Dear TRU Nurses,

May 6^th is recognized as National Nurse’s Day, kicking off the beginning of National Nurse’s Week.  The provision of hospice care is first and foremost an interdisciplinary team model of care, as the end-of-life process is so much more than a physical experience. Yet, the physical care of a person during the dying process is often the most visible to the observers.

Some of us have been blessed to be able to perform the art of nursing for 30+ years, some for a handful of years. The one common thread for almost every nurse we have ever met is “I wanted to help people.”  The nursing teams at TRU, TRU Hospice of Northern Colorado, and TRU PACE come from all “specialties” in nursing: critical care, med-surg, long-term care, psychiatric, pediatrics, ob/gyn, etc.  And, here we are, sharing all of our experiences to form an amazingly talented team who cares for all people, regardless of their need,  in the final years, months, weeks, and days. Sometimes it takes all of us putting our skills together, giving credence to “it takes a village.”

Over the years, as each challenge has come along, someone has picked up the gauntlet and said, “I can help.” To the many nurses who share their nursing skills, who share themselves as human beings, we offer you a profound thank you.  We are proud of the nursing care that you provide to our patients.

We share this brief paragraph with you:

There is a deep river of meaning that runs through this work. Remembering this meaning daily is what keeps us alive in this work and protects us from exhaustion. The meaning of this work has not changed in thousands of years. It is part of our lineage.

May you all have the opportunity to take a step back this week and appreciate all you have contributed to the community we call TRU, and to the communities we all live in. You make a difference every day.

With profound respect and gratitude,

The Executive Team

During National Volunteer Week, April 23 – 29, TRU is honoring the 555 dedicated volunteers from our community who ensure that patients and families facing serious and life-limiting illness find hope, dignity and love.

 Hospice volunteers play an indispensable role in enabling TRU to offer the best care possible for our patients, their families and caregivers. By sharing their time, energy, and expertise, our volunteers bring compassion and caring to the lives of those in need,”  said Maria Thomas, Communications Coordinator.

Hospice volunteers often serve patients and families at the bedside but they also assist in the office, help raise awareness, contribute to educational programs, and provide fundraising support and more.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization reports that there are an estimated 430,000 trained hospice volunteers providing more than 19 million hours of service to hospice programs each year.

An estimated 1.6 million patients in the U.S. are cared for by hospice every year.

Hospice and palliative care volunteers help the people they serve live every moment of life to the fullest and enable the organizations they work with to achieve their mission in the community. Most hospice volunteers choose to give their time helping others because of their own experience with the compassionate care hospice provided to a dying loved one.

It is federally mandated under Medicare that five percent of all patient care hours be provided by trained volunteers reflecting the vital role that volunteers play in the provision of care.

For those interested in learning more about hospice or volunteer opportunities, please call us at 303.604.5226.

Image Credit: Ben White

• Identify your guilty feelings and regrets, and think about what might give you relief.
• Try to be objective about what happened.
• Remember you were doing the best you could under difficult circumstances.
• Be prepared to forgive yourself.
• Find ways to work through your feelings, such as service in the community.
• Look for the lessons to be gained.
• Most importantly, don’t forget the good things you did in your relationship.

Adapted from The Mourning Handbook by Helen Fitzgerald

Employees at TRU Community care enjoyed a taco and dessert bar as part of their recurring fundraising efforts for Bumbuli Hospice in Tanzania. The event raised $208.00!

Seeking to embrace and support a mission beyond our local community, in 2006 TRU Community Care formed a partnership with Bumbuli Hospice in Tanzania. This special relationship remains strong, with TRU employees making generous contributions and traveling to Tanzania to work alongside Bumbuli’s team to learn more about the challenges they face.

Through these experiences, we’ve recognized the immense need for end-of-life care in Bumbuli. We’ve also witnessed the remarkable compassion and efficiency of the team in responding to area needs.