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???