With the end in mind.. wow *possible trigger death*

[NewYoiker]

Well full disclosure I am a nurse but I don't work with people who are dying, I work in theatres and my patients are all asleep.

This book is absolutely amazing. I've Been reading it for the last couple of days and it is so thoughtful and so well put together. It has completely changed my take on dying and end of life care. As a nurse I can hand on heart say that if I change jobs and work with people at the end of their life I hope that now I will be more open about the process.

It is not a 'fun' read but I think it should be compulsory reading for everyone but the writer writes with total compassion and humour. Dying happens to us all and having a more rounded understanding can help take the fear away.

I have to admit it allowed me to assess how my dad died when I was 12. In my head I had thought because it was fast and although not unexpected it was too fast to get anyone out to give any medication etc. But having read this book I'm happy that in no way was he in any pain. I can't really explain how this book has made me feel but it's definitely changed me.

Don't really know why I've posted this but I hope one more person will read it

. Just me then

I'll need to look for this, I was a theatre just for about 8 years and moved to critical care 2 years ago. I had one death in theatre and have had A LOT more now. I'm very interested in end of life care, especially within critical care.

@April241 it's honestly amazing. I know a couple of non medics who have read it as well and they had the same reaction I did. It's just an amazing book.

She also goes into detail the role CBT can play, with regards to the patient and fear etc. We don't explain to relatives in enough detail to process of dying I don't think.

I agree, I'm very honest with my patients and their families about what I know but I see people skirt around the inevitable. I've seen patients deteriorate very quickly and the family are totally in shock because despite me giving them all the info they haven't taken it in because the Dr hasn't been quite as open.

I heard the author on Radio 4 recently and meant to order this. She sounded fabulous, as did the book. Thank you for the reminder.

But having read this book I'm happy that in no way was he in any pain.*

I don’t mean to disrupt this belief but how do you know. I dealt with many patients who died over a 30 year career as a medico and unfortunately this is not always the case whether it be sudden or anticipated. While this is the ideal it just doesn’t always play out like that. Haven’t read the book so don’t know the exact message it is sending in this regard?

I was with my mum hen she died in hospital last month and the honesty and openness of staff was quite varied. Consultant was quite honest but the junior doctors had to ask a grown up before any information was given. The ward nurse was the best and was very informative. The Physio’s clearly didn’t know a damn thing as they offered barely conscious mum who was on a syringe driver Physio two days before she died.

Meant to say I intend to read the book but not just yet.

I'd like to read this. I read Atul Gawande's 'Being Mortal' a few years ago and found that really interesting and thought provoking. This one is on my list!