Have you ever volunteered at a hospice? What was it like?

Answer 1

I volunteered before I started My nursing career. Ask Yourself, "Why do I want to do this?" It has been My experience that most people who volunteer to work at an Hospice will only be doing the most general of duties: bed-making, transfers of wheel-chair bound patients, some cleaning, and the feeding of those not now capable of doing so for themselves, reading and letter writing, etc.
I trained as an hospice nurse (Paliative Care), and whilst it is a very special field of care it is not for everyone. Do You realise that You will a working with those who have no future, very little chance of enjoyment of their quality of life, and are often on the last vestages of Their self-respect. It takes a special breed of person to handle the environment. By all means try it, but don't make a comitment to any institution unless You are prepared to fulfil Your end of the bargain.
On a brighter note You can feel a truely rich and rewarding sence of having done something for someone. The most "beautiful" wedding I ever participated in was between the Daughter of one of my terminally ill clients and Her fiance. The Mother was unconscious on life support throughout the service the Brides maids and Attendants were all members of nursing/clerical/cleaning staff. The Bride wore shorts and a T shirt the Groom stubbies and a singlet (they had been to the beach when they got the final call) and I (Male nurse) was matron of honor. The Mother died that night, but at least She was there for Her girl's wedding. So You see, there are moments that make it worth the saddness. There is an adage that states "Nobody Dies Alone" and that is what the nursing staff are there for. I hope that this will give You something to think about.