Hospice nurse praised for how she reacts when patients see dead relatives in their final moments
A hospice nurse has been praised for how she reacts to patients who believe they are seeing deceased relatives.
Thinking about death is a terrifying prospect for most people, which means the perspectives of people who regularly work with or around death can be particularly valuable in easing anxieties about our final moments on Earth.
One content creator who regularly talks about death is Hadley Vlahos, who goes by @nurse.hadley on social media and has built a sizeable following by sharing candid content about death and end-of-life care.
In a recent video, Hadley touched on the phenomena that people who are close to death often experience visions of loved ones who have passed away.
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In a POV clip uploaded to YouTube, Hadley revealed how she'd deal with a patient who was experiencing visions by reassuring and comforting them, rather then telling them it was all in their head.
"I don't [see them] but I believe you," she responded when asked if she could see the vision as well.
Viewers were touched by Hadley's empathetic approach and praising her for not shutting down an experience which would feel very real to a patient.
"I work in healthcare and when they see others that have passed on, it warms my soul because I know they aren't alone," one person wrote, while another added: "This is what compassionate hospice work looks like. The world needs more people like you. Thank you for easing the transition."
Meanwhile, others were also quick to share their experiences of dying relatives seeing visions of deceased family members.
"My grandad woke up from a nap in his chair to see my gran standing in front of him smiling," they wrote. "A week later he passed away. They were married for 65 years."
"You never die alone! There will always be someday helping you cross over," a fourth added.
Hadley's experience in working in palliative care has also inspired her to write a New York Times best seller book on her experiences titled The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments which details how working around death has changed her outlook on life.
She has spoken openly about the regrets which patients nearing the end of their lives often mention, with common topics being focusing too much on material wants in life or not telling loved ones how much you care for them.
"A lot of people feel like they don't know their kids at all," she explained, via the MailOnline.
"[They realise] what they thought were necessities weren't actually necessities. Maybe they could have worked 40 hours instead of 60."
Brenna Cooper