Introduction:

1. What is your name?
Caregiver group

2. Which hospice do you work for?
Hospice Kimberley

3. What do you do there?
Nursing

In-depth:

1. Why did you decide to focus on palliative care?
I liked the holistic approach, while keeping patients pain free and comfortable.

2. What gives you the greatest fulfilment?
Home based care is very fulfilling, while ensuring we adhere to the standards outlined in Integrated Practice Units, which allows us to give the best end of life care.

3. What do you find the most challenging?
Home based care can also have its challenges and seeing the deterioration of patients and family stress, can also take a toll on us.

4. What do you think people find the most challenging about a life-threatening diagnosis?
Fear of death and informing the family is a very daunting task.

5. What do you think that you personally bring to your job that reflects who you are as a person?
General communication and empathy.

6. How do you take care of your own health and balance?
Have a healthy lifestyle and have bereavement counselling when necessary.

7. What is your advice to anyone else wishing to join your profession?
To have good caring skills and a strong commitment to palliative care.

8. What is your advice to anyone given a life-threatening diagnosis?
Listen and encourage patients to voice their concerns, and provide them with empathy and patience.

9. What is your advice to the loved ones of anyone who is given a life-threatening diagnosis?
Encourage them to speak about their problems. Give support and advice as much as possible while being patient. Also ask what they can do to alleviate the pain they are experiencing.

10. How do your loved ones feel about the work that you do?
They worry about our safety, yet proud and grateful for the work that we do.

11. What do you like the most about the hospice that you work with?
Getting our salary on time, good communication with our superior and keeping patients pain free and comfortable.

12. Do you have a “motto” that you tend to live by that you would like to share?
“Patients first – treat them all as if they are family”.