The old adage "meeting of the minds" is always an exciting and motivating experience. I only wish that every healthcare provider could share this type of encounter in his or her professional career. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to meet Renee almost 20 years ago when we were both assigned to...

Not until I had experienced my own mother's illness and death did I appreciate the complexity of end-of-life decision making. As an oncology nurse practitioner, I had been trained in advance directives. I understood the importance and why they were needed. However, my own family's experience taught...

Background: The palliative care needs of hospitalized patients often go unmet, resulting in unrelieved symptoms and a lack of understanding about advance care planning. Objectives: This article analyzes the 10-item Palliative Assessment Screening Tool (PAST) to determine if the PAST aids in the...

Purpose: Healthcare providers who are involved in the care of patients at the end of life are at risk of developing compassion fatigue, a condition characterized by emotional exhaustion and reduced professional engagement. Research has shown that development of a meditation practice can modify...