Introduction:

1. What is your name?
Charmaine Mhlanzi

2. Which hospice do you work for?
Highway Hospice

3. What do you do there?
Homecare Palliative Nurse

4. How long have you been there?
2 years

In-depth:

1. Why did you decide to focus on palliative care?
After taking care of a cancer relative, I was drawn into the field and started volunteering at Highway Hospice.

2. What gives you the greatest fulfilment?
When a patient’s family comes back and tells me “thank you for caring.”

3. What do you find the most challenging?
– Some of the areas I cover are difficult to access, no addresses or proper signage.
– Some areas are not safe due to violence in areas, and our general safety.

4. What do you think people find the most challenging about a life-threatening diagnosis?
Accepting the diagnosis, accepting that there is nothing they can do to help the disease go away or get better.

5. What do you think that you personally bring to your job that reflects who you are as a person?
My patience.

6. How do you take care of your own health and balance?
– I have my baking which helps.
– I go for walks and I find solace in prayer.

7. What is your advice to anyone else wishing to join your profession?
If you feel patient and compassionate about caring for people with life threatening diseases, then consider it.

8. What is your advice to anyone given a life-threatening diagnosis?
You are not your diagnosis and with proper support and medication, life quality can be bearable.

9. What is your advice to the loved ones of anyone who is given a life-threatening diagnosis?
More than medication, they need to support them and try to be a little patient if things don’t go as they planned, and always ask for help.

10. How do your loved ones feel about the work that you do?
They appreciate me more for giving myself to caring for others in their time of need.

11. What do you like the most about the hospice that you work with?
The nurses support and advise each other about cases.

12. Do you have a “motto” that you tend to live by that you would like to share?
Treat others as you would like them to treat you.