This hospice program has provided the perfect pre-medical experience to learn more about end-of-life care and has confirmed my aspirations of working in medicine. Through the video module training, group reflections, and biweekly prompts, I have been able to learn so much about hospice care and what it means to be nearing the end of one’s life. As a result, I have gained a great appreciation for the importance of geriatrics and end-of-life care, as well as a better understanding of how people truly view death.
The initial training inspired me to read Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal, which taught me so much about what truly matters to people who are reaching the end of their life and how nursing homes shape such an experience. The author highlights the importance of overcoming the fear of death and focusing more on comfort and happiness as one grows old, two critical components of hospice care. I have further utilized his research and advice about end-of-life care in many of my papers at school and have incorporated what I have learned through this program in my medical and ethics-related classes.
One of Gawande’s major points in his work is the importance of learning about geriatrics and end-of-life care in medical school, which often overlooks this crucial part of life. I agree with this statement and feel as though this hospice program is the perfect preparation for medical school, which may not always offer courses regarding geriatrics and hospice care. This program highlights the values of comfort and companionship, which are crucial to working with the elderly or people who are facing death. As technology and medicine rapidly advance, there is a common misconception that it can cure anything and prolong life for anyone, creating a more intense fear of death. However, if medical professionals shift their focus from prolonging life regardless of how it may impact the patient’s quality of life to appreciating the patient’s need for comfort and happiness, the fear of death can be mitigated.
Over the course of the year, I have worked with only one patient. Because of my previous experience working at a nursing home with dementia patients, I was well-prepared to communicate with my patient, who also had dementia. However, working with her each week improved my communication even further and made me more comfortable with working with end-of-life patients. I learned the importance of companionship and looked forward to spending time with her each week so she would not be alone. I could feel the happiness I brought her, which made me even more inspired to work with patients like her in the future. I could see the change I was making in her day, which was a very rewarding feeling that I hope to continue experiencing through my future work in the medical field.
My hospice work has confirmed my aspirations of working in medicine and has inspired me to look into hospice programs near my house so I can continue working with end-of-life patients over the summer. I would like to make hospice volunteering part of my 100-hour service project for my health care ethics concentration at Villanova University. I have become passionate about the values that hospice programs uphold, and I would like to incorporate the importance of comfort, companionship, and dignity into my future career as a health care professional.