End of Life Discussions - part 2

Hi,
After some serious thinking and evaluating myself, I decided to shadow my hospitals palliative care team. The team consists of a nurse practitioner, social worker, chaplain, and physician. Each team member is specially trained in palliative care services/comfort care. They also discuss end-of-life issues and develop treatment plans. Many times as a Case manager I consulted them to see some of my patients. However, I never realized how significant and detrimental their input is for patients and families. As a nursing student, I remember we had a chapter or two regarding the end of life decisions, hospice, and palliative care. However, I do not feel that I was adequately prepared for the seriousness of these topics.                                                       

I believe that I made a right decision and spend some quality time with the palliative care team. The palliative care team certainly taught me on affirming the life and looking at dying as a normal process. I guess as a nurse I always want my patients to get better, and go home. I just needed to accept that at times that is not possible... 

I am curious to know how my fellow nurses deal with the end of life discussions. 

Any thoughts???

End of Life Discussions

I had several patients lately that were blindsided with the new terminal diagnosis. Up to this hospital stay, they were happy, supposedly healthy and worry-free people. In just a few days their life changed, and their life expectancy was only a few months! I found myself in a dilemma about discussing my own mortality with my parents and children. I questioned myself about what are my "last wishes"?
What surprised me the most it was how I felt uncomfortable discussing death and terminal diagnosis with my patients and families. I never had official palliative or hospice training. I realized I need to get "better acquainted" with this topic that no one seems to like talking about.
I wanted to know what my parents wish and what life-saving measures they wish to pursue.
Wow, what a challenging task that was. First, my dad, who is 82 years old stated,"It is too early for me to think about it!!!!" He declined to even say word "death." I found that very strange..... 😳
On the other hand, my mother who happened to be 15 years younger, at the ripe age of 68 was ready to make final arrangements and was very open about talking about the "end of life decisions."

It made me more aware of how individuals view discussions about death and final arrangements. It appears like we plan the birthdays, baby showers, weddings, graduations, and then we never plan funerals. No, maybe I said it wrong! Majority of people do not plan  "funerals. "
What do you think?