Final Moments: Nurses' Stories about Death and Dying »

Deborah Witt Sherman, PhD, APRN, ANP, PCM, BC, FAAN, is an associate professor with tenure in the Division of Nursing at New York University where she is the program coordinator of the first nurse practitioner palliative care master's program in the United States. The program helps to prepare nurse practitioners to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to individuals and families who are living with or dying from an incurable, progressive illness. Dr. Sherman's background in critical care nursing, hospice nursing, and her certification as an adult nurse practitioner, as well as her research focus on populations with life threatening and terminal illness, are foundational to her expertise and commitment to palliative care. Dr. Sherman is coauthor of the award-winning textbook, Palliative Care Nursing.

What was it like the first time a nurse witnessed death? How do nurses cope with death when it becomes almost routine? What lessons can we learn from their experiences?

Twenty-five nurses—from hospitals, private practices, and in home health care—tell about their experiences with death. Hear from people new to the field as well as those who have been in nursing for decades about how they deal with grief, the controversies about end-of-life decisions, the challenges of caring for people as they die, and the harrowing experience of telling their family members.

Edited and introduced by a registered nurse, the book is a resource for both nurses and anyone who wants to better understands death and dying.

Introduction ix

As My Aunt, the Nurse, Lay Dying Madeleine Mysko, RN 1

House Call Cortney Davis, MA, RN VC, APRN 7

God Bless the Child Cara Muhlhahn, CNM 13

The Changing of the Seasons Terry Ratner, RN, MFA 25

Sayonara Lucy May J. Colegado, RN 31

Tender Mercy Adrienne Zurub, RN, MA, CNOR 35

It Doesn't Have to Hurt Susan Riker Dolan, RN, JD Audrey Riker Vizzard, RN, EdD 47

Never Too Late Rachel Shinabarger, RN 55

A Nurse's Recovery from Grief Keith Carlson, RN 59

She Inspired Me Irma Velasquez-Kressner, RNC 69

Lessons from Our Patients Karen Kupsco, RN, CHPN 77

Mel's Story Pato Cog, RN 83

First Baby Kathy Ingallinera, RN 95

Caring for Mr. B Nkiru Onyenwe Okammor 105

An End to the Madness Emily McGee, RN 109

Wicked Codes Karen Klein, RN, BSN, CEN 115

There Are No Coincidences Patrice Piretti, RN-C 123

Defining Moments Lisa Affatato, RN-BC 129

Pearls Sarah Burns, RN 133

He's Coming Mary DeLisle-Berry, RN 139

First Night Cortney Davis, MA, RNC, APRN 145

Whistle Over the Rainbow Patricia Coates Kavanaugh, RN 153

The First Patient Anne Webster, RN 157

Combing Her Hair Mary DeLisle-Berry, RN 163

It's Heaven I See Angela Posey-Arnold, RN, BSN 169

Fatal Catheter Patrick D. Colwell, RN 175

Carol Geraldine Gorman, RN, PhD 187

Susie's Story Linda L. Lindeke, PhD, RN, CNP 199

The Longest Watch Bonnie Jarvis-Lowe, RN 201

Acknowledgment of Permissions 205

Reader's Guide 207

About the Editor 211

About the Contributors 213