Navigating the Inevitable: An InstaLive Conversation with Nurse Julie on Embracing Death and Grief
In a recent InstaLive session, I had the pleasure of discussing one of life’s most profound experiences – death – with hospice nurse Julie. Known fondly as Hospice Nurse Julie, she has recently authored a book titled "Nothing to Fear," which has already made it onto the New York Times bestseller list. Our shared objective is importance of normalizing death and the significant impact it has on how we live our lives.
Introducing Death into Conversation
Death is a subject that is often avoided due to its inevitable and terrifying nature. However, Julie passionately advocates for bringing it into daily discussions on her instagram.She says that conversations about death can remove the fear and allow us to live more fully. Julie's mission is to educate and normalize death, much like we prepare for other milestones in life like a birth or marriage.
During our chat, Julie shared her personal journey – from being an ICU nurse to becoming a hospice nurse. She spoke of the emotional toll in the ICU, where despite efforts to prolong life, the reality of death often remained. Transitioning to hospice care, Julie found a way to help patients and families cope more constructively with the inevitability of death.
Julie's Approach and Her Book, "Nothing to Fear"
"Nothing to Fear" is more than just a book. It’s a guide that offers practical advice and emotional support for anyone facing death – their own or that of a loved one. It’s a book i wish I had when my own Dad was dying 18 months ago.Julie’s personal stories from her experiences as a hospice nurse provide such valuable insights into the delicate process of dying and the importance of preparation.
I loved doing such a spontaneous chat with Julie about a subject I am very interested in. Hope you enjoy this live conversation as much as I did !
Amanda X
P.s- Anyone else notice that it sounds like a have a lisp in this interview? I do not but apparently do for this one !
Julie’s Book - Nothing to Fear .
Embracing Mortality:The Conversation Live on Death, Dying, and Finding Peace.