Palliative and hospice care nurses provide care for those who are the end of their lives. They are there for the final transition and use an entire array of medical knowledge and tools, skills, compassion, and life experiences to help in the best ways they can. Hospice and palliative care nurses strive to make patients as comfortable as possible both physically and emotionally. As their physical bodies shut down, these nurses can use a combination of medication, music, talk, touch, and companionship to make the process something the patient is comfortable with.
While many find the end-of-life stage difficult to cope with, these nurses often consider it a supreme privilege to be present during someone's last days. Nurses often develop deep connections with these patients as they try to meet their wishes and help them die with a sense of dignity and control. They also become close to families and even provide guidance and education to help families cope and to make them feel like they can take an active part in offering comfort and acceptance.