'Why I love working in hospice care' - North Devon Hospice

This Hospice Care Week, Community Clinical Team Lead Lin shares why she loves working in hospice care so much…

When I tell people I work at a hospice, some react by asking how I can do what they perceive to be such a ‘sad’ or ‘difficult’ job.

As anyone working in palliative care will know, there are always tough moments, some that will stay with you forever. But having been part of the amazing team at North Devon Hospice for almost nine years now, I can honestly say that it is, without doubt, one of the most rewarding places I’ve ever had the pleasure of working at for so many reasons.

To celebrate Hospice Care Week and shine a light on the vital end-of-life care your support makes possible, I wanted to share just a few of these with you today…

If you talk to anyone working in hospice care, you’ll soon see that we all have our reasons for becoming part of such a special sector.

After caring for both my mum and younger sister through their end-of-life journeys, I decided that if I could do this for my own family members, I could give care to others at what is always the toughest time.

Many of the wonderful people I work with have also had similar experiences and, after losing a loved one, have wanted to help others experience the warm embrace of hospice care at a time when it really does make all the difference.

This shared sense of purpose helps to bring everyone at North Devon Hospice closer together – it really is such a special community to be part of.

To me, those I work with aren’t just colleagues; they’re confidants, friends, and people who help me to be the best version of myself. When I come to work, I count myself lucky to have built such meaningful relationships and I know that whatever the day brings, my team and I will have each other.

Having been a nurse for over 30 years, I’ve worked in a variety of clinical settings but never one as person-centred as the hospice. Our patients and families really are at the heart of what we do and in those last few months, weeks, or days of life, we’ll go above and beyond to help them live every moment. Sometimes, this means organising special events that may otherwise not have happened - milestone birthday parties, long-awaited family gatherings, or even last-minute weddings!

Other times, it’s something much more intimate; preparing a nostalgic meal to bring back memories from childhood. Running a soothing bubble bath to give comfort and relaxation. Playing a piece of music to offer happiness and escape, even just for a little while.

It's moments like these that bring out the best in people - not just our patients but our staff members too. To see the joy and fulfilment that comes naturally when humans care for one another is such a pleasure and something that in my view, defines the world of hospice care. Every single day, I think to myself how privileged I am to be part of it.