You are here:
I can give suggestions, encouragement and direction on what hospice is and is not, when it is appropriate, and how to go about getting it. I am familiar with Medicaid and Medicare hospice benefits. I can answer general questions about disease process, what dying looks like, how hospice handles pain and other symptoms, what to expect from a hospice when end of life nears. I can provide support, direction and encouragement related to spiritual matters and psychological matters related to death and dying.
I am a certified hospice and palliative care nurse, and have been the director of nurses for three hospice centers, under two different companies. I have also worked as a contract hospice nurse for a large American hospice company. On a personal level, my father died without benefit of hospice (it was not popular then). I have taken care of dying patients in hospitals and recognize that for most of us, it is preferable to die at home (or in our residence, wherever that may be), comfortably and without anxiety. Also I had no support when my father died; hospice clients are the whole family (however that is defined by the "patient"), and support is provided at least a year after the patient passes. These are the sorts of things (and probably others) that I can help with.
HPNA (Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association)
none yet
Registered Nurse (TX), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (TX) ADN Nursing, Excelsior College, Albany, New York (2004) 4.0 GPA BA, Psychology (minor Social Work), Oklahoma University, Norman, OK (1986) 3.67 GPA MHR (MA) Human Relations, Oklahoma University, Norman, OK (1988) 3.5 GPA
Phi Beta Kappa (and others)
Unable to name as this would violate their privacy (and HIPAA....)
| User | Date | K | C | P | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brenda | 05/19/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you so much for your thorough ..... |
| Lynn | 04/27/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you so so much you reply ..... |
| Elizabeth | 04/24/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Christine, thank you so much. You not ..... |
| Nancy | 03/25/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you so much for your quick ..... |
| Katy | 03/22/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Can't I rate Christine higher than a ..... |
Hi, Brenda--I'm so sorry you all are dealing with this now. It's a lot to have developing all at once! I am no expert on military benefits, but if you call your local VA (or, if you cannot get through
Good morning--I am so sorry that your Mum is having these difficulties. I do need to tell you, I'm not a doctor. I am a registered nurse with some experience in hospice care and issues surrounding
Hi again, Lynn-- Thank you for answering me so quickly! Overwhelming infection often is what eventually takes the lives of patients with endstage Alzheimer's disease, so I am not surprised that she
Hi, Lynn-- Thank you for writing to me about your mother's situation. I need to ask for clarification, though. By "final stages of AZ," do you mean the final stages of Alzheimer's disease? If
Dear Nancy: Thank you for writing. I'm sorry your mother is so ill, but glad you are so actively involved in her care. Benzodiazepines are given to dying people because dying (and the effects of

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.