Introduction:

1. What is your name?
Maggie Govender

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

3. What do you do there?
Palliative Care Nurse

4. How long have you been there?
Since July 2017

In-depth:

1. Why did you decide to focus on palliative care?
It is a privilege to walk beside patients, families and carers with compassion and kindness.

2. What gives you the greatest fulfilment?
Supporting patients and their families. Ensuring that the patient is pain free and comfortable until the end. Taking care of them in their home environment surrounded by loved ones.

3. What do you find the most challenging?
Caring for patients with young children, and providing care and support to children and young adults.

4. What do you think people find the most challenging about a life-threatening diagnosis?
Adapting and adjusting to physical deterioration takes time but is easier than acceptance. Up until the end, patients and families have hope.

5. What do you think that you personally bring to your job that reflects who you are as a person?
Listening, caring, kindness and compassion. A non-judgemental attitude.

6. How do you take care of your own health and balance?
Exercising, massages, meditation, cooking and baking, gardening, spending time with family and friends.

7. What is your advice to anyone else wishing to join your profession?
It is the most rewarding part of nursing. To be able to see each patient as an individual and unique. Be professional and objective and give of your best.

8. What is your advice to anyone given a life-threatening diagnosis?
To take it one day at a time. Do not dwell on the diagnosis or prognosis. Live every moment. Meet challenges, adapt and adjust to good days and bad days. Tell your story, write letters or journal, and let family know your wishes.

9. What is your advice to the loved ones of anyone who is given a life-threatening diagnosis?
To take it one day at a time. To talk about their memories, unfinished business, also work on forgiveness. Also, consider getting a carer to help avoid burnout.

10. How do your loved ones feel about the work that you do?
They feel I am not well compensated but happy that I am doing humanitarian work and that I am doing what makes me happy.

11. What do you like the most about the hospice that you work with?
Teamwork: Nurses, doctors, oncology, social workers, memory workers, admin, general workers. The various departments are helpful and willing to assist each other when needed.

12. Do you have a “motto” that you tend to live by that you would like to share?
Live every moment as if it were your last. Make every moment count.