Hadley Vlahos

On the whole, I found this book quite irritating. I'm sure (I guess) she's a very good nurse, though a few lessons might be helpful: 1) As a hospice nurse, you'll burn out way too quickly if you're so over-invested in your patients that the family is afraid to call you about a death because they're afraid you won't be able to deal with it. 2) Be very careful about all the criticism of your superiors and other nurses. You portray yourself as the only good health-care professional in your organization. I don't believe it. 3),(though this may be a little harsh) stick with nursing. The writing here is juvenile, almost amateurish.

I also had a hard time believing all the stories. I was a hospice volunteer for many years, and I just don't believe that all those almost supernatural experiences appeared just in time for each of your chapters. And a hospice patient actually cured your eating disorder?… (altro)

This is an interesting balance between the author's personal life and career development with her experiences in assisting twelve of her patients in their final days. It avoids religion (happily for this reader!) but alerts us to certain commonalities as death draws nigh, especially the visits from deceased family member who seem to appear to offer reassurance and guidance. There's also the mysterious timing of the drawing of last breaths. This career seems to require unusual skills of both empathy and ability to keep a bit apart. Hadley seems like a fine practitioner and a persuasive writer.… (altro)