Introduction:

1. What is your name?
Iris Geli Ndlovu

2. Which hospice do you work for?
Estcourt Hospice Association

3. What do you do there?
I work as a professional nurse

4. How long have you been there?
5 years

In-depth:

Nurse:
1. Why did you decide to focus on palliative care?
To improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

2. What gives you the greatest fulfilment?
To see a patient being comfortable and pain free.

3. What do you find the most challenging?
My hardest challenge is to explain to relatives about the patients’ prognosis, especially cancer patients.

4. What do you think people find the most challenging about a life-threatening diagnosis?
To come to terms with the disease and their prognosis.

5. What do you think that you personally bring to your job that reflects who you are as a person?
To listen actively and be empathetic, as I see people at the end of their life and I get to see what really matters.

6. How do you take care of your own health and balance?
By doing exercises three times a week and debriefing daily, that brings me relaxation.

7. What is your advice to anyone else wishing to join your profession?
You need to be a humble and passionate person.

8. What is your advice to anyone given a life-threatening diagnosis?
To accept their diagnosis and disclose the status to the family.

9. What is your advice to the loved ones of anyone who is given a life-threatening diagnosis?
To accept the diagnosis and give support holistically.

10. How do your loved ones feel about the work that you do?
They are pleased and appreciate what I offer to the sick.

11. What do you like the most about the hospice that you work with?
Management gives us support at all levels.

12. Do you have a “motto” that you tend to live by that you would like to share?
“With Love We Care”