“People intentionally choose to become nurses to help patients meet their health needs,” even when the patient is dying. (Wu and Volker, 2012) Hospice nursing and palliative care nursing are both considered end-of-life care. However, hospice nursing care is typically provided to patients who have a terminal illness and have less than six months to live. Palliative care is typically provided to patients with a life-threatening illness and serves to improve the patient's quality of life. Choosing a career as a hospice or palliative care nurse can be extremely difficult, but will provide an opportunity for great personal growth. Sometimes a caregiver at the end of life may feel responsible for their patient's death or feel isolated due to a lack of support. Nurses new to this field should “feel that their unit recognizes death as a difficult event and that discussing death is acceptable in the workplace.” (Lewis, 2013) The most rewarding, yet most challenging, aspect of being a hospice or hospice nurse is the ability to be a part of your patient and family's lives, including his loss, his grief and his death. (Wu and Volker, 2012) Role and Responsibilities of End-of-Life Nurses The primary goal of the end-of-life nurse is to provide comfort and compassion to patients and their families during an extremely difficult time. They must meet all the “physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs” of the patient and their family. (Wu and Volker, 2012) The nurse involves their patient in planning care and informs them of the options available. They must follow the wishes of the patient and their family, as provided for in the patient's advance directives if one exists. It's in the middle of a sheet of paper......QuotedCandidate Handbook. (2013). National Certificate Board for Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses. Accessed November 23, 2013 from http://www.nbchpn.org/Ferguson. (2009). Career in focus. (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Ferguson. Green, P. (1984). The central role of the nurse in palliative care. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 34(4), 204-205. Lewis, K. (2013). How nurses can facilitate patients' transition to end-of-life care. Nursing Older People, 25(8), 22-26.Wood, D. (2012, November - December). Palliative care providers are increasing in number and strengthening services. Leading Age Magazine, 2. Accessed November 23, 2013, from http://www.leadingage.org/Hospice_Providers_Increasing_in_Number_Boosting_Services_V2N6.aspx#.UpDl81nH1_Q.emailWu, H. and Volker, DL (2012). Humanistic theory of nursing: application to palliative care. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(2), 471-479.