in northwest Alabama, which is somewhat unfortunate for those with no family because I have also had these patients at home and noone with them around the clock, in an inpatient hospice they would have around clock presence of others. Other ethnic backgrounds where elderly live with children is wonderful and those that live here still utilize hospice and it is a better overall experience when family is supportive and present.

What were the most interesting, humorous, and/or profound last words you ever heard a patient utter?

Asked by K.D. almost 12 years ago

Honestly I have had lots of conversations during the final days but I did have one gentleman was even experiencing the Cheyenne stokes breathing an discoloring of extremities and he was barely able to utter and said, "honey can you please help me" and smiled and I explained I couldn't do anything like that and he Laughed. I had one stubborn little lady patient that was closest to death than I had seen most patients just holding on.....this was third time and just as I said " well you all know how miss M loves to make a monkey out of me?" The patient replies, after being non responsive all day, she said " lil lady you can't predict when I'm gonna die" and winked at me haha she was a funny lady!

Do you think some patients can decide "when they're ready?" For example, a patient waiting for the birth of a grandchild before allowing himself to pass.

Asked by brokenarrow almost 12 years ago

Yes they can and do. I have had patients wait for soldiers to arrive from over seas and wait for family to arrive in town. Absolutely and it never stops amazing me!

what is it easy for you to get a job after graduating?

Asked by Jessica Aguirre over 11 years ago

Extremely easy to obtain RN jobs.  Hospice is a little more difficult, depending on how many companies you have in your area.  Also I said in the previous question it is truly a calling.  Just any nurse cannot just apply to hospice because they want an RN job and successfully succeed rather the reasons be that they just cannot grasp the concept and philospophy due to nurses being geared towards nurturing and healing and sending a well patient home and with hospice that is never the case. Or the nurse is "simply" not called to do this profession.

How long can the human body survive without food? My grandmother stopped eating completely shortly before her passing and was too weak for even an IV, but the doctor said that patients can go on for weeks sometimes.

Asked by Angelika over 11 years ago

Normally a couple weeks, BUT when the person stops eating and drinking completely usually death occurs within 72 hours.  And i discourage IVs when death is inevitable also.  Families that are not well educated think the loved one is dehydrated, which they are, but think they are suffering.  Once the patient gets to a certain point they do not feel the urge for food and drink.  IVs simply prolong the inevitable death that is to occur dragging out the dying process and it makes the brain more aware of pain and discomfort.  If a family insist of course we have to do it but we educate educate educate to discourage and allow the body to die a natural death.

Have you noticed any difference is the outlook on death between different cultures? Like are there some families of a certain culture that seem to just deal with death "better" or in a more uplifting way than other cultures?

Asked by jason e. almost 12 years ago

Well sorry to just now answer your question but I have been battling MS and Narcolepsy myself. Honestly it is just a matter of people that are not afraid of death or when they finally get to what is referred to as the acceptance stage and they see death is inevitable.  However, my personal opinion, I have noticed that people who have a strong religious lifestyle, regardless of the religion, seem to deal with death in a more positive way, therefore, their families seem to cope with the passing with more ease. Also children for some reason are so resilient and seem to cope with inevitable death with a better perception than most adults.  Hope this answers your question.

Do you keep any pets at your hospice facility? Have you heard the stories about how some cats or dogs are able to predict a patient's death even before it happens?

Asked by Julia over 11 years ago

No we did not keep pets.  However, there is a place locally called Therapy Dogs and they will visit if you call.  And yes I have heard it and I do believe it.  I have had multiple patients with pets and I do believe they sense death.  Also some pets I have noticed are very saddened with the passing of a patient and will not leave the bedside until the funeral home picks the patient up.  I had one young man and he had a giant dog.  the dog had laid in the floor in the patient's room for two days until he passed.  Last time I spoke to the patient's mother the dog spent and spends alot of time in the patient's room.  Animals have a very keen sense of illness and dying before most humand. Howver usually a hospice nurse in trained to somewhat predict the death as well but the animals are normally very aware.

How long will someone last without food and water in a coma from an aneurysm in may. Off feeding tube for 7 days now. Only 61 yr. No fluids and breathing on her own with a trac

Asked by SK over 11 years ago

I am so sorry for this delay.  I have been dealing with MS. You may not even need an answer to this question.  As crazy as it sounds this varies for each patient.  Just as we are all born differently, some easy births, some difficult, some come into the world screaming, some never cry, we also die uniquely. For instance, in this case, pending this person has no fluids, as you stated, no feedings running, and not even minimal sips of fluids, normally they survive up to two weeks or so.  Without any type fluids, food, etc normally death will occur within 72 hours.  However, in my experiences with hundreds and hundreds of patients, it depends.  It depends on the persons will to live, like a mother having fear of leaving her children.  A father not wanting to leave his children but much more not wanting to leave behind the wife who never worked and stayed home rearing the family.  Mothers of small children seem to fight death to a point that has amazed me and it goes way beyond any type of education and experience I have ever recieved.  Also people with very stubborn personalities and very strong willed people tend to survive longer.  So sorry for the delay hope this helps.

When do you decide to give a patient morphine?

Asked by DA over 11 years ago

A number of circumstances warrant the use of morphine.  Palliative care providers are trained and certified in the palliative care and again this profession is a calling and you just "know" when the time comes.  But when the patient has uncontrolled pain not being relieved by other means of pain control I will occasionally switch to morphine.  Also when a patient becomes unable to swallow the sublingual drops of morphine are the most effective pain treatment.  Not all hospice patients get morphine that is a misconception.  I have had a number of hospice patients that were not in need of morphine but simply sublingual Ativan, Valium etc for terminal agitation related to the changes in the body and lack of oxygen and blood being pumped to the brain as the heart begins to weaken.  Also pain patches are effective for those not in severe pain but do require steady pain control.  I like this method because SL Morphine is fast acting short lived and doses have to be repeated frequently.  This occasionally is stressful for the caregiver too.  So with an anxious caregiver I may use other methods.  You have to evaluate the situation and it is a holistic approach with the patient being first priority but the caregivers and family being right next in line.  You treat the patient and the family is ALWAYS involved in the careplan for the patient.  I like to have decisions made while a patient is still alert and oriented and document their wishes and preference for pain control and usually have caregivers present during the discussion so that we have no question of which method to provide.  Hope that answers your quesiton.  Sorry for the delay I have been dealing with MS. So sorry

So my question would be are those things not illegal and if so how do I report it?

Asked by curious over 10 years ago

Google hospice patients alliance

I imagine hospice to be a pretty depressing environment to be in every day. Do you ever leave really upbeat or is it always a downer?

Asked by dday13 over 11 years ago

Well both honestly.  yIts very easy to get cauht up and become very involved with your patient and their families.  It does have a very profound effect on the psyche.  It is truly a calling.  That is why I am so proud to have been involved in such a profession.  I know I am a nurse but all nurses have a calling.  You have bad nurses and great nurses.  The difference is the ones that truly seek their calling and do THAT as their career are the BETTER nurses per say.  Not just anyone can do hospice.  The fact that it is a calling, in my opinion, is what makes us resilient and able to rebound and turn sadness into such a profound feeling of gratification for helping your patient and being the support and educator for their loved ones that you do have a sense of fulfillment.  It is hard to explain but YES it gets depressing.  I had to break from it temporarily after four years of strictly seven on and seven off on call duty.  It became hard for me because naturally as a nurse your job is to nurture and heal, thats why most get into the profession anyway.  As a hospice provider your not healing and sending a well patient home.  You know from the day of admission that you will lose your patient.  Our job is to make them comfortable until inevitable death occurs.  And as only a oncall RN you are the rescue in the middle of the night, weekend, and holidays, which was so very rewarding but at the same time not many "good calls" or "good visits" occur during those hours.  So I missed the daily, weekly visits and bonding with the patients and the families and was only getting to deal with the death part of the process. Very sad at times.

I've invented a new approach to managing the spread of germs & viruses without the need for chemicals. It's called a Coughy Cup dot com. It captures, contains & filters 99% of the germs & viruses from coughing. What do you think for your profession?

Asked by John Delatorre about 11 years ago

This is very interesting.  That is hard to answer because I am not familiar with this invention or how it is used.  A hospice patient, at a certain point would not be able to use the device, depending on how it is used.  The reasons being weakness, disorientation, and eventually a comatose state.  However, it probably would be a wonderful thing to present from a caregiver standpoint. Normally hospice patients in the end state are not going to catch "bugs" etc and normally at this point it is of no concern.  I know that sounds horrible but what I mean is, at the point of inevitable pending death and as it nears, the focus is NOT whether or not they catch a cold or anything else, it is to have loved ones around and proper palliative care to ensure a peaceful passing.  Make sense? BUT if you wanted to present that to hospice companies, try the approach for the hospice patient that is alert and oriented with lung issues, pneumonia etc to prevent spread to a caregiver and present it to suggest to caregivers.  Also I would suggest to promote it for the employees, especially your CNAs that spend MORE time with the patients and families due to the job they do.  It is more up close for more time due to bathing the patient etc.  We all know we cannot call in everytime we have a simple cough or cold and this could easily be a good thing to be utilized by hospice providers to prevent spread of "bugs" to a patient.  Use the phrase, to prevent facilitating the dying process secondary to spread of germs and infecting your patients. :)) hope this is helpful to you.  Also I am a Multiple Sclerosis sufferer, our treatments break down our immune system and almost every single thing we come into contact with makes us sick.  Present this invention to doctors that treat patients with autoimmune disease and cancer.  Reasons, chemo and medications for autoimmune disease break down the immune system. Best of luck with this :)

I had to come back and edit this answer because if you could later come up with an idea to push for chronic lungers etc that cough even while comatose, a gadget that can be utilized for them, almost like an oxygen mask with a filter or whatever you use in the cup in a bag? Like an ambu bag? Just FYI I am no inventor haha Just hospice nurse ;)

What do you do if you realize that your hospice patient's pain meds are getting stolen by family members?

Asked by chad almost 12 years ago

Oh my, it happens so frequently.  As protocol we get the Social Worker involved and meet with the family.  We can choose to report to authorities but normally, unless it is a major issue and habitual, we opt not to have others involved.  The reason is because the last thing a dying person needs is chaos and drama.  They do not need to have loved ones being shipped off to jail during the dying process.  One company I worked for we would remove all narcotics etc from the home and an on call nurse HAD to make visit each time the patient needed medications.  I have had to resort to a pain pump in the past to prevent such.  Also the transdermal patches help because it is quiet difficult to turn a patient and remove a patch for self gratification.  I placed the patch on my patient normally on the backside somewhere and initialed and dated it.  Also I always always make the families aware that I monitor my patients' medications each visit and count them.  The patches normally are five to a box and I monitored those as well. Sorry for the delay I have been dealing with my MS and treatments.

So a friend of mine used to work at a hospice and now another friends father is there. The friend that worked there said the nurses leave meds out and has pics she also said they throw used needles in the dumpster and hide them when inspectors come.

Asked by curious over 10 years ago

When I worked we had in services constantly to ensure compliance with state! All hospices or any medical field must provide info on how to report non compliance! I am not sure of how to ensure you get to the correct people without possibly checking that particular companys website. But there is a link 

Have you ever had several family members wanting different things for the patient? How did you deal with this and how did they come to an agreement?

Asked by 12ac over 10 years ago

I can't decide if hospice is right for me, I love the idea of helping people and I know all that hospice care does thats what I want to do but I don't know I just can't make a final decision. any advise?

Asked by haley123 over 6 years ago

hello,
My mother in law has been under hospice care for almost 3 years for last stage dementia. Weighs 70lbs & in fetal position. She is feed a pureed diet by mouth (3yrs) Can we request to stop food and/or fluids to let her pass?

Asked by sbjjmom over 10 years ago

Do high doses of pain meds hasten death? My mom has bone cancer, and they’ve just increased her Fentayl patch dose to 200 mg. She was on one 100 mg patch, and had trouble staying awake then, now it’s double.

Asked by Missy over 4 years ago

Do respirators really make COVID worse?

Asked by df over 4 years ago

In what circumstances can encephalopathy be used as the primary terminal hospice diagnosis?

Asked by Melissa over 10 years ago

A friend of mine had cancer and just a few hours before he lashed he wanted pushed what could that have meant? My friends wife did get behind him in bed and push on his back and he let out a deep breath

Asked by Lilsis02 almost 8 years ago

what's the day to day like?

Asked by Ashley Hudgins over 10 years ago

The ALS patient, close to locked-in status, is having vivid dreams of departed loved ones, colors never before seen, sailing among the stars. Does this indicate death is close, or could it still be months away?Yes all are different but ballpark?

Asked by Grace over 10 years ago

My mother (with dementia) was given morphine and developed air hunger, which continued until her last breath, despite more morphine. It is really possible that air hunger with morphine is not painful? As a witness, I found that hard to believe.

Asked by Jackie about 6 years ago

Hi, my grandpa has alzheimers and he has caused grandma to have heart attack from stress. He is too much to handle. Should we do hospice once a day to help her or a nursing home? What do you recommend?

Asked by LouLou123 almost 9 years ago

Can a patient who is unable to swallow be kept comfortable without food or fluid while dying? How?

Asked by Ken almost 8 years ago

How do you feel about the work you do? What do you think about the dying process? What do you think about death? What do you think about the final disposition of a body? (For my death/dying class)

Asked by Kelsey over 10 years ago

I have zero med/surg experience, but am a great psych nurse. I am very effective at communicating with, educating, empowering, and soothing people in distress, What will it take for me, with zero med/surg experience, to become a hospice nurse?

Asked by Matt Marcus over 4 years ago

How do you know if you are called to do Hospice nursing?

Asked by ZL over 10 years ago

My mom has been suffering with extreme pruritus for over 4 months. The condition lasts all day and interrupts her sleep all night. It seems that we have tried every method, lotion and cream known to man. What can we do?

Asked by Shelly over 6 years ago

my mom had Alzheimers. She had not spoken or moved in years and her eyes barely opened. In the moment before her death, she suddenly opened her eyes as wide as I've ever seen then 2painful grimaces and final jerk and grimace. Why..what happened?

Asked by jj almost 8 years ago

Hello a loved one of mine is dying of brain cancer. Could you please tell me how exactly does brain cancer kill? I know a stroke can happen or bleeding on the brain. What else?
Thanks

Asked by danielle.paparone@outlook.co over 8 years ago

We were at my dads bedside as he took his last breath and right after he took his last breath, he got red in the face and a brief distressed expression appeared then disappeared as the redness went away. It has always disturbed me.

Asked by Renae about 9 years ago

You probably get asked this all the time, do people pass easier when they're given "permission" to go?

Asked by The bus driver about 5 years ago

Hi there, would a hydration iv help my Mom feel a little better and help her organs...blood pressure etc? She is drinking very little.

Thank you

Asked by Christine Clark about 5 years ago

Curious if being made dehydrated and then dying of acute morphine/lorazapham intoxication is the death cult you work for idea of dying with dignity ?

Asked by orphaned daughter over 10 years ago