Introduction:

1. What is your name?
Cindy Stirk

2. Which hospice do you work for?
St Francis Hospice

3. What do you do there?
Home Care Nurse

4. How long have you been there?
Two Months

In-depth:

1. Why did you decide to focus on palliative care?
I have always had an interest in working with oncology patients.

2. What gives you the greatest fulfilment?
Interacting with patients and their families and assisting with any of their needs.

3. What do you find the most challenging?
Keeping my emotions in check during the difficult process the patients are going through.

4. What do you think people find the most challenging about a life-threatening diagnosis?
Fear of the unknown.

5. What do you think that you personally bring to your job that reflects who you are as a person?
Empathy for my patients and family.

6. How do you take care of your own health and balance?
Trying to act sensibly and drinking lots of water during the day.

7. What is your advice to anyone else wishing to join your profession?
You have to be caring and have patience.

8. What is your advice to anyone given a life-threatening diagnosis?
Keep your faith and accept each day as it comes.

9. What is your advice to the loved ones of anyone who is given a life-threatening diagnosis?
To be understanding and supportive.

10. How do your loved ones feel about the work that you do?
They are very supportive and understanding.

11. What do you like the most about the hospice that you work with?
Support from all the staff.

12. Do you have a “motto” that you tend to live by that you would like to share?
Yesterday is gone you will never find it tomorrow is unknown but today is here live it make the most of it.