How Hospice Became My Life’s Purpose

by Sherron Dotson-Sowell

Sherron-(1).jpgThe following piece was featured in the most recent publication of Career + Lifestyle Magazine.

Hospice work is my life’s purpose: serving and supporting others with dignity, grace and love at one of the most vulnerable times in life. There is a story about how I began living out my life’s purpose nearly 10 years ago: the day I first began working as a hospice nurse.

Life can lead us in some unexpected directions. My career journey is no exception. The road I traveled to eventually become a hospice nurse is an interesting one. I took care of my grandparents all of my life. Caring for them shaped who I am and why I care for all of my patients with so much passion. Both grandparents were Diabetics. My grandmother had a Peg tube, a device that can be used to administer medications and liquids, including liquid food known as enteral nutrition. The lower portion of her leg was amputated, so I changed her wound dressings, assisted with physical therapy and helped monitor blood glucose levels for both of my grandparents.

Caring about their health led me to be interested in the health and wellness field in general. As a result, I soon become a Certified Fitness Instructor, teaching health, wellness and Aerobic line dance classes at Tri-C and in our communities before going on to earn my degree as a Registered Nurse at the historic Huron School of Nursing in Cleveland.

As a side note, a career achievement unrelated to the nursing or health and wellness fields occurred when I was employed as an interior designer at Ethan Allen Interiors. I was humbled to earn their coveted “National Rookie of the Year Award” from a field of 2,500 of my peers. It was an honor to be the company's first African American woman to achieve this level of success.

Today, I am proud and honored to work as a Registered Nurse at David Simpson Hospice House, one of four inpatient hospice units (IPUs) owned and operated by Hospice of the Western Reserve. The 40-suite facility is located at the foot of E. 185th St. in Cleveland nestled along the shores of Lake Erie. The grounds feature spectacular gardens and views of nature for patients and families to enjoy. The sunrises and sunsets are stunning!

Our IPUs are homelike settings that provide short-term symptom management and care for patients in our community who are referred to us from their hospice home care team, hospital or nursing facility. When a loved one needs intensive 24/7 care to manage pain or the symptoms of their advanced illness, we provide state-of-the-art support. Lab monitoring and pharmacy services are provided around the clock. Our care incorporates ongoing emotional and spiritual support to patients and family members.

Whenever possible, our goal is to manage a patient’s symptoms in a brief time so they can return to whatever location they call home to continue their care there. This can often occur in a matter of days. We also provide care for the final days of life and respite care to give family caregivers a short-term break from their caregiving duties in the home setting.

My role as a hospice nurse is one of care and compassion, supporting the needs and concerns of our patients and their families. As a nurse, I am the frontline caregiver. My role includes admitting patients, providing assessments, taking vitals, obtaining and transcribing orders, documenting plans of care, administering medications and implementing safety measures for patients. As an IPU nurse, I report any updates or changes in condition to the patient, their family and the IPU medical team.

Care is provided by a team of specialists working together: a team leader, physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, nursing assistant, social worker, spiritual care/bereavement coordinator and dietary aide. A unique benefit is that the entire team is housed on-site. A specific plan of care is developed for each patient/family. Ongoing communication is shared via daily rounds and weekly team meetings.

As a hospice nurse, I am honored to support our patients and families in their time of need. I pray my compassion shines through and radiates hope, peace, comfort and joy from my heart to yours as you embark on a sometimes tumultuous, scary, difficult and challenging journey known as the end of life. I'm grateful to work for Hospice of the Western Reserve knowing that I'm walking in my gift or purpose. It’s a true blessing.
 

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Northern Ohio's Hospice of Choice

More than 1,000 Hospice of the Western Reserve employees and 3,000 volunteers live and work side-by-side in the same neighborhoods with our patients and families. We are privileged to have cared for more than 100,000 Northern Ohioans since our inception.